DBG - August 7 - Isaiah 37-40

In this chapter Jerusalem is delivered from the Assyrian threat.

vs. 1-7 – This parallels to II Kings 19:1-7.  Hezekiah humbles himself before the Lord and seeks His counsel through Isaiah.  Isaiah prophesies that Sennacherib will return home and die there. 

vs. 8-13 – This parallels to II Kings 19:8-13 and II Chronicles 32:17-19.  The Assyrians press for Jerusalem’s surrender as they have a threat from Tirhakah to face.

vs. 14-20 – This parallels to II Kings 19:14-19 and II Chronicles 32:20.  Hezekiah takes Rabshakeh’s letter and lays it out before the Lord.  This is a great example for us to do the same with the things that trouble us.

vs. 21-35 – This parallels to II Kings 19:20-34.  God reaffirms His promise through Isaiah that Assyria will no take Jerusalem.

vs. 36-37 – This parallels to II Kings 19:35-36 and II Chronicles 32:21-22.  The Assyrian army is nearly wiped out by God’s supernatural judgment.

vs. 38 – This parallels to II Kings 19:37.  Sennacherib’s death came about 20 years later at the hands of his own sons.

In this chapter Hezekiah is delivered from a deadly illness.

vs. 1-8 – This parallels to II Kings 20:1-11 and II Chronicles 32:24.  Hezekiah is deathly sick and Isaiah tells him he will soon die.  Hezekiah humbles himself before the Lord and God grants him another 15 years of life.  As proof of this, God causes the shadow on a sun dial to move backwards then return to its correct position.

vs. 9-20 – The rest of this chapter is the only unique portion of the historical section of Isaiah.  It preserves Hezekiah’s own words regarding his sickness and recovery.  This song moves from his despair as he believed he would die to the celebration of his deliverance from death. 

vs. 21-22 - The final two verses of the chapter are an addendum, providing a little more information about some details of Hezekiah’s healing.

In this chapter Hezekiah reveals the kingdom’s wealth to Babylonian envoys.

vs. 1-8 – This parallels to II Kings 20:12-19 and II Chronicles 32:31.  Hezekiah errs in revealing the royal treasures to the Babylonian envoys.  These valuables would one day be carried away to Babylon as spoils.

In this chapter Isaiah begins his message of hope beyond the coming judgment.

vs. 1-2 – These verses are the introduction to not only this chapter but the rest of the book.  Here Isaiah begins a message for the Jews in the Babylonian Captivity as they prepare to return home.  Jerusalem and the Jews by extension have been sufficiently chastised and are ready to be restored.

vs. 3-5 – The voice of John the Baptist is heard, which Matthew 3:3 and John 1:23 make clear.  Now that the Jews are to return from their captivity they are to start preparing for the Messiah.  The first and second advents of Christ are seen together, which is common in prophecy.  While John is part of the first, vs. 4-5 are part of the second. 

vs. 6-8 – The message of John the Baptist is that man must repent of their sins and turn to the Messiah.  The Jews did not fully do this at the first advent but will at the second.

vs. 9-11 – The reign of Christ in the Millennial Kingdom is seen.

vs. 12-26 –  None can compare to the greatness of God, especially the absurd idols made by men’s hands.  Note in vs. 22 that the earth is described as round.  Some credit Greek philosophers such as Aristotle for discovering this.  Others credit Magellan with proving this practically by circumnavigating the globe.  They all could have simply read the Bible and known this.  Isaiah predates Aristotle by over 300 years, by the way.

vs. 27-31 – The Jews were discouraged as they returned from Babylon and wondered if God had forsaken them.  Here Isaiah reminds them, and us, that God is in control and true strength and purpose is found in trusting in Him.

One of my favorite word studies I have ever done was on the word “wait” in Isaiah 40:31.  The Hebrew word is qavah (Strong’s H6960).  As with most Hebrew words, it has a concrete action that is the basis for the abstract idea it is used for.  The root idea does not mean to cease from action, but rather to braid a rope.  That patient work of preparation is a wonderful picture of how we are to properly wait on the Lord.  We should not be idle, but rather getting ourselves ready to move in God’s timing.

Our hymn today is “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”.  It was originally composed in German by Johann Olearius in 1671 and the common translation into English was by Catherine Winkworth in 1862.  It is a versification of Isaiah 40:1-5 and richly captures the tone of the original.

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them,
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She hath suffer'd many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

For Elijah's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
Oh that warning cry obey,
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain,
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign;
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.