Isaiah 37:21-38
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday May 6, 2009
Isaiah 37:21-38
The Assyrian army is threatening Jerusalem with destruction and Hezekiah, king of Judah, has just prayed and asked for God’s help.
The prophecy of Isaiah 21-35
21 Isaiah brought the Lord’s response to Isaiah’s prayer. He could have omitted 21b and no one would have blinked. But there is some precious truth in 21b. …because you have prayed…
God desires you to pray. It is good to seek the word of the Lord through others, it is better to seek God directly yourself. He received a two verse response when he sought God through Isaiah and a 14 verse response when he sought God directly. Cf. 6-7. The word of the Lord comes fuller and richer to a life of prayer. I have been blessed by many wonderful sermons, but my greatest times of blessing and edification and encouragement have come in response to fervent prayer and personal time w/ God. Prayer became a place of revelation and peace and comfort. Listen to messages in the spirit of prayer.
Hezekiah had been fearful/compromising/ unbelieving – yet he finally came to place of faith and came in prayer to God. God didn’t scold Hezekiah for attempting prayer as a last ditch effort. The father of the prodigal son didn’t reprimand his son upon his return. He didn’t say, “I know the only reason you returned is because you had no place else to go. I know that if you had other options you would have tried those. I know that I’m the last option on your list.” God will not scold or belittle you, He’s been waiting for you.
Though your faith be late, it’s not too late to lay hold of God. Has the damage been done already? It’s not too late to stop the damage of your sin from traumatizing your soul. It seems like there is something scandalous about a death row inmate experiencing peace after all the harm he has brought about that has touched so many people. What right does he have to God? Same as you! The prayer of the inmate will not undo his crime or the damage of his crime, but it will stop the damage to his heart.
While you are breathing, it is never too late to ask God for help. Ask the thief on the cross. Ask the prodigal son. It’s not too late to lay hold of God.
22 Assyria disrespects Judah and sees her as insignificant – nothing special or unique. Much of our culture sees the church as insignificant and views Christians w/ disrespect. Statistically, there is little difference between the church and culture regarding social indicators. Sennacherib saw no difference between Judah and all other nations. Often, the church is indistinguishable from the culture because the church acts like the culture – our values are the same. Sub v counter-cultural. Prayer began a counter-cultural revolution.
God sees Israel as a virgin daughter. What?
Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him. Is. 1:4
Isaiah begins his prophecy laying into Israel, declaring that they are full of sin from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet – and then refers to her as a virgin! How can He do this? He sees the covenant! God can rebuke His kids, but no one else can!
23 In speaking against Judah, Assyria is speaking against God. God so closely identifies w/ you that an insult against you is an insult to Him. Me in you, you in Me. You feel the pain when your children are criticized. If someone criticizes your child and you take offense, they can’t turn to you and say, “This has nothing to do w/ you.” It has everything to do w/ you!
24-25 The pride/beauty/lifeblood of Lebanon and Egypt is brought low - in Assyria’s pride, nothing can stop her.
26-28 Assyria’s arrogance in light of God’s providence. Assyria does what it does only because God has so ordained it. Ps. 75:4-7
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Cor. 4:7
Both Isaiah and Paul refer to God’s sovereignty and providence.
Sovereignty: God’s absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure. Ps. 115:3
Providence: God's governing and guiding all things by working through His creation.
God does not create and abandon – He creates and sees His creation through to His desired end. “What? He sent the Assyrian army to kill and rape and plunder?” Yes, He did. Assyria thinks she is independent, unaccountable. God says, “No”.
29 Assyria’s judgment on light of her arrogance
30 The time of the Assyrian oppression interrupted two seasons of sowing and reaping. In the 3rd year, normality returned.
31-35 Salvation of Judah and judgment of Assyria
The punishment of Assyria 36-38
36-37 Cf. Destroying angel of Ex. 12. The exact location of the Assyrian army at the time of the disaster is not known. They may have turned toward Egypt to engage Tirhakah. Herodotus records that Sennacherib retreated from Pelusium (in Egypt) after an infestation of field mice destroyed his weaponry – quivers, bows, shields, thongs.
38 This happened some 20 years after his return. In praying to his God, Hezekiah was saved. In praying to his god, Sennacherib was slain.
C36 In the presence of the enemy
C37 In the presence of God
Download | Duration: 00:43:13
Isaiah 37:21-38
The Assyrian army is threatening Jerusalem with destruction and Hezekiah, king of Judah, has just prayed and asked for God’s help.
The prophecy of Isaiah 21-35
21 Isaiah brought the Lord’s response to Isaiah’s prayer. He could have omitted 21b and no one would have blinked. But there is some precious truth in 21b. …because you have prayed…
God desires you to pray. It is good to seek the word of the Lord through others, it is better to seek God directly yourself. He received a two verse response when he sought God through Isaiah and a 14 verse response when he sought God directly. Cf. 6-7. The word of the Lord comes fuller and richer to a life of prayer. I have been blessed by many wonderful sermons, but my greatest times of blessing and edification and encouragement have come in response to fervent prayer and personal time w/ God. Prayer became a place of revelation and peace and comfort. Listen to messages in the spirit of prayer.
Hezekiah had been fearful/compromising/ unbelieving – yet he finally came to place of faith and came in prayer to God. God didn’t scold Hezekiah for attempting prayer as a last ditch effort. The father of the prodigal son didn’t reprimand his son upon his return. He didn’t say, “I know the only reason you returned is because you had no place else to go. I know that if you had other options you would have tried those. I know that I’m the last option on your list.” God will not scold or belittle you, He’s been waiting for you.
Though your faith be late, it’s not too late to lay hold of God. Has the damage been done already? It’s not too late to stop the damage of your sin from traumatizing your soul. It seems like there is something scandalous about a death row inmate experiencing peace after all the harm he has brought about that has touched so many people. What right does he have to God? Same as you! The prayer of the inmate will not undo his crime or the damage of his crime, but it will stop the damage to his heart.
While you are breathing, it is never too late to ask God for help. Ask the thief on the cross. Ask the prodigal son. It’s not too late to lay hold of God.
22 Assyria disrespects Judah and sees her as insignificant – nothing special or unique. Much of our culture sees the church as insignificant and views Christians w/ disrespect. Statistically, there is little difference between the church and culture regarding social indicators. Sennacherib saw no difference between Judah and all other nations. Often, the church is indistinguishable from the culture because the church acts like the culture – our values are the same. Sub v counter-cultural. Prayer began a counter-cultural revolution.
God sees Israel as a virgin daughter. What?
Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him. Is. 1:4
Isaiah begins his prophecy laying into Israel, declaring that they are full of sin from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet – and then refers to her as a virgin! How can He do this? He sees the covenant! God can rebuke His kids, but no one else can!
23 In speaking against Judah, Assyria is speaking against God. God so closely identifies w/ you that an insult against you is an insult to Him. Me in you, you in Me. You feel the pain when your children are criticized. If someone criticizes your child and you take offense, they can’t turn to you and say, “This has nothing to do w/ you.” It has everything to do w/ you!
24-25 The pride/beauty/lifeblood of Lebanon and Egypt is brought low - in Assyria’s pride, nothing can stop her.
26-28 Assyria’s arrogance in light of God’s providence. Assyria does what it does only because God has so ordained it. Ps. 75:4-7
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Cor. 4:7
Both Isaiah and Paul refer to God’s sovereignty and providence.
Sovereignty: God’s absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure. Ps. 115:3
Providence: God's governing and guiding all things by working through His creation.
God does not create and abandon – He creates and sees His creation through to His desired end. “What? He sent the Assyrian army to kill and rape and plunder?” Yes, He did. Assyria thinks she is independent, unaccountable. God says, “No”.
29 Assyria’s judgment on light of her arrogance
30 The time of the Assyrian oppression interrupted two seasons of sowing and reaping. In the 3rd year, normality returned.
31-35 Salvation of Judah and judgment of Assyria
The punishment of Assyria 36-38
36-37 Cf. Destroying angel of Ex. 12. The exact location of the Assyrian army at the time of the disaster is not known. They may have turned toward Egypt to engage Tirhakah. Herodotus records that Sennacherib retreated from Pelusium (in Egypt) after an infestation of field mice destroyed his weaponry – quivers, bows, shields, thongs.
38 This happened some 20 years after his return. In praying to his God, Hezekiah was saved. In praying to his god, Sennacherib was slain.
C36 In the presence of the enemy
C37 In the presence of God
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