Onchan Baptist Church                              31 July 2024.        Isaiah 36:1-10 Sennacherib and Hezekiah.
Chapter 36 brings an abrupt change. From messages of warning and judgement, interspersed with promises of blessing, now three historical narratives. Over chs 36-39 Hezekiah’s faith is tested. Parallel accounts in 2 Kings 18 and 2 Chr 29-32. Isaiah original writer on this subject, he lived through the events but only gives us the details which are relevant to his purpose.
1. The 14th year of Hezekiah, 701 or 702 BC. Hezekiah began as a co-regent before this. He had seen the defeat of the northern tribes at the hands of Assyria and their captivity 2 Kings 17:6. Note v22-23 “For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; 23Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.” For some years Assyria had lost control over the smaller subject nations, Sennacherib was now seeking to reimpose his authority. Fearing this, Judah had been seeking to protect water supplies, build up the walls and towers, 2 Chron 32:1-8, Sennacherib's forces now threatened Jerusalem, having captured the fortified cities, "and took them."
2. It seems Lachish was Sennacherib’s headquarters. He sent his envoy to Jerusalem, Rabshakeh is a job title rather than name. Literally it means cupbearer, a trusted position in the Royal Palace, think of Nehemiah. It also had a wider meaning as a military rank. A great army. We don't know how large this force was, but impressive compared to the forces defending Jerusalem. The place is notable, It is where Isaiah confronted king Ahaz and challenged him to trust the Lord. Isa 7:3. Ahaz, v 4 was told to “fear not,” but refusing to ask for a sign, He failed that test. What About Hezekiah?
3. Hezekiah did not go, he sent three officials as his envoys. He was no doubt looking to respect his position as king. Eliakim and Joah's fathers are named, but not Shebna's, no reason is given, although it may relate to the prophecy Isa 22:15-22, denouncing him for focusing on his own legacy in the face of danger from the enemy. The exact duties of the scribe and recorder are unknown to us and are not important.
4. Rabshakeh said unto them. An interpreter? or could he speak Hebrew? Perhaps he had spent time in Jerusalem as an envoy from Assyria, he was familiar with some of what had been done by King Hezekiah, see see v7. Say ye now to Hezekiah. Think about that for a moment. Who was his message for? What has he left out? His message is very blunt, showing no respect for the king of Judah. Contrast this with how he refers to Sennacherib. Thus saith the great king of Assyria. He is given his full common title, which clearly distinguished him from the kings of the small nations "including Judah" which had become subject to Assyria. He is emphasising that to the Assyrians Judah and her King were but small irritants. Now Rabshakeh has his key question, what confidence is this where in thou trustest? He seeks to undermine any confidence they have to withstand Assyria. Jesus spoke of in condisering carefully in the context of multitudes of people following him. He warned that discipleship is costly and they needed to consider that, giving the example of a king faced with the prospect of a war, Lk 14:31-33, "what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." What price will you pay to be a disciple of Jesus? Is forsaking all for Christ worth it? Now Rabshakeh is saying, get real, before we attack Jerusalem and destroy it, stop for a moment and think, have you really got anything which you can truly trust to give you victory? As a skilled negotiator he went on to seeking to clearly demonstrate that Capitulation to Assyria was logically his only option.
5. To paraphrase, you speak of good advice and military strength, but it is all just empty words. Rabshakeh was right, if all you have are words on your lips in the face of the great army then you have nothing to hope in. Think of Peter, when our Lord began to speak of all his disciples forsaking him, Peter had confident words. Mat 26:33, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." I am sure that he meant what he said, but he was relying on his own strength, he did not know his own weakness. Our response to difficulty and the prospect of calamity must never be self-reliance. Rather we need to learn to always come to the throne of grace Heb 4:16 “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” That thou rebellest against me? During the time of weakness and confusion in Assyria many countries sought their freedom. But, 2 Kings 18:14-16 by this time Hezekiah had submitted once more. “And Hezekiah gave him all the silver…” It was Assyria that now was going back on its word. Isaiah doesn't mention this, why not? Probably because he is concentrating on the main point, will Hezekiah trust the Lord or not, the contrast with king Ahaz.
6. The staff of this broken reed, Egypt… Radshakeh knew all about the deal done with Egypt and how they had hoped that Egypt would stand strong against Assyria. Egypt was known for its reeds which grew along the Nile. A staff was something to put your weight on. The same word is used in Ps 23, "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, (give support).” A staff needed to be strong, however these reeds were not only weak but when broken apt to leave a sharp end which would cut the one relying on it. Leaning on Egypt was worse than useless. He is graphically explaining that relying on pharaoh will do you more harm than good. He was not lying. This was powerful propaganda because it was true. Yahweh had warned Israel not to go to Egypt Deut 17:16 “the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.” Isaiah had spoken strongly to them about it Isaiah 30:2 “That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!” And they had seen how Egypt had not saved Isreal. 2 Kings 17:4 “And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.”
Faced with great discouragement in the church we must never think that looking to the world and its methods will solve any problems or do any good. Pop concerts, light shows, drama performance on the one hand or an adapting what Scripture says to make it less offensive to people today, or looking to the ideas of philosophy or psychology is never going to be the answer. "Not by might, nor by strength but by my spirit saith the Lord." We should also remember the words of Ps 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Egypt is a type of the world. The theocratic people of God were delivered from Egypt, delivered from the world, they were not to return there but instead to lift up their eyes onto the Lord.
7. But if thou say to me, We trust in Yahweh our God. Radshakeh was very clever. What he says is so logical and obvious. He was clearly very aware of what Hezekiah had been doing 2 Kings 18:4 “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” Rabshakeh thought that the Hezekiah's reforms were insulting to Yahweh. In this he was totally wrong, because he was ignorant of Yahweh and what he had laid down in his word. Worship was to be in Jerusalem, not scattered about the land. It was Solomon's many wives and concubines which first brought confusion, then after his death the nation was divided. In the northern kingdom worship was established at Bethel 1 Kings 12:33. High Places proliferated. Their removal by Hezekiah was seen as very positive by Yahweh. Although Radshakeh did not realise it, Hezekiah was being faithful to Yahweh when he said, Ye shall worship before this altar. There is a lesson here, we don't have Mosaic worship, all fulfilled in Christ, but we do seek to follow the biblical pattern of worship, the regulative principle. We see how the apostles and the church worshipped in the New Testament and we seek to follow their practice.
8. Now therefore give pledge. Literally this means to mix and mingle, to exchange, to stand in place of. Translators make choices based on the meaning of the words and context. This has been rendered negotiate (YLT), make a wager (ESV), make a bargain (NIV), give a hostage. It appears to be an offer to even up the fight, I will give you 2000 horses if you can provide the men. In reality it is a taunt for he knows that Judah did not have 2000 horsemen. They are militarily weak and not skilled in the use of horses. He is saying, I am confident we could give you the horses and still win, but you haven't even got the men. He is rubbing it in. See Jesus on the cross, Mat 27:42. “He saved others...”
9. How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain…, You don't have 2000 horsemen, you trust in Egypt's for chariots and horsemen, but I'm telling you you have no hope, you will never defeat even the weakest Assyrian detachment. His words are so discouraging because they are true. Egypt had failed, Judah had no strength. Radshakeh was confident and Hezekiah, if honest, must know this is solid confidence.
10. Yahweh said "go up against this land and destroy it." A powerful closing claim. It is not necessary to think he was aware of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Judah. This is likely mere propaganda, based on his misunderstanding of Hezekiah's cleaning of the land. King Hezekiah faced a great time of testing. We know that in the face of Assyrian threats and of his illness he remained faithful and was delivered. Remember this is not always the case. Those who are faithful might not be delivered as we might hope. Abraham was told to offer his son Gen 22, but then a ram was provided in his place. In Acts 7 we find Stephen is a faithful witness, giving a clear testimony just as John the Baptist had. Both John and Stephen were called upon to be faithful even onto death. King Hezekiah faced a time testing. We read of the wiles of the devil, of the fiery darts of the wicked one. It is vitally important that we do not put our trust in the flesh. We need to put on the whole armour of God, Eph 6. We need to have our eyes lifted up, to be looking onto Jesus who is the author and the finish of the faith.