We come now to part four of Isaiah’s book (chapters 36-39). As we saw in the introduction, these chapters are in effect the pivot on which the book turns, and appear to have been designed to act as a bridge between its two halves. Likewise, the issue that these chapters throw into sharp relief is absolutely central to the book’s total message. It’s the issue of trust and where that trust should ultimately be placed. It is explored first against the backdrop of an Assyrian invasion that brought Judah to the verge of extinction, and then in the context of a diplomatic initiative from Babylon which appeared to offer Judah everything it needed. It was hard to believe, in these circumstances, that Judah’s security was in the Lord alone, and even harder to act on it. Ironically, it was the Assyrian invader who put the issue most succinctly: On whom are you depending? (36:5). It’s a question which the book of Isaiah forces us to ponder again and again, and with good reason, for our response to it will determine the whole shape of our lives.

Chapter 36 bounces us back with a sudden jolt from the glorious vision of the end to the very inglorious and frightening world of the here and now, or at least the here and now that Isaiah and his contemporaries had to wrestle with. True religion is always like that; it leads us not away from reality, but more deeply into it. It arms us with the knowledge of what will be, so that we can confront what is (however frightening it may be) with renewed courage and steadiness of purpose.

The invasion described so concisely and dispassionately in verse 1 was a devastating blow for Judah. Hezekiah had become embroiled in anti-Assyrian activity, and Sennacherib was determined to make him pay for it. He would teach the small states of the region a lesson they would never forget, and establish once for all the unassailable supremacy of Assyria in Palestine. As a key player in the recent unrest, Hezekiah was a special object of Sennacherib’s wrath. And the proud Assyrian arrived at the gates of Jerusalem with abundant proof of his invincibility. He had already swept across the north, down the Mediterranean coast and inland and northwards to Lachish. On his triumphant way he had attacked and captured all fortified cities of Judah (v. 1), and was in the process of doing the same to Lachish, Jerusalem’s last line of defense.

Sennacherib’s field commander presented Hezekiah’s men with powerful arguments for surrender. Egypt is in no position to help (v. 6); it’s no good looking to the Lord, because Hezekiah has destroyed most places where He was worshiped (v. 7); even if the Assyrians themselves were to give little Judah two thousand horses (they are taunting her now), she still could not defend herself (vv. 8-9); and in any case it is the Lord who has sent the Assyrians; they are His instrument to punish Judah, so what point is there in resisting (v. 10)? This speech is a classic study in the satanic art of sowing doubt and unbelief through subtly twisting the truth. Egypt was weak at this time, and in any case, the fall of Lachish would effectively cut off any Egyptian advance. The field commander’s warning about relying on Egypt echoes that of Isaiah himself.

The speech is so persuasive precisely because it contains so much that’s true. But its basic premise is false: namely, that the Lord has forsaken Judah, and therefore that trust is futile. It’s always Satan’s way to make us think that God has abandoned us, and to use logic woven from half-truths to convince us of it. This speech is so subtly devilish in character that it might have been written by Satan himself. The truth is that the Lord had brought Judah to the end of her own resources so that she might learn again what it meant to trust Him utterly. But He had not abandoned and would not abandon her.

Since the leaders appeared to be standing firm (no doubt to the field commander’s surprise), he decided another ploy. He had always meant the bystanders to overhear what he had to say; that was why he had used Hebrew instead of Aramaic. But now he addressed himself directly to them (vv. 13-20), and this time he is less subtle: they should forswear their allegiance to King Hezekiah (who is powerless), and entrust themselves to the great king, the king of Assyria, who will guarantee their prosperity (vv. 13-17). None of the gods of the other nations have been able to save them, so they should not listen any longer to Hezekiah’s lies about the Lord saving Judah (vv. 18-20). But the common people are not as easily swayed as the Assyrian expects them to be: they remain silent, as the king (Hezekiah) had commanded (v. 21). There are times when silence is the most eloquent testimony to whose we are and whom we serve.

So the ball is firmly back inn Hezekiah’s court (v. 22). The people will follow where he leads; in a sense, the lives of them all are in his hands. What will he do, and what resources can he call on at this fateful moment?

Isaiah 36:1-22 Reflection Questions:

In whom do you put your total trust in? If it is the Lord…how has that changed your life?

Has the Lord ever brought you to the end of your own resources so that you might learn again what it meant to trust Him utterly? Journal about it.

What would you do if you were in Hezekiah’s position?