Isaiah 39 “Hear The Word of the LORD”

“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts” (v.5)

The true function of the prophet is to be the messenger of God. His work is to be God’s voice to all men, whether they be kings, lords, or commoners, he is to speak with the same Divine authority to all. But, he is not responsible to men, nor how men respond to his message, but only for its delivery.

The Lord had warned Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah not to trust in human help, but to rely on God alone. How strange that when Hezekiah was threatened by the Assyrian army, he went straight to God and prayed. But when the Babylonians came, complimenting him and giving gifts, he arrogantly showed them his entire wealth, thus becoming an easy target to take down.

Back in chapter 37 we saw Hezekiah healed from his deathbed and given 15 additional years of life by the grace of God. But, after Hezekiah was healed, his heart changed. In fact, 2 Chronicle 32:24–25 tells us that he allowed pride to take hold of him and he became boastful of the great blessings in his life. That pride led him to show the Babylonians all the treasures of Israel; and when they later invaded, they knew exactly where they were.

This chapter speaks to us about being careful to guard our hearts against pride. If we have become successful, or blessed beyond measure, don’t flaunt it or become boastful about it. Be grateful and give praise to the One who made it possible. Then seek the LORD for His direction over the stewardship of what you've been blessed with.

The Truth: “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; assuredly, he will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

Isaiah 38 “Fifteen Years of Grace”

And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.” (vv.4-5)

Here in chapter 38, Hezekiah was deathly sick and was told by Isaiah the prophet to, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live’ (v.1). Not exactly what the king wanted to hear. After which Hezekiah, “turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD” (v.2). Then, before Isaiah had even cleared the middle of the court (2 Kings 20:4), the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.” This begs the question, “Did Hezekiah's prayer change God’s mind?”

In my lifetime I have both seen and experienced similar events of healing and extended life. On January 22, 2016 I had quadruple bypass surgery. I can remember lying in bed the night before the surgery praying for God’s grace to extend my life. I knew full well the risks and had prepared myself through prayer to meet my maker, if my time had come. Through God’s grace, and the skill of everyone involved in my surgery, I am now 3 ½ years beyond that day. Was it related to my prayer, and the prayers of others? I’d like to think so. But, in reality, it was simply by God’s grace and His sovereign plan for my life.

Did Hezekiah’s prayer change God’s plan for his life? Many have prayed for extended life for loved ones in similar situations, and not all prayers have been answered with a “yes.” Sometime the answer is “no.” We cannot demand that God answer our prayers in just the way we would like. We must be submissive, even as Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane before He was taken to be crucified when He prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:24). Yes, Hezekiah was healed, and his answered prayer demonstrates God's mercy, and grace, and His sovereign plan for Hezekiah. But a better question might be, "What if he had not asked?"

There is a time though when God will always change His mind; when we repent and turn from sin. Scripture tells us that, “When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and cleans us from all unrighteousness. But, we must ask. And for that opportunity, we can all be eternally thankful.

The Truth: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Isaiah 37 “God Answers Through Isaiah”

“I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” (v.35)

Back in chapter 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had come up against the fortified cities of Judah and seized them (v.1). He then defied and mocked the God of the Jews by saying to Eliakim, who was over king Hezekiah’s household, “Who is He (God) to deliver Jerusalem from my hand” (v.20).

Now in chapter 37 Hezekiah gets a message from the Assyrians who have surrounded Jerusalem saying, surrender. After reading the message he went up to the temple and spread it out before the Lord and prayed, “O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God” (v.20).

The answer to Hezekiah’s prayer through Isaiah was instant and assuring. Jehovah would intervene, and the King of Assyria would return to his own land, and the city would be spared (vv. 33-35). The Divine intervention on behalf of Jerusalem came mysteriously, but with complete victory, as the angel of Jehovah killed 135,000 Assyrians in one night (v.36). This led Sennacherib to return to Assyria where he died shortly there after at the hands of his own sons (v.38).

Who is He that can deliver from the hand of evil? The LORD God Almighty!

The Truth: “Thus says your Lord, the LORD, your God and Defender: “I have taken the terrible cup of trembling out of your hands. You will never drink it again.” (Isaiah 51:22)

Isaiah 36 “Sennacherib Invades Judah”

“Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them.”

Here in chapter 36 the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, comes to capture Jerusalem and its king, Hezekiah. From a physical standpoint, it looks hopeless for the Israelites. Therefore, the Assyrian king decides to send emissaries to Hezekiah to call for his surrender.

During this process, they mocked the king by asking some questions which are intended to embarrass him; “On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” (v.4), and “On whom are you depending?” (v.5). Words the emissary would later regret. Additionally, Sennacherib tried to bribe the nation of Israel into simply bending their knee in submission by promising great prosperity in return for such submission (v.8). And finally they mocked the prophet Isaiah’s belief in God (vv.14-16), wanting to convince the Israelites they had no chance for success.

These tactics are very familiar and common tools used by Satan against believers daily. Hezekiah handled these crafty attacks correctly, giving us a great lesson on how we should respond to similar attacks in our own lives. First, we keep silent (v.20). Never enter into an argument with a skeptic, especially one who is baiting you. Second, go directly to God in prayer, seek His guidance, call upon His wisdom, and allow His Spirit to guide your actions through His Word or a Word from a godly advisor.

We would all be wise to follow Hezekiah’s example of going to God first and refusing to get caught up in any of Satan’s old tricks. It will save us a lot of wasted energy, and replace emotion with wisdom.

 The Truth: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Isaiah 35 “The Highway Of Holiness”

“A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the “Highway of Holiness.” And the ransomed of the Lord (the redeemed) will walk there, and will come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (vv.8-10)

Just as the Jews yearned to worship in Jerusalem, so we, too, should joyfully anticipate worshiping God in the New Jerusalem. The apostle John described it this way:

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’… The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp… Nothing impure will ever enter it … but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:1-11)

Christ will return in triumph and splendor. The desert will blossom. The weak will become strong. Fear will turn to faith. The covenant relationship that was broken will be restored. Justice that had appeared thwarted will be done in full. And the power of God will be miraculously evident as the blind will see and the lame will walk.

In that day, the redeemed will walk on the “Way of Holiness” (35:8). Those who travel on it must be holy, wise, and pure, but it is God who will make them so, not they themselves. These pilgrims will be “ransomed” people, rescued by God and living wholly for Him (35:10). The exiled will return, the mourners will sing, the grief-stricken will rejoice, and the temporary will give way before the eternal.

The Truth: “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

Isaiah 34 “God’s Wrath Against All Nations”

“Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord’s indignation is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to slaughter.” (vv.1-2)

Isaiah is drawing to a close the section of his book that emphasizes judgment. Here in chapter 34 he declares and warns, “The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter.” Not a message I’d want to hear.

In the midst of this description (vv.3-5), he paints a picture of what is happening in the heavens simultaneously with this judgment. All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll. This sounds curiously similar to a re-creation of this world that is declared to come according to Revelation 21.

Whether this is a description of that day or not, Isaiah is clear in verse 8 regarding the eventuality of God’s judgment and its purpose, “For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.” Vengeance. Retribution. He will fight for His people. It is what their enemies deserve and what we all have earned, if we are found to be outside of God’s grace.

But, they (Israel) were chosen. And we (gentile believers) were also chosen. Therefore, we have a defender who fights for us as well. God Almighty! Hallelujah!

The Truth: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Isaiah 33 “His Coming Reign”

“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us.” (v.22)

Here in chapter 33 we see Isaiah stating that the LORD is our judge, lawgiver, king. These three roles have been demonstrated several times in Israel’s history. And, interestingly enough, have themselves been woven into the very fabric of the United States Constitution: judicial, legislative, and executive branches.

While they have been an effective model for government, they are simply that - a model. No government of man is perfect. The only true source of government is the One who fulfills all three aspects to perfection, the Lord Himself! He is OUR judge, OUR lawgiver, OUR king. And one day we will see the Messiah rightfully reign using all three roles perfectly, the very person who promises to save. Hallelujah!

The Truth:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Isaiah 32 “The Peace of God’s Reign”

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.” (v.1) “Then the work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (v.17)

Today many seek peace apart from righteousness. They refuse to adjust some wrong in their lives, which calls aloud against them. They refuse to permit the light of God’s Spirit to restore their past, because they are conscious that to do so will expose themselves to the inevitable need of confession and restitution; and as they will not submit to the laying of the foundations of peace, they miss the peace.

Peace is impossible so long as righteousness is disregarded; quietness and confidence can never be produced by unrighteous motives and methods. And because man’s heart is born into sin, righteousness will never be the principle of human life, unless and until that life is submitted to the King Who reigns in righteousness; and there is no king who perfectly reigns in righteousness other than the Man Whom God hath appointed to judge the world in righteousness, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, while in today’s reading we find an encouraging Word to those both then and now who remained faithful to the LORD, we also see the warning, the trouble ahead, for those who choose to live without the "Prince of Peace."

If you would like to unburden yourself of the heavy weight of guilt and shame and exchange it for His peace and quietness to your soul and in your life, please see the prayer to the right of this page. God Bless.

The Truth: “For the kingdom of God is not food nor drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)