By David A. Pendleton

A Commentary the Sabbath School Lesson for May 8–14, on Isaiah 36–39

Chapters 36–39 of Isaiah recount the history of the attack by Sennacherib, king of Assyria; its result; and the near-fatal sickness of King Hezekiah. The account begins with Sennacherib threatening Jerusalem. The opening verses are foreboding: "In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem" (Isa. 36:1, 2 NIV). With these words the stage is set.

Over the course of the next four chapters four major issues are raised for believers—all dealing with how God’s people ought to respond when both good and bad things happen to them. When we feel attacked, when we think we are outnumbered, when death is knocking on our door, or when we become reliant on our wealth—how ought believers to conduct themselves in these situations?

1. In Whom Do You Trust When Attacked?

King Hezekiah is in a very bad situation. An invasion force of trained and well-equipped troops led by King Sennacherib is at his doorstep. They have slaughtered all who sought to resist their conquest. Only God can save Hezekiah and his kingdom.

Sennacherib, as would be customary, sends an envoy (or "Rabshakeh" in the King James Version), who taunts Hezekiah’s delegation and those within hearing: "On what are you basing this confidence of yours?" (Isa. 36:4 NIV).

This representative of the heathen Sennacherib recounts how others have been vanquished and their gods desecrated. He pokes fun at Hezekiah’s defenses and faith, claiming that "The LORD himself told me to march against this country and destroy it" (Isa. 36:10 NIV). Hezekiah’s delegates, though instructed not to respond, ask if they can continue the uncomfortable conversation in a different language, Aramaic, but Sennacherib’s envoy refuses, delighting in the discomfiture of his counterparts and in the dissension he may be instigating among Hezekiah’s people.

We today reading this commentary online may never face an invasion force. Yet the question "on whom do you rely" (NASB) is one that all of us face sooner or later. Car accidents, wayward children, strained relationships, financial difficulties, sickness or death in the family, natural disasters—during the course of a lifetime we all face one or more of these. That is when our trust in God is put to the test.

In chapter 37 we read of the response of Hezekiah to the threatening message of Sennacherib. He "went into the temple of the LORD" (Isa. 37:1 NIV). If we do not seek the Lord in prayer on our own we will find ourselves driven to our knees by our needs.

The prophet Isaiah is told of the dire situation and the response of the king. Naturally he assures king Hezekiah of God’s divine providence and protection.

And indeed the Lord does fight Hezekiah’s battle. This passage is among the bloodiest of the Bible. Reminiscent of the violence-laden battlefields depicted in Mel Gibson’s movie Braveheart, it even rivals Isaiah chapter 34.1 A corpse strewn field says it all.2

2. The Remnant—Just When You Thought You Were All Alone

Seventh-day Adventists are culturally conditioned to think in terms of remnants. Isaiah 37 verses 31 and 32, therefore, resonate with us. "Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Much commentary has been penned concerning the "remnant nature" or "remnantness" of God’s people.3 Instead, let me comment that there are two sides to this promise of the survival of a remnant. On the one hand, it is of tremendous reassurance: The Lord will preserve us.

On the other hand, remnantness can foster not just thankfulness, but superiority—moral superiority. And such arrogance precedes the proverbial fall. Remnantness can be an outlook that motivates sincere devotion, fidelity, and a heart for evangelism. Remnantness can unfortunately be distorted into an "us against them" or an "us before them" outlook. It can lead to the sort of spiritual pride borne so smugly by the members of the Sanhedrin who condemned Jesus of Nazareth because he failed to fit their preconceived notion of the Messiah foretold by Isaiah.

3. When Death is Knocking on the Door

Just when Hezekiah had started to breath easier after the victorious rout of Sennacherib, Isaiah 38 begins with words that portend trouble even closer to home.4 After miraculously saving Hezekiah and his people, God announces that Hezekiah is going to die after all and that he is to put the "house in order."

King Hezekiah was given this privilege and opportunity to know in advance the hour of his demise. But this is a man who perhaps has had too much success with prayers of petition. He has unfortunately taken away from these experiences the wrong lesson. Prayer has become the means for him to achieve his own ends. And so he turns to God pleading to live longer. This passage reminds us of our need to be careful about what we pray for—because we just might get what we ask for.

Hezekiah unfortunately got his way. He lived to see yet another miracle—the sunlight went back ten steps.5 Little did he know that what was foreshadowed was not just that he would live longer but that he would live unto himself, eventually falling away from the God who had so faithfully answered his prayers.

4. Wealth

Chapter 39 opens with King Hezekiah, who is now on the road to physical recovery, receiving envoys from Babylon. Was Babylon genuinely concerned for the health of Hezekiah? We don’t know.6

But we do know that Hezekiah was determined to impress them. There was nothing among his treasures that he did not show these visitors.7

But in so doing he made clear where he placed his trust. Isaiah rebukes him without mercy.8

With chapter 39 we come full circle, at least within the confines of these four chapters. We began with the question of ultimate loyalty. And we end with it. Perhaps ultimately that is the only question that matters.

Notes and References

1. Isaiah 34 flows with blood:

1 Come near, you nations, and listen;
pay attention, you peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
the world, and all that comes out of it!
2 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.
3 Their slain will be thrown out,
their dead bodies will send up a stench;
the mountains will be soaked with their blood.
4 All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved
and the sky rolled up like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall
like withered leaves from the vine,
like shriveled figs from the fig tree.
5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;
see, it descends in judgment on Edom,
the people I have totally destroyed.
6 The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood,
it is covered with fat–
the blood of lambs and goats,
fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah
and a great slaughter in Edom. (NIV)