One Year Chronological Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 111
JULY 21
p a g e 933
“It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations.
And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them.
But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only
idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. 19Now, O LORD our God, rescue
us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone,
O LORD, are God.”
17
18
Isaiah 37:1-20
1
When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and
went into the Temple of the LORD. 2And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator,
Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the
prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says:
Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be
born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. 4But perhaps the LORD
your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff,* sent by the king to defy the living
God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”
5
After King Hezekiah’s officials delivered the king’s message to Isaiah, 6 the
prophet replied, “Say to your master, ‘ This is what the LORD says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers. 7 Listen! I myself will move against him,* and the king will receive a
message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will
have him killed with a sword.’ ”
8
Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the
king of Assyria, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.
9
Soon afterward King Sennacherib received word that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia* was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the
attack, he sent messengers back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this message:
“ This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom
you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by
the king of Assyria. 11You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have
done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone
who stood in their way! Why should you be any different? 12Have the gods of
other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and
the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them
all! 13 What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What
happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”
10
14
After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went
up to the LORD’s Temple and spread it out before the LORD. 15And Hezekiah
prayed this prayer before the LORD: 16 “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel,
you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the
kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. 17 Bend
down, O LORD, and listen! Open your eyes, O LORD, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.
18
“It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations.
19
And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them.
But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only
37:4 Or the rabshakeh; also in 37:8.
37:7 Hebrew I will put a spirit in him.
37:9 Hebrew of Cush.
