In our home group we are walking through Isaiah. The book is usually divided in two. Chapters 1-39 are focused on prophecies related to Judah's problems while chapters 40-66 are focused on God's answers. The two sections of Isaiah correspond easily with the two main sections of the Bible itself. The old testament has 39 books which present Man's problem while the 27 books of the new testament provide God's answer.
Chapters 36 through 39 of Isaiah conclude the first section and contain two historical events pertinent to Isaiah's prophecies. The first of the two events fulfills the prophecies that Isaiah has been declaring to Judah for 30 years. Judgment was coming because of their departure from God and that judgment was coming in the form of an invading nation. Chapter 36 recounts Assyria's invasion of Judah in 701 BC.
Assyria was a terror, well known throughout history for its brutal military tactics. It's king at that time was a man of rage (37:28) known as Sennacherib. He once described his personal qualities when conquering the king of Sidon. [I] attacked and "the king of Sidon whom the terror-inspiring glamor of my lordship had overwhelmed, fled far overseas and perished." It is this King Sennacherib we find at the doorstep of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom of Judah in 701 BC . . . with an army of hundreds of thousands.
King Sennacherib sent a prominent commanding officer called the Rabshakeh to Jerusalem. He came with a message for King Hezekiah demanding submission. The message seems to be conveyed to us in full and contains all manner of bullying tactics. For this is what the enemy does - he demands submission.
You have no strategy to beat me. You have no strength. You are all talk. (36:5)
You are relying on weak friends/alliances. (36:6)
Your religion is being torn down by its leaders - even they don't believe. (36:7)
Your group is so small! (36:8)
God told me to conquer you. (36:10)
I will hurt you if you don't submit. (36:12)
Your leaders are deceiving you. (36:14)
Don't listen to those telling you to trust in God (36:15)
Surrender to me and it will go well for you. (36:16)
I will provide you with everything you need. (36:17)
Your God is no different from any other god. (36:18)
God will not work on your behalf. (36:20)
These are the tactics of the enemy when he invades. Wisely Hezekiah had instructed those receiving the message not to answer. There was only one response that made sense. The King's advisers rent (tore) their clothes. This action contains two main elements - an expression of complete bankruptcy to meet the situation and, at the same time, an appeal to God for help. And so it is when the invader comes to the people of God. We confess that we have no strength of ourselves to meet the enemy and we look to God in hope.
