Chapters 36-39 Flashcards
Big Picture of 36-39
lived out example of Isaiah in 13-35.
Trust God even with enemy at the gate (the Assyrians).
Hezekiah = model of faith,
-praying to God (37) despite the Rabshekah’s taunting (36). - praises God for restoring him to health (38)
BUT seduced by the Babylonians (39) - caring about human glory rather than God’s.
Sets up for the next section of the book (introducing the Babylonians and asking how sinful humanity can become holy Israel)
Structure of 36-39
This section (36-39) acts as the theological bridge between two halves of the book,
36: Rabshekah: who will you trust (4-10) amidst
temptation of rival saviours?(16-17)
37: Hezekiah embodies faithful trust in LORD (14-20),
Isaiah’s prophecy (21-25), Assyria defeated (36-38)
38: Hezekiah bitter at his sickness (1-3), LORD is
gracious to him (4-8), Hezekiah’s psalm of gratitude (9-20)
39: Hezekiah seduced by Babylonian visit (1-4), yet
Judah’s wealth will be carried there in exile (5-7).
Hezekiah demonstrates sinful selfishness. (8)
Key verse 36
COUNTER DEUT
16-17 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Key verse 37
5-17- Hezekiah’s prayer of repentance
15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 16 “LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.
Key verse 38
20- Hezekiah’s psalm of praise and confession of reliance on God- making Ch 39 all the more shocking.
20 The LORD will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the LORD.
