July 25, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Isaiah 37 - This is Isaiah's account of Hezekiah's response to the threatening message from the king of Assyria.  Sure, he was upset, but he had his servants go to Isaiah and seek a message from God through him.  While they were going another letter came to Hezekiah with further threats from his enemy.  Hezekiah went to the Temple and "spread the letter out before the Lord."  It was Hezekiah's way of saying to God, "Look!  See what this is saying against You!"  Meanwhile, Isaiah responds to Hezekiah by first addressing his remarks to the Assyrian leaders rebuking them for their blasphemy against the Lord God and then he speaks to Hezekiah and gives him assurance that Assyria will never attack Jerusalem.  By the end of this chapter you will read how the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian troops causing the king of Assyria to go back home only to face assassination from his own sons! 

Isaiah 38 - Isaiah tells Hezekiah that he is sick and will soon die.  Hezekiah weeps before the Lord and reminds Him of all that he did for Israel.  God promises Hezekiah 15 more years of life.  Hezekiah offers a prayer of praise to God for His healing.

Isaiah 39 - The king of Babylon sends messengers to Jerusalem to convey his best wishes for Hezekiah's healing.  Hezekiah allows these Babylonians to see all his wealth.  After they left, Isaiah warns Hezekiah that the Babylonians will come some day soon and taken the wealth of Jerusalem as well as Hezekiah's sons to Babylon.  Hezekiah recognizes God's authority and requests that he won't be alive on earth to see that day when it comes.

Psalm 76 - This is a Psalm possibly speaking of God's defeat of the Assyrian army.  He destroyed their weapons, verse  3; the enemy died without fighting, verse 5.  God is to be feared by the world's armies and they should offer God sacrifices and presents to show their fear of Him, verse 11.