Isaiah Chapters 36-38 (By Rev. Deacon Margaret Friesen)

OBSERVATION

• In these chapters, we see the “almost last gasp” of what is left of the nation of Israel and Judah during the reign of Hezekiah and the time of Isaiah the prophet.
• Ch.36 – The king of Assyria mocks Hezekiah for even trying to defy the great army of Assyria, wondering what kind of god does Hezekiah have that he even dares to come against Assyria.
• In the best of prophetic tradition, Isaiah tells Hezekiah to not even lift a sword or a spear—just to watch and see what God will do. Sure enough—God sends other nations to distract Assyria’s attention away from Judah. He also sends the angel of death to the Assyrian camp to such an extent that Assyria turns around and goes home.
• At that point, Hezekiah suddenly becomes deathly ill.
• Through another miracle prophesied by Isaiah, Hezekiah is given another 15 years to live.

INTERPRETATION

• I find this story about Hezekiah to be one of the most encouraging stories about God and a leader of Israel. Why?  It seems to me that here was good ole Hezekiah doing his kingly thing when he suddenly becomes deathly ill. And it’s not just his fear that is telling him he’s going to die. It’s the prophet of the LORD. And Hezekiah weeps—bitterly.
• It seems God is filled with compassion and grants Hezekiah another 15 years to live.
• This story differs from the stories of other kings because Hezekiah has done nothing evil to warrant his illness. Nor does he repent of some evildoing.
• He’s sick, he does not want to die and begs God for mercy, and God grants mercy to live.

 
APPLICATION
This account of Hezekiah’s prayer, and God’s compassionate response says to me that I, too, have permission to ask God to have compassion and to heal me. It reminds me of Jesus’s response to the people when a lame man asked for healing, and the people wanted to know who was the ‘sinner’, i.e. who was to blame for this man’s lameness. Jesus tells the people that “neither this man nor his parents sinned” but that this lameness was allowed so that God alone would receive the glory when the man was healed.
 
QUESTION
This is an age-old question but worth pondering: What is the nature of God’s mercy? How is it that God loves me? Just little ole insignificant me? Like Elijah of old and like Hezekiah, you may not answer that question but you draw me to bow down and worship you.
 
PRAYER
Dear God, apparently you care about me—even though I have done nothing either good or evil to try to draw your attention. I’m just me. But, please will you bring new life to me, fill me with your Spirit, and draw me near to You? I want the joy-filled abundant life that you talk about. I want to have that living water bubble up inside me and overflow to all around me. Please hear the longing in my heart and answer.
 
SONG: Good and Gracious King