KING HEZEKIAH SENDS HIS REPRESENTATIVES TO ISAIAH THE PROPHET AND RECEIVES A COMFORTING REPLY (2 KINGS 19:2). In his anguish King Hezekiah sent a message to Isaiah via his representatives, asking what possibility there might be that YHWH would have heard what was said and might react against it. Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
NEWS OF THE APPROACH OF A LARGE EGYPTIAN ARMY UNDER TIRHAKAH, KING OF CUSH (THE SUDAN), CAUSES A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN KING HEZEKIAH'S SUBMISSION (2 KINGS 19:9). The news that a large Egyptian army was approaching led by the son of the Egyptian Pharaoh, who bore the tit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRAYER OF KING HEZEKIAH (2 KINGS 19:15). It is almost impossible for us to appreciate the tension which Hezekiah must have been experiencing at this time. Outside the city walls were the enemy. Inside were what remained of his people. It was to be his decision as to what to do next. And he did... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH COMMUNICATES TO KING HEZEKIAH ‘THE WORD OF YHWH' NOW ACTIVE AGAINST THE KING OF ASSYRIA (2 KINGS 19:20). As a result of King Hezekiah's prayer Isaiah was given a prophetic message, an ‘oracle' from YHWH (‘thus says YHWH') to pass on to him. Such an oracle was seen as not only spoken but activ... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH ISAIAH YHWH GIVES A SIGN THAT JERUSALEM'S DELIVERANCE IS AT HAND (2 KINGS 19:29). As in the case of Moses in Exodus 3:12 and Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 the sign now given was to be found in the guarantee of a future event, not in the event itself. It was saying, ‘this is what I, YHWH,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL ORACLE OF DELIVERANCE WHICH WILL RESULT IN ITS OWN FULFILMENT (2 KINGS 19:32). The final oracle was put in plain and straightforward terms that could leave no doubt. It was the policy of great kings to be personally present when, at the end of a long siege, the city was about to fall. The... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH TOTALLY UNEXPECTEDLY DEVASTATES THE ASSYRIAN ARMY CAUSING SENNACHERIB TO RETURN HOME WHERE SUBSEQUENTLY HE ARRANGES FOR HIS ASSASSINATION (2 KINGS 19:35). What happened now was totally unexpected, and deliberately so. YHWH wanted to make an instant and great impression on His people of what He... [ Continue Reading ]