Isaiah 37:4

It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left. HEAR - take cognizance of them (). REPROVE - will punish him for the words, etc. (). REMNANT THAT IS LEFT - the two tribes of the kingdom of Judah, Israel being already captive. Isaiah is entreated to act as intercessor with God....

4._If perhaps Jehovah thy God will hear. _Hezekiah appears to doubt whether, or not the Lord is willing to hear him; for the particle אולי _(ulai) _is translated _perhaps, _and this is the meaning which it frequently bears in Scripture. But it ought to be observed that believers, even though they know with certainty that the Lord will assist them, yet, in consequence of being perplexed by the difficulty of the case, often speak in this manner. Hezekiah had reasons for hesitating, if we look at the matter itself; but when he turns his eyes to the word, he is made certain as to the will of God, so that he ceases to tremble. But as it is impossible that the flesh should not retard believers by making them walk in a halting and staggering manner, (46) they sometimes accommodate their language to the present appearances of things. It may also be observed, in other

IT MAY BE THE LORD THY GOD - The God whom thou dost serve, and in whose name and by whose authority thou dost exercise the prophetic office. WILL HEAR THE WORDS - Will come forth and vindicate himself in regard to the language of reproach and blasphemy which has been used. See a similar use of the word ‘hear’ in Exodus 2:24; Exodus 3:7. TO REPROACH THE LIVING GOD - The revilings of Rabsbakeh were really directed against the true God. The reproach of the ‘living God’ consisted in comparing him to idols, and saying that be was no more able to deleted Jerusalem than the idol-gods had been able to defend their lands (see the note at...

EXPOSITION This chapter is the sequel of the preceding, and is so closely connected with it that the two really constitute but one narrative. Isaiah 37:22 of Isaiah 36:1. is more closely connected with Isaiah 37:1, than with the position of the narrative to which it is attached. ISAIAH 37:1 WHEN KING HEZEKIAH HEARD IT; rather, _heard them_;_ i.e._ the "words of Rabshakeh," which his officials reported to him. HE RENT HIS CLOTHES. He did as they had done (Isaiah 36:22

IT MAY BE THE LORD THY GOD WILL HEAR THE WORDS OF RABSHAKEH,.... He had heard them; but the sense is, that it might be that he would take notice of them, and resent them in a public manner, and punish for them; and this is said, not as doubting and questioning whether he would or not, but as hoping and encouraging himself that he would: and it may be observed, that Hezekiah does not call the Lord "my God", or "our God", because he and his people were under the chastening hand of God for their sins, and were undeserving of such a relation; but "thy God", whose prophet he was, whom he served, and to whom he was dear, and with whom he had an interest; and therefore it might be hoped his prayer to him would be heard and accepted, and that through his interposition God would be prevailed upon to take notice of the railing speech of Rabshakeh: WHOM THE KING OF ASSYRIA HIS MASTER HATH SENT TO...

CHAPTER 37 Hezekiah in the House of the Lord and Sennacherib's Second Attempt 1. _Hezekiah's humiliation and Isaiah sent for (Isaiah 37:1)_ 2. _The message from the prophet (Isaiah 37:6)_ 3. _Rabshakeh's letter (Isaiah 37:8)_ 4. _Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 37:14)_ 5. _The prayer answered (Isaiah 37:21)_ 6. _The army of Sennacherib judged (Isaiah 37:36)_ 7. The judgment upon Sennacherib ...

ISAIAH 36-39. This section has been extracted from 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 20:19, and the Song of Hezekiah has been added. For an exposition see the notes on 2 K.; here we have simply to deal with the Song of Hezekiah. ISAIAH 38:10. THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM IMMINENT DEATH. This is now generally regarded as a post-exilic psalm. Its absence in the parallel narratine in Kings is significant. Apparently it was inserted here by an editor who thought it suitable to Hezekiah's circumstances. If, as seems likely, it has been influenced by the Book of Job, it must be post-exilic. The title cannot, any more than the Psalm titles, weigh against internal evidence. Hezekiah's writing after his recov

RABSHAKEH. the Rabshakeh. See note on Isaiah 36:2. LIFT UP THY PRAYER. Note the reference to Hezekiah's "Song of the Degrees"....

_It may be_ Or "Peradventure." The one hope is that Jehovah will take notice of the dishonour done to His name by the threats and blasphemies of the Assyrian king. _the Lord thy God_ See ch. Isaiah 7:13. The prophet stands nearer to God than other men. Jehovah is _the living God_, as opposed to the dead idols to whose level the boast of the Assyrian had degraded Him. (Cf. 1Sa 17:26; 1 Samuel 17:36.) _wherefore lift up_ Or perhaps "and that thou wilt lift up," still dependent on "It may be." The efficacy of intercessory prayer is taught and assumed throughout the Old Testament: see Genesis 18:23 ff.; Exodus 32:31 ff.;...

SENT TO REPROACH THE LIVING GOD, &C.— This strongly marks the distinction between the Almighty, considered as the tutelary God of his chosen people, and the tutelary deities of the Pagan nations: The latter were only lifeless idols; the former was endued with unceasing life, and the source of life to all creatures. Vitringa renders the next clause, _And to affront with words:_ It is remarkable, that Hezekiah, in great modesty and humility, as if he was unworthy of his favour and regard, calls Jehovah, not _his God,_ but _thy God,_ the God of that Isaiah who was devoted to him, and peculiarly happy in his communion and favour. The last clause properly should be rendered, _For the remnant which are found,_ "which actually exist at this time in their country." See 2 Chronicles 35:18 in the original....