God Listens
Isaiah 37:14–20, 30–35
Chapters 34–39 begin a transition in the Book of Isaiah from Assyria as the main threat to Babylon. The Assyrians had already taken the Northern Kingdom into captivity and they were on the doorstep of Jerusalem, preparing to capture the Southern Kingdom as well. The leader of the Assyrian army had just given King Hezekiah an ultimatum to surrender and be taken captive but live, or be under siege by the Assyrian army and suffer greatly. The army leader even pointed out that God had told him to march out against Jerusalem; it was true that God planned on using the Assyrians for His purposes (see Isa. 10:5–6).
The Request (14–20)
Hezekiah was shaken by the events. The Assyrians had defeated many other nations and destroyed their gods made of wood and stone. But Hezekiah trusted in a God who was not like those other gods; he trusted in the living God of Israel. Therefore, Hezekiah prayed to God, asking for deliverance because it was an insult to God that these pagans thought the God of Israel was no different than the gods of the other nations. Hezekiah was primarily concerned for God’s glory, not his own preservation.
This is a good lesson for Christians today. We often think of our own preservation and our own benefit, which is not innately wrong, but our main concern should always be praying God would be glorified.
If we pray that God would be glorified, it helps us keep in mind how we are to act and behave no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in. God is always glorified when we act in accordance with His will — loving our neighbor, treating others with dignity and respect, etc.
This does not mean it is wrong to pray for better circumstances or blessings, but our main desire should be for God to be glorified.
The Sign (30–32)
God answered Hezekiah’s prayer and promised to rescue the Israelites. To confirm this, God gave a sign to Hezekiah saying that in three years, the people of Israel would eat the produce from their own fields and vineyards, demonstrating how they would be free to work their farms and live in peace.
God gives promises to us today as well. For example, God promises to provide for us an eternal home and provide justice. This helps us go through life with a confidence that no matter our circumstances, God cares for us and loves us, as shown in Christ’s death on our behalf.
Many Christians think God will provide for them physically or financially, but this is not a promise God gives to us. God promises to take care of us spiritually. Many times Christians make some sort of claim of how God will provide money or cars for them. When it doesn’t come true, they make God out to be a liar, which is blasphemous. We need to disavow that type of preaching as it is no gospel at all but a false gospel that turns God into a wish machine who gives us what we want.
The Answer (33–35)
God answered His prayer to Hezekiah by saying that the Assyrian army would not even attack Jerusalem but would leave without an arrow being fired by either side. What a strange response — an army that has devastated all nations before it and was ready to lay siege to Jerusalem would be dismissed without any military attack? But true to His word, the Assyrian army was defeated by the angel of the Lord, who struck down 185,000 in a single night.
Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God fulfilling His promises — there has never been a promise God has not answered. Since we have seen God be true to His word throughout the Bible, we can be assured that He will fulfill His promises to us — promises to care for us even in death, preparing a place for us (see John 14).
Therefore we can be confident as we face trials in this life that God has provided salvation for us in Christ, which allows us to live in victory.
By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
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