HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 1 ISAIAH

ISAIAH LESSON 15
© 2015 • COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY
WWW.CBSINTERNATIONAL.ORG

PROPHECY AND HISTORY, PART 2

Isaiah 36–37
Memorise God’s Word for the week: Isaiah 40:29.

Discuss review questions from the previous lesson.

DAY 1: ISAIAH 36:1-20; 2 KINGS 18:13-35; 2 CHRONICLES 32:8—JERUSALEM THREATENED

Note: Rabshakeh is a title for an Assyrian military officer.

1. In Isaiah 38:6, we read that God had promised to deliver Judah from Assyria. Here, according to 36:1-3,
what do we see that “Sennacherib king of Assyria” did?

In Isaiah 38:1, God promised to deliver Hezekiah from the

Assyrians. In Isaiah 36:1-3, the king of Assyria attacked the
forti ed cities of Judah and captured them. He then sent his eld to
the King of Judah to close the aqueduct in order to deprive
Jerusalem of water—siege warfare tactic.
2. According to 2 Kings 18:13-16, how had Hezekiah first responded to Assyria’s capture of Judah’s
fortified cities?

Hezekiah sent an emissary to the King of Assyria and gave tribute

to him in order to have the Assyrian Army withdraw. The tribute
was sourced from the from the temple and the royal treasury.
3. According to 2 Chronicles 32:8, when Sennacherib intended to lay siege to Jerusalem, what
further actions did Hezekiah take as a military and spiritual leader?

Hezekiah appointed military of cers over the people and gathered

the people in the square at the city gate and encouraged them by
telling them that God is with them and will help them ght their
battles.
4. In Isaiah 36:4-20, how did the Assyrian official try to erode confidence in Hezekiah’s leadership and in
God?

He employed psychological warfare. He was trying to coerce the

Hezekiah to capitulate without ghting. San Tsu in the “Art of War”
said, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without
ghting.” He employed psychological warfare by trying to ridicule
God (tried because God cannot be mocked) and mocking Hezekiah’s
alliance with Egypt (Egypt fell before the Assyrians). The eld

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

fi

fi

fi
fi

fi
fi

fi

 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 2 ISAIAH

commander is implying that Jerusalem’s salvation is dependent on

the Assyrian king and not with the God of Israel.

DAY 2: ISAIAH 36:21–37:8; 2 KINGS 18:36–19:8—HEZEKIAH’S RESPONSE

5. How did Hezekiah’s leaders, the Judahites on the wall, and Hezekiah himself respond to the
threat against Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:21–37:4)?

They tore their clothes and put on sackcloth and went to the
temple. In Isaiah 37:3-4, their distress was about how the Assyrian
eld commander came to ridicule God and that the said
commander be rebuked by God.
6. What attitude did Hezekiah’s message to Isaiah reflect?

Wearing sackcloth is a public expression of sorrow, mourning, or

submission. In Isaiah 37:3, Hezekiah is expressing his
helplessness. In Isaiah 37:4, Hezekiah is pleading that the Lord
rebuke the Assyrian eld commander be rebuked for ridiculing
God.
7. What do you think accounts for the difference between Ahaz’s response to military threats and
Hezekiah’s response to the imminent threat against Jerusalem?

King Ahaz decided to ask help from a foreign kingdom instead of

depending on God despite the fact that God assurances
communicated through the prophet Isaiah. Whereas, Isaiah
decided to call upon God fo aid and rely on God to ght Judah’s
enemies.
8. What did God tell Isaiah to tell the men who had delivered Hezekiah’s message? And what does Isaiah
37:8 say that the Rabshekeh did?

Isaiah told them that the Assyrian eld commander will return to
his country and will be cut down there. In Isaiah 37:8, the eld
commander heard the King of Assyria had left Lachish, he
withdrew and found the king ghting against Libnah.

In 2 Chronicles 32:21, God sent an angel who annihilated the

Assyrian army in their own camp which caused the Assyrian King
to withdraw and go back to Assyria.

DAY 3: ISAIAH 37:9-21—ANOTHER THREAT AND ANOTHER RESPONSE

Note: The timing of these events is uncertain. Many Bible scholars believe that about a decade had elapsed
since Sennacherib’s last attempt to take Jerusalem until the time of the events in this passage.

9. The “destroyer” mentioned in 33:1 is probably Assyria. What would happen to it?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
fi

fi

fi

fi

fi

fi

HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 3 ISAIAH

Sennacherib’s reign ended when he was assassinated by his own

son in 681 BC. The Neo-Assyrian Empire fell in 609 BC.

Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem took place in 701 BC. So, the Neo-
Assyrian Empire fell 92 years after the siege of Jerusalem.
10. How was Hezekiah’s response similar to the previous time? Different from it?

It was the same because he prayed to God re Sennacherib ridiculing

God and asked God for deliverance. It was different because
apparently he prayed directly to God instead of having Isaiah
relaying the prayer tp God.
11. For what reason did Hezekiah urge the Lord to answer his prayer?

He wanted the other kingdoms to know that YHWH is the only God.
12. How did Hezekiah know that God had heard his prayer?

Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah and prophesied that Sennacherib will not

enter Jerusalem.

God sent an angel and destroyed the Assyrian army.

DAY 4: ISAIAH 37:22-38—Fulfilment OF PROPHECY

13. Why did God take the Assyrians’ arrogance personally (37:23-24)?

Because, they have declared that they are greater than God,
impliedly.
14. What would God do because of the Assyrians’ arrogance and complacency (37:29)?

He will put a bridle on Assyria and send them back from whence
they came.
15. How did God say He would personally fulfil His words about the Assyrians (37:35)? And how did He
fulfil His warning?

God will defend Jerusalem and save it.

God sent an angel who annihilated the Assyrian army in their own
camp which caused the Assyrian King to withdraw and go back to
Assyria.
16. Review 37:7. What additional prophecy was fulfilled, according to 37:37-38?

Sennacherib was killed by his sons.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 4 ISAIAH

DAY 5: 2 CHRONICLES 32:22-33—HEZEKIAH’S LEGACY

17. What further insight does this passage give about what was happening with Hezekiah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem while they were being threatened by Assyrian military action?

God took care of them and were relatively ne despite the fact that
they were besieged.
18. How does 32:27-30 sum up Hezekiah’s accomplishments?

Judah became wealthy, he built infrastructure, and built

communities.
19. Verse 25 alludes to a time when Hezekiah faltered. Review Isaiah 39. What happened during this time?

Hezekiah became ill and was cured by God and boasted about his
wealth and resources instead of giving glory to God.
20. On the basis of what you have studied about King Hezekiah, how would you describe his legacy as
a king? (Be sure to include both where he faltered and where he pleased God.)

Generally, Hezekiah was a good King of Judah. He reinstitute the

worship of YHWH and tore the altars and high places of the false
gods. He depended on God for deliverance from the Assyrians. HE
listened to God’s prophet. Judah was prosperous during his reign.
However, near the end of his reign he became proud and forgot
God’s kindness and mercy bestowed upon him.

DAY 6: PARTICIPATE IN CLASS

APPLY what you have learned. Hezekiah was a great king and also a flawed one. In the later
years of his reign, when he was enjoying success and prosperity, pride took hold in him. However,
when God sent the prophet Isaiah to confront this in him, Hezekiah humbled him-self before God.
This was a man who followed God all his life and finished well. Think about the mature believers
you know. Who do you know who is finishing well? This week, ask that person, “How have you
stayed close to God all these years?” Consider carefully what he or she tells you.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

fi

 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 5 ISAIAH

DAY 7: PROPHECY AND HISTORY, PART 2

Isaiah 36–37
SENNACHERIB’S ULTIMATUM (ISAIAH 36:1–37:8; 2 KINGS 18:13- 37) Sennacherib’s armies
methodically conquered Judah, city after city. Using silver and gold from the temple and the royal
treasuries, Hezekiah sent tribute to Sennacherib with an appeal to withdraw the Assyrian armies from
the land of Judah. Hezekiah also fortified Jerusalem’s walls, protected Judah’s springs from the
Assyrian army, stockpiled weapons, and appointed military commanders. He exhorted the people to
“be strong and courageous. ... With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us
and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). Then Sennacherib sent his field commander to
Hezekiah with an ultimatum to surrender. Although God had heard Hezekiah and assured deliverance
from the Assyrians, the ultimatum still terrified both the king and his subjects.
Sennacherib considered Hezekiah’s God to be on the same level as the gods of the other nations the
Assyrians had conquered. The Assyrian officer warned Judah’s people that they should not listen to
King Hezekiah or trust in his God. Judah’s officials tore their clothes as a sign of distress and in-
formed their king of Sennacherib’s message. Hezekiah tore his clothes also, put on sackcloth, and
went to the temple. He sent word to Isaiah to “lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left”
(Isaiah 37:4).
THINK ABOUT the taunts from the enemy. The Assyrian field commander tempted the people to doubt
God: “On what do you rest this trust of yours? ... In whom do you now trust?” (Isaiah 36:4-5). Satan uses
this tactic with us too when he plants seeds of doubt: “Is God as good as you thought He was? Is His
character worthy of your trust?” The devil’s arguments are all based on false premises. Hezekiah didn’t
turn away from God in doubt or confusion; he turned toward God. He led the priests and his administration
in declaring repentance and dependence on God; he went to the temple to pray; and he asked Isaiah to
pray.

God had heard the blasphemous words. He would put a spirit within Sennacherib so that he would
return to his own land because of “a rumour” (37:7). Further, King Sennacherib would be killed at
some point after he returned home. In 701 BC, Sennacherib suddenly broke camp in Judah and
marched to Babylon to suppress a rebellion there. During the next decade, the necessity of keeping
the Assyrian troops in Babylon relieved Judah of the Assyrian threat and provided an extended
period of peace and prosperity.
THE RENEWED ASSYRIAN THREAT (ISAIAH 37:9-38) Remembering that Hezekiah did not surrender
Jerusalem to him before he had withdrawn from Judah (probably about 12 years earlier),
Sennacherib again decided to conquer Jerusalem. This time Sennacherib sent a letter that warned,
“Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given
into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
Hezekiah read the letter, took it into the temple, and spread it out before the Lord. He appealed to the
Maker of heaven and earth to “hear all the words of Sennacherib” that had mocked God. Hezekiah
acknowledged that the Assyrians had conquered many lands and destroyed the gods of those lands.
He asked God to demonstrate His power in such a way “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone are the LORD.”
Assyria’s arrogance and pride had led to blasphemy and insults against the Holy One of Israel. God
reminded Sennacherib that He had chosen Assyria as a means of judgment and would deal with them
the same way they treated their captives. The prophecy recorded in 37:30-32 directly addresses
Sennacherib’s “promise,” recorded in 36:16, about the Judahites’ having a fruitful land and enough
water to drink.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 15 6 ISAIAH

Then God gave Hezekiah a sign: for two years the people would live on crops that grew without being
cultivated; the third year, they would plant and eat their crops. This harvest would be a
miracle because vineyards usually take years to produce fruit. God repeated His promise
that a remnant from Judah would survive and Jerusalem would be protected.

This prophecy was fulfilled when 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died as the Israelites slept. After this
sudden decimation, Sennacherib took the remnant of his army and retreated to Nineveh. In 681 BC,
two of Sennacherib’s sons “struck him down with the sword” (Isaiah 37:38)—a precise fulfilment of
God’s words in 37:7. Another son, Esarhaddon, succeeded King Sennacherib.
HEZEKIAH’S LEGACY (2 CHRONICLES 32:22-33) After God removed the Assyrian threat, Hezekiah
enjoyed peace and prosperity, just as God had promised. Although Hezekiah faltered at times, like
when he asserted his pride with the Babylonian envoys (see Isaiah 39), he had been a remarkably
godly king. He restored and repaired the temple, reinstated God’s feasts, reaffirmed the Levites as
priests, and led the people in destroying the places of idol worship. “[Hezekiah] did what was
good and right and faithful before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 31:20). This is the legacy of a
man who, throughout his life and reign, committed sins but also modelled obedience to God and
trust in Him alone.
THINK ABOUT the contrast between dependence on self and dependence on God. Sennacherib lived by
brute power. His arrogance probably grew with each conquest. But eventually, he was cut down by his
own sons. On the other hand, Hezekiah stood firm in his faith and depended on God. So, one king relied
on military strength while the other relied on God’s power. We see Hezekiah pre-vailed and Sennacherib
was defeated. God’s power is at its best when we recognise our own weakness and depend on Him (see
2 Corinthians 12:9).

After the historical interlude in chapters 36–39, which we have just studied, the prophecies and
messages from God continue in the rest of the book of Isaiah. With the demise of Sennacherib, the
focus shifts away from the Assyrian threat. The rest of the book will allude to the future reality of
judgment at the hands of the Babylonians. Yet, we will also see God’s continued emphasis on His
promise to comfort, restore, and redeem His people from the consequences of their sin.
PERSONALISE this lesson. Isaiah did not arrange chapters 36–39 chronologically. In Isaiah 38, we see King
Hezekiah praying as he faced imminent death: “Please, Oh LORD, remember how I have walked before you in
faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight” (verse 3). In chapter 37, which
follows 38 chronologically, he prayed when his nation faced destruction: “Oh LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made
heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, Oh LORD, and see; and hear all the words
of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.... So now, Oh LORD our God, save us from
his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD” (verses 16-20).
What elements of growth do you see in Hezekiah’s prayers that might apply to your own prayers?

REVIEW: PROPHECY AND HISTORY, PART 2

21. From the events in Hezekiah’s life, what did you learn about developing your relationship with God?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV®. Copyright© 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.