Today’s passage: Isaiah 36
Helpful thoughts:
- Isaiah 36-39 contains the events recorded in 2 Kings 18:13-20:19.
- A “rabshakeh” was a high ranking military officer in the Assyrian army.
- In verse 7, the Assyrians mistake the removal of the “high places” as an abandonment of the worship of God. On the contrary, the high places were against God’s commands. Hezekiah had ordered their destruction in obedience to God’s will.
- There was a military and a theological threat made on the king and the people of Israel.
- Militarily, they were no match for Assyria.
- Theologically, the Assyrian king Sennacherib was seeking to convince the people they could find more protection and prosperity under his care than under God’s.
Questions to consider:
- What was supposed to be the answer to the questions of verses 4-5? Who was Israel’s true defender?
- In what ways was the Rabshakeh right and in what ways was he wrong? Why would a right understanding of scripture be necessary to think rightly about this offer? How would a wrong understanding (or an ignorance) of scripture cause someone to make the wrong choice?
- In times of trouble, to whom or to what do you turn? Whose counsel do you receive? How can you ensure it is pleasing to the Lord and in accordance to His Word?