Assyria invades Judah

ISAIAH  CHAPTER 36

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, the king of Assyria came to attack the cities of Judah and conquered them. Then the Assyrian king sent his personal representatives with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah. They sent Hezekiah the message that the king from Assyria wanted to know why he was so confident? They asked if Hezekiah's troops had more skill than theirs, or were they just trusting in the Lord? But, they said, didn't the Lord make Hezekiah tear down all the shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah worship at Jerusalem?

The Assyrians offered to strike a bargain with Hezekiah: if they could find 2 thousand horsemen, they would be given 2 thousand horses to ride. They scorned Hezekiah's weak army and told him how easy it was to invade his land, that the Lord himself had ordered it. The Assyrian representative shouted at the people in Jerusalem that Hezekiah could never rescue them. They shouted at the people in Jerusalem not to listen to Hezekiah and just open the gates and come out. They shouted that the Lord could not rescue them.

But the people in Jerusalem were silent and did not answer because Hezekiah told them not to speak. Then Eliakin, son of Hikiah, the palace administrator went to Hezekian tearing his clothing in despair at what the Assyrian representative had said.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Hezekiah put great trust in the Pharoah's promise to help them fight the Assyrians, but promises are only as good as the credibility of the one making them. Though the representatives of Assyria tried to turn the people of Judah against God, Isaiah had already told them the Assyrians would not destroy Jerusalem, so the people had nothing to fear. For the Lord's own sake and the sake of David, the Lord would rescue Jerusalem from the invading army.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Hezekia tried to refor the people by tearing down the altars and having them worship the true God. But the Assyrians tried to entice the starving city with land and plenty of food. Can't you just see Satan behind every move of the Assyrians. Satan was here to try to confuse or deceive them, just as he continues to try to deceive us in our everyday life. To avoid Satan's deceit, study God's word carefully and regularly. When you know what God says, you will not fall for Satan's lies.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe. Pray for Logan during her difficult pregnancy.


Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s.Update on this family: After many trips back and forth to Ok., her mother-in law passed away last week. Our sympathy to the family. Finally she is at peace.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.