Isaiah 37:1-7
Humble prayer invites divine intervention.
1 When king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house.
2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
3 They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to give birth.
4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”
5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘Yahweh says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” ’ ”
Humble prayer invites divine intervention.
To portray Hezekiah’s humble response to crisis and the LORD’s promise to answer Assyria’s blasphemy.
Hezekiah’s Prayer and the LORD’s Deliverance from Assyria
When Assyria blasphemes the living God and threatens Zion, Hezekiah brings the matter before the LORD, and the LORD vindicates His name, defends His city, preserves His remnant, and judges the proud enemy by His own power.