At the end of chapter 37 we learned about the destruction of the Assyrian army and Sennacherib’s assassination in the temple of his god. Chapter 38 spoke of Hezekiah being sick unto death and his miraculous restoration. In chapter 39 we meet the Babylonians. This people, at the time subject to Assyria, would soon be the new regional superpower. God uses the rise and fall of empires to accomplish His will and to educate His people. May the Lord grant us grace to take the long view of God’s sovereign purpose and not be fretful about day to day disappointments.

Once again we have an embarrassment of riches in this passage. It is like a Russian doll of miracles; miracle within miracle, wonder within wonder. Yet the miracles are only the start. ‘The writing of Hezekiah’, this confession of the king in his sickness and upon his recovery, is full of spiritual wisdom and the earnest wrestling of a child of God. In facing his own mortality this dying man opened his heart and his mouth to the Saviour whom he loved and bequeathed to the church a blessed testimony of God’s grace, faithfulness and mercy. A lesson for all time Because the phrase ‘in those days’ is somewhat imprecise it is not clear exactly when this sickness afflicted Hezekiah, or indeed the order of…

Our passage begins a section of four historical chapters (Isaiah 36-39) that supply a link between the first and second parts of Isaiah’s prophecy. These chapters are almost identical to passages in 2 Kings 18-20 and rather than being prophetic relate to incidents in the life of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The first two chapters conclude Isaiah’s references to Assyria which had long been the dominant military power in the region. The latter two signal the beginning of a new series of prophecies concerning the Babylonian Empire. These prophecies provide Isaiah’s readers with still grander views of the coming Messiah and the glory and power of God in salvation.

Our passage begins a section of four historical chapters (Isaiah 36-39) that supply a link between the first and second parts of Isaiah’s prophecy. These chapters are almost identical to passages in 2 Kings 18-20 and rather than being prophetic relate to incidents in the life of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The first two chapters conclude Isaiah’s references to Assyria which had long been the dominant military power in the region. The latter two signal the beginning of a new series of prophecies concerning the Babylonian Empire. These prophecies provide Isaiah’s readers with still grander views of the coming Messiah and the glory and power of God in salvation.

Isaiah thirty-five is a passage full of rich treasures. Hawker says, ‘This chapter is as full of blessed promises to God’s church, as the former was full of threatenings to God’s enemies’. The prophet lifts his hearers’ gaze from the wrath of God with its razor sharp judgment to the salvation of God with its blessings of grace. Isaiah lightens his message and softens the vision with encouragements for renewal, refreshment and peace. He plants the promise of spiritual fruitfulness, cultivates the prospect of holy worship and flourishing service, sweetens the air with the fragrance of praise as roses bloom in a desert breeze. Ignorance no excuse In our passage ‘the sword of the Lord’ is referring to judgment and chastisement upon the nations of…

Swords used by the ancient Hebrews were pointed, two-edged, worn in a sheath and suspended from a belt around the waist. When Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s sword this is what would be in the mind of his hearers. In scripture the phrase ‘the sword of the Lord’ carries the sense of divine punishment and judgment. It was Gideon’s rallying cry in his role as Judge in Israel. It is also descriptive of the holy scriptures for their heart-piercing and liberating power. Ignorance no excuse In our passage ‘the sword of the Lord’ is referring to judgment and chastisement upon the nations of the world. Whether the nations ever came near to hear Isaiah’s message is no hindrance to its certain fulfilment. Likewise people today…