How would it look like for God to answer prayers? How do you expect God to answer your prayers? Is God like a genie to you? You ask for something and prayer, and the way God answers it is to give you the thing you asked for at the time you ask for it. We are all tempted to treat God like a genie approaching Him to ask Him to give us something or to get us out of trouble. Some of us may think that if we ask more sincerely, God will act according to our requests.
In today’s passage, we will read of what God does in response to Hezekiah’s godly prayer and cry for help. We will see how God responds to prayers by revealing himself as sovereign and omniscient, by giving signs and assurances, and by acting on and keeping his promises.
(A) Premise: God Responds to Prayer (Isa 37:21)
The background to this passage is that the King of Assyria has conquered all the fortified cities of Judah (Isa 36:1) and Jerusalem is facing an impending invasion from Assyria (Isa 36:2). Assyria taunted Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem to abandon their trust in God and to surrender to them instead (Isa 36:4-7). Notably, the king of Assyria also mocked God by saying that he is no different from the gods of the nations (Isa 36:18-20, 37:10-13). Therefore, Judah is facing a crisis, and its capital (Jerusalem) is threatened
In the previous study, we studied Isaiah 37:14-20 where we looked into Hezekiah’s prayer in this time of crisis. We asked ourselves how we prayed and what we prayed for. We noted that Hezekiah prayers were immediate, recalls God’s character, and above all focused on God’s glory
This entire section is premised upon Hezekiah’s prayer. In this section, God replied in Isaiah 37:21 — “Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria”. The word “because” is so significant here, as it tells us that God is speaking these words to Hezekiah because of his prayer. God went out of His way to tell Hezekiah that his prayer is significant! Isn’t this kind of God, that He wanted to assure Hezekiah that his prayer was not wasted. God works through his people’s prayers and the ESV Study Bible also reminds us that God loves his people to depend on Him, and He acts accordingly so. God delights to respond to his people’s prayers as he carries out his good purposes, thus prayer makes a difference and is not just a mental exercise to make us feel good.
How often are we tempted to believe that there is no point in praying? How often are we disappointed to hear that all our friends can do is to pray for us, rather than solve our problems or offer us solutions? Do we sometimes joke and say: “pray about it lor” as if it is an after-thought instead of being of first importance Prayers are not some mental exercise to make us feel better about our circumstances.
We need to be praying. The Bible teaches us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). If we don’t pray, we disregard God’s work in our lives, instead depending on something else to deliver us. If we don’t pray, we don’t depend on God to work, instead relying on ourselves to get the work done, thinking we can do it by ourselves. Do we even pray for our ministry work? Or are we just doing things and checking off boxes in our checklist of tasks?
If prayer makes a difference, we need not be ashamed to offer up prayer or to ask for prayer. It is not “lame” just to offer up prayer. Of course, we are to also extend practical help when we can and are able to do so. But asking for prayer is not being overly pious or religious but realistic because we know that God works through prayer.
We also need to remember to praise and thank God for answering and responding to our prayer. Often, we pray for a particular issue which we are worried or anxious about. Before it is resolved, we pray much about it, but when God has delivered us out of the problem, we are quick to forget what God has done for us, forget to thank God and to give him praise. Do we reflect on God’s goodness to us and treasure moments when God has answered prayers? These moments should build our trust and faith in God as we mature as Christians!
What’s important to you? The salvation of your family members? Your job? Your desire to be married? Ministry effectiveness? Whatever it is, it should never be said of Christians that we’ve never prayed about that which is important to us!
(B) God Responds by Revealing His Sovereignty and Omniscience (Isa 37:22-29)
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer. God speaks about Sennacherib in Isaiah 37:22 and reveals that Zion/Jerusalem will despise and scorns Sennacherib. Zion/Jerusalem also wags her head in a sign of disapproval behind Sennacherib, probably when he is fleeing. We are also told that Zion/Jerusalem will remain a virgin daughter — untouched and unviolated by Sennacherib.
God also takes offence at Sennacherib’s mockery (Isa 37:23-25). Isaiah 37:23 tells us that Sennacherib was mocking, reviling, raising his voice and lifting his eyes against God, the Holy One of Israel. Notice that God here is referred to as the one and only true God who is separate from the gods of the nations (“Holy One”) and identifies himself with his people (“of Israel”).
Sennacherib’s boasts were in his many chariots who have gone up mountains, far recesses, to cut down Lebanon’s tallest cedars and choicest cypresses in its most fruitful forests. Sennacherib also boasted in being able to dig wells of water (a valuable military resource), and could even dry up the streams of Egypt with just the sole of his foot. Sennacherib’s confidence is in his military might, and his past record of victories puffed him up against God. Thus, Sennacherib’s fatal mistake was to lump the Holy One of Israel with the rest of the gods of the nations. He challenged God’s holiness.
God revealed that He is the one who has determined and planned for Sennacherib’s military victories (Isa 37:26-27). He has purposed Sennacherib to make fortified cities —which were generally viewed as safe and well-guarded — crash into ruins, with their inhabitants lacking strength and confused. God is the one who gave these cities into the hand of Sennacherib. It is not because of his many chariots or his military strategies or anything on his part.
Here, we see not just what God is going to do, but we also see God’s heart. His sovereignty over all of history is also evident. The ESV Study Bible also helps us to see that God is not responding to unfolding events but events reveal his own long-intended purposes.
As we read on in Isaiah 37:28-29, we also see that God revealed to know everything about Sennacherib. Sennacherib’s sitting down, going out, coming in, raging against him were all know to God. God is all-knowing and omniscient.
Sennacherib’s complacency and pride has also come to God’s ears (“God hears”, c.f. Isa 37:17). God will put a hook in Sennacherib’s nose and a bit in his mouth. God is in full control of the “mighty” king of Assyria as with an animal. Note that Assyrians were known for their cruelty, and often they were known to lead their prisoners around by placing a hook into their nostrils. Thus, God will turn him back on the way he came (c.f. Isa 37:7). God has full control over Sennacherib. As Proverbs 21:1 also tell us, the king’s heart is also in the hand of the LORD.
Are we like Sennacherib in his failure to recognise God as sovereign and omniscient? How have we gone about our days at school, at work or in ministry thinking that it was our own achievements and our own work that influenced the outcomes? Maybe we don’t speak like Sennacherib, but in our hearts and our actions, we live as if we are sovereign, and we think we know better than everyone else. How have we belittled God in the way we live? Have you ever felt like you got the hang of things? Or maybe there are parts of life where you feel you don’t need God to help you in because you got it covered. This is nothing against being skilfull or being proficient in the things we do, but there is no moment where God isn’t the one who works and purposes in our doing.
In our context of uncovering how God answers prayer, his sovereignty and omniscience forms the foundation of our prayers. It is precisely because he is sovereign and omniscient that we can confidently come before God in prayer. His sovereignty means that he is in full control of all things. Why pray to someone who can’t make a difference? His omniscience means that he knows all things perfectly. His perfect knowledge means that his purposes and will is perfect, it is not missing some information or based on just what we have mentioned in our prayers. This is a comfort for us as we pray imperfect prayers.
When we combine these 2 sections, we realise that things happen because we pray and also because God is sovereign and omniscient.
(C) God Responds by Giving Signs and Assurances (Isa 37:30-35)
God also gives to Hezekiah a sign and assurances for these things revealed. The sign is the provision of food despite Assyrian crisis (Isa 37:30-32a). War is sometimes won by attrition, when one wears down their enemy by draining their resources. Yet, we read of how in the first year, they will eat what grows of itself. In the second, they will eat what springs from that. In the third year, they will sow and reap food for themselves, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. God promises that the people’s welfare will be well-taken care of. He promises provision. They will have free food for 2 years, and then the land will recover enough for farming. They will take deep root and bear fruit once more like a healthy plant. Thus, God promises to provide and also ensure that in Jerusalem or Zion, there will be a remnant, band of survivors. They will not be completely destroyed.
The assurance is that Assyria will not even come close to attacking/conquering Jerusalem (Isa 37:33-34). Assyria will not come into Jerusalem and neither will they shoot an arrow. God promises to control every arrow, even these attacks from afar! The enemy will also not come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound (i.e. attack from nearby). They will return by the same way they came.
See how God is so specific in his assurance to Hezekiah and Jerusalem! He covers all the bases of warfare and assures Hezekiah of their safety. How gracious of God to give these signs? It is so that when these things happen, Hezekiah will know that it is not merely coincidence that delivered him out of the Assyria king but God at work!
God promises protection yet doesn’t promise to shore up Jerusalem’s armies or strengthen them. The agency and the actor is all of God.
What is the guarantee that these things will happen? In Isaiah 37:32b, we read “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this”. It is God’s own zeal, His motivation and commitment that will achieve this for Jerusalem. Notice also his name: the LORD of hosts, the God of the heavenly armies, the all-powerful God who is able to do all things.
Isaiah 37:35 also tells us that God will defend this city to save it for His own sake and for the sake of His servant David. God defends his people for his own sake. He works out His purposes for His glory and on account of his covenant with David (c.f. 2 Sam 7). God is being faithful to his covenant made with David where He promises to make David a house (2 Sam 7:11) and to establish David’s offspring’s kingdom forever (2 Sam 7:13).
(D) God Responds by Keeping His Promises (Isa 37:36-38)
In the closing verses of this chapter, Isaiah records for us what happened to Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. The angel of the LORD struck down 185 000 in the camp of the Assyrians (Isa 37:36). Earlier, the Rabshakeh accused God’s strategy to be “mere words” (Isa 36:5). This attack on Assyria was was a tangible and observable fact with the dead bodies evident for all to see. These verses show us that God is quick to keep his promises. In this passage, there is no delay between his response to Hezekiah and his act of deliverance. 2 Kings 19:35 tells us that God struck down the Assyrians “that night”.
Sennacherib himself returned home and lived in the capital city, Nineveh, just as God had promised that he will turn back from where he came (Isa 37:37). Sennacherib’s sons struck him down with a sword (promised in Isa 37:7 as well) while he worshipped in the house of his false god, Nisroch (this happened 20 years later) (Isa 37:38). The contrast is striking where we have Hezekiah going to the house of the LORD (Isa 37:14) and Sennacherib going to the house of Nisroch (Isa 37:38). One of them is saved, and the other is struck down.
What is the tone of Isaiah’s record of these events (Isa 37:36-38)? These verses were written in a matter-of-fact and factual tone with very little detail. It is almost as if all of this is no surprise to Isaiah since God had already promised and spoke of Sennacherib’s fall. God overpowers his enemies with ease. He keeps and fulfils his promise of saving and defending Jerusalem from Sennacherib. God is not one with “mere words” as mocked by the Assyrians but also a God powerful in his action.
We started our study thinking of how God responds to prayers, and asked if he was like a “genie” to give us what we request for. In our study, we saw that firstly and importantly, God responds to and answers prayers. Then we saw that God responds by revealing his sovereignty and omniscience forming the foundation of our prayers. He also gives signs, assurances and keeps his promises.
What sign, assurances, and promises does God give us today then? Matthew 12:38-42 helps us to think about and see what it means for us today. When the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign in Matthew 12:38-42 to prove that he is the Messiah/anointed one, Jesus tells them that no sign will be given “except the sign of the prophet Jonah”. What does this mean? Jesus called them (and us) to look to His death and resurrection.
This is the sign for us today: Jesus’ death and resurrection give us the assurance and shows us that God keeps all his promises to his people to save them to himself. Remember that signs are not given for fun but point to and show us Christ! This sign shows us that God keeps His promises.
We started this series thinking about warfare not in military terms, but in our fight for faith and trust in God today. Today’s military tutorial tells us that for Christians, prayer is the way we win wars, because it is God who claims the victory on our behalf. We could never fight and win on our own. As we pray over many things and pray for God’s glory to be revealed in our lives, we recall that God has given us everything in His Son, Jesus Christ, through him all his promises are kept (c.f. 2 Cor 1:20). The cross shows us that God is trustworthy! This is why we pray all things in Jesus name. It is with this peace and favour from God that we come to God praying, fighting for our faith and his glory in our lives. Do you have a consistent prayer life? How does praying help us in our fight for faith today? How does God respond to prayer? How does Jesus’ death and resurrection change the way we pray?