Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Sennacherib king of Assyria"
Text: Isaiah 36:1
THE THREAT OF THE ASSYRIANS
Isaiah recorded a historical event that took place in his ministry as God’s prophet to Judah. Sennacherib had arrived in Judah with a huge army.
“Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib
king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
Then the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish
to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool,
on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.
And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household,
Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him.”
Isaiah 36:1-3
1. The reign of Hezekiah.
a) His reign was noted in 2 Kings 18:1.
b) He began to reign at 25 years of age.
c) He ruled for 29 years.
d) His mother was called Abijah who was the daughter of Zechariah.
e) Zechariah was the High Priest then.
f) He had the rare honour of being mentioned as one who did right as King David (2 Kings 18:3).
2. Among the many things he did outstandingly.
a) He cleansed the Temple that had been desecrated by his father King Ahaz.
b) God’s anger was visited upon Judah in the reign of King Ahaz.
c) Hezekiah did all he could to restore true worship to Judah (2 Kings 18).
3. The arrival of Sennacherib in Judah.
a) He came with his Rabshakeh.
b) Rabshakeh was a high-ranking military title.
4. The Assyrians had already conquered a number of cities of Judah.
a) Lachish was a major fortified city of Judah.
b) It had been conquered by the Assyrians.
c) They came from Lachish to Jerusalem to confront King Hezekiah.
5. Fullers Field.
a) This was the place where clothes were laundered.
b) Clothes were made white using the natural limestone in this region.
6. The aqueduct of Jerusalem.
a) This was the water-supply system of Jerusalem.
b) The Assyrians were in a very strong position when they threatened
King Hezekiah and Jerusalem.
7. In attendance with King Hezekiah.
a) Eliakim the son of Hilkiah.
He was in charge of the king’s household.
b) Shebna was the leading scribe.
c) Joah was the historical recorder (official historian).