Isaiah 37:6-13: a reflection

6Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘The LORD says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7Behold, 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.”’” 8So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9He heard news concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “He has come out to fight against you.” When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10“Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 11Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? 12Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’”

When the king of Assyria sends threatening, blasphemous words against Jerusalem, taunting that no god can deliver them and that Hezekiah's God will not save, Isaiah brings God's word of reassurance: Don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. The Assyrian had heaped up taunts, defying God, mocking the idea that he could deliver; but God tells Hezekiah not to fear these words, for God himself would deal with the one who defied and blasphemed him.

Notice God's word: do not fear the taunts of the one who defies me, for I will deal with him. The Assyrian's threats were loud and confident, mocking God's ability to save, defying him openly; and they might have struck terror. But God told Hezekiah not to fear these words, for the taunts were against God himself, blasphemies God had heard, and God would answer them, causing the Assyrian to fall. The threats of the one who defies God were not to be feared, for God would deal with the defiant blasphemer. God takes up the cause against those who taunt and defy him.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be shaken by the taunts and threats of those who defy God. There are voices that mock God, deny his power to save, taunt those who trust him, defying God openly and confidently; and these can shake us, tempting us to fear. But God told Hezekiah not to fear such words, for God himself would answer the one who defied him. Do not be shaken by the taunts and threats of those who defy God, mocking his power to save; such words are against God himself, and he will answer them. When you hear the confident taunts of those who defy God, do not fear them, but trust that God will deal with those who blaspheme and defy him, as he told Hezekiah not to fear the Assyrian's threats, for God himself would bring the blasphemer down; the taunts of those who defy God are not finally to be feared, for God takes up his own cause against them.

Lord, when the king of Assyria sends threatening, blasphemous words against Jerusalem, taunting that no god can deliver them and that Hezekiah's God will not save, Isaiah brings your word of reassurance: don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. The Assyrian had heaped up taunts, defying you, mocking the idea that you could deliver; but you tell Hezekiah not to fear these words, for you yourself would deal with the one who defied and blasphemed you. Show me your word: do not fear the taunts of the one who defies me, for I will deal with him. The Assyrian's threats were loud and confident, mocking your ability to save; and they might have struck terror. But you told Hezekiah not to fear these words, for the taunts were against you yourself, and you would answer them. The threats of the one who defies you were not to be feared. Take that to my heart, for I too can be shaken by the taunts and threats of those who defy you. There are voices that mock you, deny your power to save, taunt those who trust you; and these can shake me, tempting me to fear. But you told Hezekiah not to fear such words, for you yourself would answer the one who defied you. Keep me from being shaken by the taunts and threats of those who defy you; such words are against you yourself, and you will answer them. When I hear the confident taunts of those who defy you, keep me from fearing them, Lord; help me trust that you will deal with those who blaspheme and defy you.