ISAIAH 36:13-22, 37:1-4, 7, 14-20 – THERE’S A RUMOR FROM THE LORD

INTRODUCTION:

This was a time of transition for the tribe of Judah and also the world. The power of the Assyrian prominence was getting ready to come to a close and the Babylonian supremacy was close at hand. God was showing in his great power that he is still the deliverer of Judah for matter what earthly kingdom was in power.

RUMOR –

General talk not based on definite knowledge

An unconfirmed report, story, or statement in general circulation.

36:1-3 – SENNACHERIB INVADES –

THE RUMOR OF IMPOSSIBLE ODDS

There was such a great army that it was impossible for Judah to win this battle with the force and troops available to them. Also at this time even though Hezekiah was king they were not in full covenant with the Lord.

It was the ideal time for the enemy to attack and spread a rumor about how many kings had been conquered and killed by Assyria.

36:4-10 – WHAT CONFIDENCE CAN YOU TRUST IN –

THE RUMOR OF HOPELESS PRAYERS

A – You can’t trust in Egypt it is as a broken reed. (V6)

B – You can’t trust in your God because Hezekiah took away high places and altars (V7)

C – You can’t turn away one of my captains with Egypt’s horses and chariots (V9)

D – Your God sent me to come up and destroy this land (V10)

36:15-22- WHAT GOD HAS STOOD BEFORE ASSYRIAS ARMY –

THE RUMOR OF A HELPLESS GOD

A – Don’t listen to Hezekiah say God can deliver you (V15)

B – Make agreement and come out to me. You can eat under your own vine and drink from your own cistern when I come to take you away to a land like your own land. (V16-17)

C – Have any other gods delivered their nation out of the hands of Assyria (V18)

D – Where are the gods of Hamath (fortress, Citidel) and Arphad (city of Syria)? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim(foreign origin)? Have they delivered them?(V19-20)

37:1-5 – GOD IS STILL IN THE PLACE WHERE MEN LAST CALLED UPON HIM

A – Hezekiah rent his clothes and went into the house of the Lord. (V1)

B – they sent to the prophet and said the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. Lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left (V2-4)

C – God answers the very first prayer. Be not afraid of the words that you have heard.  I will send a blast upon him and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land. (V5-7)

37:8-13 – A SECOND RUMOR COMES BY LETTER FROM THE ENEMY

A – Don’t let the God in whom you trust deceive you (V10)

B- You have heard what happened to all the others and their gods did not deliver them (V11-13)

C – Hezekiah received the letter, read it, and went up unto the house of the Lord (V14)

37:14-20 – GOD IS STILL ABLE TO HEAR WHEN MEN SEEK HIS FACE

A – Hezekiah spread the letter out before the Lord (V14)

B – Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord saying (V15)

            1 – O Lord you created the heavens and the earth (V16)

            2 – See and hear the words of Sennacherib which reproach you (V17)

            3 – No god has stood before him but they were the work of men’s hands. Now O Lord save us from his

      hand that the earth may know that thou are the Lord, even thou only. (V18-20)      

37:33-38 – WHEN GOD PUT ALL RUMORS TO REST

A – God said he will not come into this city, he will not shoot an arrow there, and he will not come against it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. (V33)

B – He will go home the same way he came and not come into the city, saith the Lord (V34)

C – For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake and for my servant David’s sake (V35)

D – The angel of the Lord attacked and killed 185,000 in one night. When they arose early in the morning there was nothing but dead corpses (V36)

E – Sennacherib departed and dwelt at Nineveh and was killed by his own sons while worshipping a false god. (V37-38)

CONCLUSION:

There is always a rumor from the enemy to remind you of who you are and why you cannot overcome it. You will always hear that no one else has done it and you can’t either. But let me tell you today there is a God who has put to rest all rumors and overcome all sin.