The Strand Study Bible

ISAIAH ISAIAH which included moving the capital from his father’s new city (Dur-Sharrukin) to the old city of Nineveh. Of all the Assyrian kings, Sennacherib appears to have had the greatest opportunities to become the greatest. That is, until he tried to attack Jerusalem in 701 BC. According to Wikpedia : 1091

Sennacherib first recounts several of his previous victories, and how his enemies had become overwhelmed by his presence. He was able to do this to Great Sidon, Little Sidon, Bit-Zitti, Zaribtu, Mahalliba, Ushu, Akzib and Akko. After taking each of these cities, Sennacherib installed a puppet leader named Ethbaal as ruler over the entire region. Sennacherib then turned his attention to Beth-Dagon, Joppa, Banai-Barqa, and Azjuru. 1

City after city along the Phoenician coast fell to Sennacherib’s armies. He then turned his attention to Judah. After taking 46 strong fenced cites and carrying off over 200,000 Jewish prisoners, Sennacherib set his sights on the biggest prize of them all –Jerusalem. This, of course, would become his undoing. Interestingly enough, God has openly humbled some of the greatest kings from every world empire who messed with His people and/or His Temple (His means of getting out of the message of salvation). For example: * Undoubtedly the greatest Pharaoh to ever rule Egypt was Thutmose III, the pharaoh of the Exodus ( Historical Note after Exodus 2:25 ). According to Wikpedia , Thutmose III: …created the largest empire Egypt had ever seen. Widely considered a military genius by historians, Thutmose III made 16 raids in 20 years. He was an active expansionist ruler, sometimes called Egypt’s greatest conqueror or “the Napoleon of Egypt.” He is recorded to have captured 350 cities during his rule and conquered much of the Near East from the Euphrates to Nubia during seventeen known military campaigns. 1 However, after repeated attempts to keep Moses and the Israelites from leaving Egypt (Exo 5-12) God humbled Thutmose III openly before the world (Exo 14:22-31 and Josh 2:9-11). * As we already discovered, Sennacherib had the greatest opportunities to become the greatest king to ever rule Assyria . However, after threatening Jerusalem God humbled him openly before the world (Isa 37:33-37). * Without a doubt, the greatest king to ever rule Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar. However, after destroying Jerusalem and plundering the Temple in 586 BC (II Ki 24-25) God humbled him openly for seven years before the world (Dan 4:19-33). NOTE – Whatever nation messes with Israel and/or the Temple ends up being whittled down to size ( Zech 1:18-21 ). Just ask Greece (Dan 8:9-25), which fell in 146 BC, just eighteen years after Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple in 164 BC Ask Rome , which eventually fell apart after destroying the Temple in AD 70. Ask Hitler and Germany. America would be wise to continue its support of Israel. 37:1 Shocked by the demands of Sennacherib and the Assyrians, Hezekiah went into mourning ( rent his clothes ). 37:3 Like a baby ready, but unable, to be born ( for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth ), Hezekiah found himself and his nation to be undeliverable. Hezekiah thought to himself, “If the God of the prophet Isaiah (vs 2) can’t help us, we’re sunk (dead).” 37:6 In short, God said to Hezekiah, “Don’t worry ( Be not afraid ) about what men say. Trust what I say.” Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t have to say much in order to accomplish much? God only used 21 words (in Hebrew) to convey to King Hezekiah that all would be OK. When your word is that good, you only need a few of those words to accomplish great things. For example: * God’s Word is so powerful that it only took 4 words to make a man whole again (’ (NτHLQοQ τKQ FHLUD σοX – Mt 12:9-13). * God’s Word is so powerful that it only took 3 words to raise the dead ( /D]DUH GHXUο H[Z – Jn 11:43-44). * God’s Word is so powerful that it only took 2 words to create order out of chaos ( Let be light – Gen 1:1-3), 2 words to heal one of the most dreaded diseases known to mankind ( θHOZ NDθDULοθKτL – Mt 8:1-3), 2 words to control nature ( 6LZSD SHMLPZσο – Mk 4:35-39), 2 words to bring unspeakable joy to a father and a mother (‘ + SDL9 HJHLUοX – Lk 8:49-55), 2 words to shut down an unruly mob ( HJZ HLPL – Jn 18:1-6), and 2 words to literally change the world (’ $NοOοXθHL PοL – Jn 1:43). * God’s Word is so powerful that it only took 1 word to send demons fleeing (‘ 8SDJHτH –Mt 8:28-32), 1 word to heal the sick (’ (MMDθD – Mk 7:31-34), 1 word to accomplish the impossible (’ (OθH – Mt 14:22-29), and 1 word to settle salvation ( 7HτHOHστDL – Jn 19:30). The power to save and transform an individual life comes from the authority of God’s Word (I Pet 1:23 and Lk 23:39-43). NOTE – If CHRIST could accomplish all that He did using just a few of His words (Mk 1:21-26, Lk 7:11-15 & 17:11-14 and Jn 4:46-53 & 5:1-9 & 9:1-7), just think what you and I could accomplish using all 774,746 words within His Word. Dr. Harry Rimmer in Seven Wonders of the Wonderful Word notes: BECAUSE Jesus is the theme of the Bible, we have an acceptable explanation of the Great Power of this Book… It has been the most potent influence ever exerted in human annals. It has changed the flow of history, erected empires and cast down conquerors and kings, bringing blessing and success to those who obeyed its precepts, and death and oblivion to those who fought against it. The highway of human events is strewn with the wrecks of time, while the ageless and eternal Book survives! 2 Time has not dimmed the luster of the light of this Book, nor has constant use exhausted its power. If God’s Word is that powerful (and it is), then it would be prudent on the part of God’s people to give God the “last say” in their lives.

1 Wikpedia 2 Rimmer, Harry. Seven Wonders of the Wonderful Word , Grand Rapids, MI, WM. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1943. Print.