Isaiah 37:14-20

Hezekiah's Prayer

14 Hezekiah took the letter from^[a] the messengers, read it, then went up to the Lord's house and spread it out before the Lord.

15 Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:

16 "Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are God-You alone-of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

17 Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, Lord, and see; hear all the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.

18 Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated all these countries and their lands

19 and have thrown their gods into the fire; for they were not gods but made by human hands-wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

20 Now, Lord our God, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord-You alone."

Isaiah 37:14-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 37

In this chapter are contained Hezekiah's message to Isaiah, desiring his prayer for him and his people, in this time of sore distress, Isa 37:1-5, the comforting and encouraging answer returned by the prophet to him, Isa 37:6,7, the king of Assyria's letter to Hezekiah, to terrify him into a surrender of the city of Jerusalem to him, Isa 37:8-13 which Hezekiah spread before the Lord, and prayed unto him for deliverance, Isa 37:14-20, upon which he received a gracious answer by the hand of the prophet, promising safety and deliverance to him, and destruction to the king of Assyria, of which a sign was given, Isa 37:21-35 and the chapter is closed with the slaughter of the Assyrian army by an angel, the flight of the king, and his death by the hands of his sons, Isa 37:36-38.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit from the hand of