Isaiah 37:16

16 Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, who sits [above] the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 37:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 37:16

O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the
cherubim
Or, "the inhabitant of the cherubim" F12; which were over the mercy seat, the residence of the Shechinah, or Majesty of God, the symbol of the divine Presence in the holy of holies; a title which the God of Israel, the Lord of armies in heaven, and earth bears, and distinguishes him from all other gods, and which several titles carry in them arguments to strengthen faith in prayer; being "the Lord of hosts", he was able to do whatsoever was desired, and more abundantly; being "the God of Israel", their covenant God, it might be hoped and expected he would protect and defend them; and sitting "between the cherubim", on the mercy seat, great encouragement might be had that he would be gracious and merciful, and hear and help: thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth;
this is opposed to the conceit of Sennacherib, that he was only the God of the Jews, and had no concern with other kingdoms and nations; whereas all belong to him, and him only; they are all under his jurisdiction and dominion, and at his will and control: thou hast made heaven and earth;
and so has an indisputable right to the government of the whole world, and to the disposal of all things in it.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (Mybrkh bvy) "cherubim inhabitator", Forerius.

Isaiah 37:16 In-Context

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh.
15 Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying,
16 Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, who sits [above] the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear; open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God.
18 Of a truth, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,
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