Sermon Central
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God’s Promises Give Strength To His People Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 28, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Deliverance, or protection from an enemy, is the joy of the Lord to give! God delights in having His children come and find comfort, because He wants us to find a place of safety within Him. This is what brings us true hope, and what we see in Hezekiah's prayer and God's response to Him.
Isaiah, Part 14
God’s promises give strength to His people
Isaiah 37:21-38
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad you have chosen to be here today!
-- Last week, we celebrated the marvelous truth that Jesus is risen
-- Because He Lives (just sang) is the reason we gather here today
-- I believe it was a service that honored Him alone – and for that I’m grateful
- Today, we dive back into our Isaiah series by looking at part of Chapter 37
-- I want to highlight a few thoughts from the weekly devotional (bulletin)
- When we seek the Lord's wisdom, help, guidance, etc., we must be sure:
• We are on solid ground with Him
• This means we have spent time in prayer to confess our sins
• This is what ensures our relationship with Him is right
- Then we will be able to have our prayers answered:
• His answer is how He ministers to us and delivers us when in need
• CH: However, it also means we will be receptive to listening to Him
• It’s hard to hear what God says when you’ve decided what He should say
- Want to give you a two verses to chew on as we go through this today:
• Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.”
• 2 Tim 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
-- OT/NT: Consistent messaging and encouragement to rely on God’s word
-- Need us to keep these verses in mind over the coming weeks … ok?
- Read Isaiah 37:21-38 / PRAY
- Setup:
• King Hezekiah and Israel are soon to be under attack (HW: Ch 36/37)
• He has sought the Lord through prayer to rescue, to provide, to help
• This is the response that comes, through Isaiah (~701 BC)
Point 1 – God reinforces His promises to His people
- Unpack: King Sennacherib wants to raid the holy city to take it for himself
-- Need us to see how specific God is when He answers Hezekiah’s plea for help
-- APP: Very little ambiguity here – and the same applies to us if we will ask
- He says that this king would flee Jerusalem (v22)
-- Term “virgin daughter” is a reference to him not being able to attack Jerusalem
-- Hebrew: bethulah; a virgin, think of a bride on her wedding night
-- God reveals he would also be mocked (laughs) for his attempt
-- Hebrew: nua rosh achar; to shake the head behind your back (ridicule)
- Why? Because he has mocked God; the Holy One over all things (v23)
-- This king has heaped insults on God; claimed God’s abilities as His own
-- APP: He thought of his accomplishments being stronger than God’s authority
- Just look at how he speaks about his own conquests – desires to: (vv24-25)
• To conquer all mountains (nations)
• Cut down the tallest trees (peoples)
• Reaching the farthest parts of the Earth (territory hound)
• Dig and drink from new wells (establish his own civilizations)
• Dry up the rivers of Egypt (removed a regions natural resources)
-- Yet he misses a simple truth: It was God who allowed this to happen! (See v26)
-- It was God who ordained this to take place to discipline rebellious people!
- TR: God delivers a very basic truth that we cannot miss today …
Point 2 – When pushed, God will answer a mocker!
- Simply stated: God charges the Assyrian king with ignorance!
-- He misses the very simplest truths (that many deny today also)
-- Assyria was being used by God to strengthen other rebellious nations
- God was allowing Assyria to become strong to discipline others! (v27)
-- Before you ask: Yes! God uses people/nations to carry out His purposes!
- Missed Truth: Not only was God sovereign over Assyria, but all nations!
-- He says (v28), “But I know you well – where you stay and when you …”
-- He knows even the ways that Assyria, and King Sennacherib, has rebelled
-- Specifically, the ways they have sought themselves and their honor, first!
- APP: Truth is, they’ve ignored God’s gifts, His authority, & His power
-- Instead, they’ve chosen to marvel at their own accomplishments …
-- They celebrated their success in this world as if these were theirs!
- Therefore, the judgment placed on this king and his land will be swift!
