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The Story of Isaiah – The Prophet of Judgment and the Restoration of Israel · truthunedited

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Speaker 1: In the shadow of crumbling kingdoms and rising empires, one
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man stood between heaven and Earth, carrying messages that would
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echo through millennia. Isaiah, a prophet whose words pierced through
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royal courts and temple walls, whose visions revealed both crushing
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judgment and breath taking hope. When Assyrian armies thundered across
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the ancient world, when kings trembled and nations fell, Isaiah
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proclaimed the unthinkable that a virgin would conceive, that a
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suffering servant would bear the sins of many, and that
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from the ashes of exile God would forge a new creation.
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His prophecies shaped the fate of Israel, foretold the rise
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and fall of empires, and painted vivid pictures of a
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coming Messiah. This is the story of a man who
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saw the throne room of God and lived to tell
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about it, whose words still shape our understanding of divine justice, percy,
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and the ultimate restoration of all things. Everything changed for
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Isaiah in the year King Isziah died. He was in
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the temple, perhaps praying or offering sacrifices like any other day,
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when suddenly heaven broke open before his eyes. The sixth
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chapter of Isaiah tells us exactly what he saw. Hethousicho
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I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and
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lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
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The young man found himself staring at the creator of
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the universe, seated on a throne so magnificent that just
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the edge of God's robe filled the entire temple. This
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wasn't just any throne. It was elevated high above everything,
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showing God's supreme authority over all creation. Above the throne
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flew strange creatures called seraphim, each one having six wings.
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With two wings, they covered their faces, because even these
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perfect beings couldn't look directly at God's glory. With two
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they covered their feet in humble reverence, and with two
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they flew through the heavenly realm. These heavenly beings called
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out to one another in voices that shook the very
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foundations of the temple. Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord
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of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.
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They didn't say it just once or twice, but three times,
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emphasizing that God's holiness is beyond anything in creation. The
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door posts trembled at their voices and smoke filled the house.
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Isaiah had stepped into the throne room of heaven itself.
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The air itself seemed to vibrate with divine power. Every
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stone in the temple shook as these magnificent creatures declared
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God's holiness. Isaiah couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe
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properly as he witnessed this overwhelming display of divine glory.
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The God he had worshiped from a distance was now
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right in front of him, more real and more terrifying
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than anything he had ever imagined. Time seemed to stop
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as Isaiah absorbed the reality that he was standing in
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the presence of the King of the universe. But this
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incredible sight terrified Isaiah more than anything he had ever experienced.
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Standing in the presence of perfect holiness, he suddenly saw
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himself as he really was, a sinful man in a
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sinful world. The prophet cried out in despair, as recorded
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in Isaiah six five, woe is me, for I am undone,
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because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
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dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
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For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
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He felt completely ruined, knowing that no sinful person could
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survive in God's presence. Every word he had ever spoken
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seemed dirty and wrong compared to the perfect holiness surrounding him.
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Every thought, every action, every moment of his life appeared
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stained before this holy God. Isaiah understood that he was
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about to die because no one can see God and live.
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But then something amazing happened that changed everything. One of
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the seraphim flew down to him carrying a live coal
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that he had taken from the altar with special tongs.
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The seraph carefully approached Isaiah with his burning piece of
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charcoal from Heaven's altar. The coal touched Isaiah's lips, and
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immediately the seraph declared, behold, this has touched your lips.
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Your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged. In
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that moment, God cleansed Isaiah from his sin through the
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supernatural act. The coal that should have burned him instead
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made him clean and pure. The pain he expected never came. Instead,
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warmth spread through his entire being, filling him with peace
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and purity. He was now ready to hear what God
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wanted to say to him. The fear that had gripped
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his heart began to fade, replaced by wonder at God's
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incredible mercy and grace. Isaiah had been transformed from a
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condemned sinner into a cleansed vessel ready to serve the
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Holy God. With his sin removed and his heart purified,
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Isaiah could now listen clearly to the conversation happening in
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heaven around God's throne. God was looking for some one
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to send with an important message to his people, and
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Isaiah heard the Lord saying in verse eight, whom shall
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I send and who will go for us? This wasn't
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a desperate plea from God. He already knew what would happen.
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This was an invitation for someone to voluntarily join his mission.
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Without hesitation. Isaiah stepped forward with a heart full of
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gratitude for what God had just done for him. His
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recips spons was immediate and willing. Here am I send me?
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God had found his messenger in this cleansed and willing man.
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The same person who moments before had been crying out
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in fear of his own sinfulness now volunteered eagerly to
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serve the Holy God who had shown him such mercy
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Isaiah didn't ask what the message would be, how dangerous
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it might be, or where he would have to go.
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He didn't negotiate terms or ask for guarantees of success.
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He simply said yes with complete trust. In that temple,
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surrounded by smoke and the voices of Seraphim, Isaiah became
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a prophet of the most high God. God had chosen
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him to carry divine messages to the people of Judah
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during some of the most challenging times in their history.
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From this moment on, Isaiah's life belonged completely to God
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and his purposes. He would speak God's words whether people
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wanted to hear them or not, whether they accepted them
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or rejected them. The young man who had entered the
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temple as just another worshiper was leaving as Heaven's official ambassador.
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His ordinary life was over forever. Now he would live
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between two worlds, carrying messages from the throne room of
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God to the busy streets of Jerusalem, speaking divine truth
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to people who often didn't want to hear it. Then
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God told Isaiah exactly what kind of ministry he would have,
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and it wasn't what anyone would expect from a loving God,
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the Lord explained in Isaiah six nine to ten, Go
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and tell this people, keep on hearing, but do not understand.
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Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart
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of this people dull and their ears heavy, and shut
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their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear
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with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return
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and be healed. This was shocking news for the new prophet.
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Isaiah's job would be to preach to people who wouldn't
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listen or respond. The harder he preached, the harder their
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hearts would become toward God. This must have deeply confused Isaiah.
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Why would God send him to preach if people weren't
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going to respond positively. It seemed like a mission designed
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to fail. But God had a purpose even in this
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strange calling. The people's rejection of Isaiah's message would actually
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be part of their judgment and punishment for their rebellion.
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When Isaiah asked the natural question of how long this
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difficult ministry would continue, God's answer was sobering and frightening.
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Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the
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houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate.
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The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken
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places are men in the midst of the land. Isaiah
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would continue preaching until judgment fell like a hammer and
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the land lay completely empty of people. God wasn't sending
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him to bring revival and spiritual awakening to the nation.
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He was sending him to announce coming judgment and destruction.
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The people's consistent rejection of Isaiah's message would prove their
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hardness of heart and justify God's coming punishment. This was
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not going to be an easy or popular calling, but
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it was God's perfect plan for his rebellious people. Isaiah
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would have to live with the reality that his preaching
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would often make people more resistant to God, rather than
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drawing them closer. King Ziah's death marked the end of
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an era for the entire Kingdom of Judah. He had
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ruled for an incredible fifty two years, bringing unprecedented prosperity
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and military strength to the nation. During his long reign,
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Judah had grown wealthy and powerful beyond what any one
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could remember. The army was well equipped with the latest
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weapons and technology, The cities were strongly fortified with high
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walls and defense towers, and international trade was flourishing like
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never before. Merchants from distant lands brought their goods to
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Jerusalem's markets, and Judah's own products were in demand throughout
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the region. But now uncertainty and fear filled the air
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like a thick fog. His son Jotham had actually been
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ruling for several years because Usiah had been struck with
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leprosy for entering the temple illegally, but the official transition
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of power always brought serious questions and concerns. Would the
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new king be as strong and wise as his father
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had been? Could he handle the growing threats from neighboring
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nations who had been waiting for any sign of weakness.
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The Kingdom of Judah suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed to
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its enemies. People whispered nervously in the streets about what
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would happen next to their nation. Other kingdoms in the
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region watched carefully to see if this political transition might
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be their chance to attack or demand tribute. The stability
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and security that had lasted for decades was beginning to
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crack like a wall under pressure. Political alliances that had
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been solid for years shifted like sand in the wind,
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and enemy kingdoms began to test Judah's defenses with small
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raids and threats. Court officials wondered anxiously if they should
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look for new allies or try to maintain the old
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agreements that had kept peace. Merchants worried about their trade
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routes and whether they would remain safe from bandits and
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enemy armies. Soldiers questioned whether their equipment and training would
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be enough if war came. Isaiah was stepping into his
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prophetic roll at exactly the time when his nation needed
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clear direction from God more than ever. But the leader
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were about to make choices that would lead them away
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from divine protection and into disaster. Far to the north
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and east, a military machine was growing stronger every day.
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The Assyrian Empire, under King Tiglath Pileser the Third had
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become the most feared force in the known world. Their
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armies moved like a flood across the landscape, conquering city
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after city with brutal efficiency. The Assyrians were not content
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to simply defeat their enemies. They wanted to control them completely.
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They had perfected the art of warfare, using iron weapons,
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siege engines, and cavalry in ways that smaller nations couldn't match.
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They would take the best people from conquered lands and
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scatter them across their empire, breaking up families and destroying
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national identities. This terrifying empire was expanding westward, and the
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small kingdoms of Syria and Palestine lay directly in their path.
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News of Assyrian victories reached Jerusalem regularly, each report more
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frightening than the last. Entire nations were disappearing from the map.
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Kings who had ruled for years were being led away
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in chains. Cities that had stood for centuries were being
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torn down stone by stone. The shadow of Assyria was
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falling across the region, and everyone knew it was only
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a matter of time before they turned their attention to Judah.
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Diplomatic messengers brought updates that made people's blood run cold,
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while external threats grew stronger. Something rotten was happening inside
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Judah itself. Isaiah could see it everywhere he looked. The
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rich were getting richer by cheating the poor. Judges were
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taking bribes instead of making fair decisions. Religious leaders were
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going through the motions of worship while their hearts were
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far from God. Isaiah Chapter one captures what the prophet witnessed.
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People bringing their sacrifices to the temple while living lives
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full of injustice and cruelty. God himself spoke through Isaiah
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about their empty worship, your new moons and your appointed feasts.
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My soul hates they are a trouble to me. I
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am weary of bearing them. The temple was full of worshippers,
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but their hands were full of blood. They oppressed orphans
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and widows instead of protecting them. Merchants used false weights
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to cheat their customers. Officials demanded payments just to do
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their jobs. The very people who claimed to serve God
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were the ones leading the nation away from him. Social
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justice had become a joke. The gap between rich and
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poor was growing wider every day. Religious festivals had turned
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into empty ceremonies where people went through the motions without
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any real devotion to God. Isaiah began his ministry with
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messages that cut straight to the heart of Judah's problems.
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He didn't start gently. His first recorded prophecy in Isaiah
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Chapter one, compared Jerusalem to Sodom and Gomorrah. Calling the
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leaders rulers of Sodom and the people people of Gomorrah,
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he told them plainly that God was tired of their
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religious games. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the
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evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to
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do evil, learn to do good, Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor,
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defend the fatherless, plead for the widow, Isaiah declared. But
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he also promised that if they would repent, their sins
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could become white as snow. Most people in Jerusalem were
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still feeling safe and prosperous. King Uziah's long reign had
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brought them wealth and security. They couldn't imagine that judgment
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was coming. Their armies were strong, their cities were well defended,
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and their treasuries were full. But Isaiah kept warning them
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that their sin would lead to destruction if they didn't
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change their ways. He walked through the streets, stood in
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the temple courts, and proclaimed God's message to anyone who
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would listen. Some people stopped to hear him speak, but
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most just walked by, thinking he was just another religious fanatic.
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They had no idea that this young man had seen
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the throne of God and was carrying Heaven's message to earth.
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A dangerous plan was brewing in the north that would
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shake the Kingdom of Judah to its core. King Rezin
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of Syria and King Pekah of Northern Israel had formed
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a military alliance with one clear goal to rebel against
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the mighty Assyrian Empire. But they they knew they couldn't
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succeed without more allies, so they set their eyes on
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forcing Judah to join their rebellion. These two kings had
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watched Assyria grow stronger and more demanding, taking tribute money
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and threatening their independence. They decided it was better to
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fight together than to be slowly crushed one by one.
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The alliance seemed logical from their perspective. Syria controlled important
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trade routes, Northern Israel had a strong army, and if
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they could add Judah's wealth and strategic location, they might
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have a chance against Assyria. But there was one major
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problem with their plan. King Ahaz of Judah had no
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interest in joining their rebellion. He could see how powerful
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Assyria had become and thought it was wiser to stay
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loyal than to risk everything in a war they probably
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couldn't win. When diplomatic pressure failed to convince Ahaz, Resin
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and Pecca decided to use force. They would invade Judah,
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remove AHAs from power, and put their own puppet king
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on the throne, some one who would gladly join their
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fight against Assyria. The seventh chapter of Isaiah tells us
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about this crisis that would test both the faith of
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a king and the patience of God. This alliance would
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drag the small kingdom of Judah into a conflict that
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would change everything. When the news reached Jerusalem that Syria
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and northern Israel were marching toward Judah with their armies,
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panics spread through the city like wildfire. Isaiah seven one
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to two describes exactly what happened now. It came to
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pass in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham,
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the son of Uziah, king of Judah, that resin king
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of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Rahemaliah, king of Israel,
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went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but
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could not prevail against it. And it was told to
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the House of David, saying, serious forces are deployed in Ephraim.
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So his heart and the heart of his people shook
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as the trees of the forest shake with the wind.
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The young king Ahaz was absolutely terrified. He had never
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faced anything like this before. Two experienced kings with their
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combined armies were coming to destroy his kingdom and remove
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him from power. The biblical description says his heart shook
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like trees in a strong wind. He was trembling with
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fear and couldn't think clearly. But it wasn't just the
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king who was afraid. The entire population of Jerusalem was
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gripped with terror. People ran through the streets sharing the
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terrible news. Mothers gathered their children close, merchants hid their
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valuable goods, and soldiers nervously checked their weapons and armor.
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Every one knew that their small army couldn't possibly stand
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against two kingdoms attacking at once. The fear was so
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thick you could almost touch it. Ah has his mind
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raced with terrible possibilities, his city burned, his people killed
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or taken his slaves, his family destroyed, and his throne
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given to a stranger. Sleep became impossible as he paced
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the floors of his palace trying to figure out what
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to do. In the middle of this crisis, God had
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a message for the terrified king. The Lord told Isaiah
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to take his son and go meet Ahaz at a
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very specific location. Isaiah seven three records God's exact instructions
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then the Lord said to Isaiah, go out now to
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meet Ahaz, you and sheer Jeshube your son, at the
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end of the aqueduct from the upper pool on the
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highway to the Fuller's Field. Wasn't a random meeting place.
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Ahaz was probably there inspecting Jerusalem's water supply, making sure
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the city could survive a siege. Water was one of
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the most important things any city needed when enemies surrounded it.
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The king was likely checking the conduits and pools, planning
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how to protect this vital resource from the attacking armies.
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When Isaiah arrived with his young son, the contrast must
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have been striking. The calm prophet with a child walking
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up to meet the frantic king surrounded by his worried officials.
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The name of Isaiah's son was significant too. Sheer Jashub
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means a remnant shall return, which was itself a message
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about God's plans for the future. But right now, Ahaz
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was too focused on the immediate danger to think about
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the meaning of names or God's long term purposes. His
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mind was completely occupied with military strategies, defensive preparations, and
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worst case scenarios. Isaiah approached the king knowing that This
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conversation would determine not just the outcome of the current crisis,
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but the spiritual direction of the entire kingdom. The prophet
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carried God's words to a man who desperately needed to
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hear them, even though he might not want to listen.
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Isaiah delivered God's message with calm confidence that must have
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seemed almost strange in the midst of such a crisis.
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The prophet told the shaking king exactly what God wanted
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him to know, as recorded in Isaiah seven four, Take
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heed and be quiet. Do not fear nor be faint hearted,
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for these two stubs of smoking fire brands, for the
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fierce anger of Resin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.
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God was telling Ahaz to calm down and not be
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afraid of these two kings who seemed so threatening. He
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called them smoking fire brands, pieces of wood that had
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almost burned out and were just giving off smoke. They
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looked scary, but had no real power left to cause
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serious damage. Isaiah continued with God's promise about what would
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happen to these enemies. He told Ahaz that Syria's capital, Damascus,
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would be completely destroyed within sixty five years. And that
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Northern Israel would be broken as a people. The prophet
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explained that these kings had made their plans to attack
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Judah and put their own chosen ruler on the throne,
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but their plans would fail completely. God had already decided
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that their scheme would not succeed. Then Isaiah gave a
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has the most important part of the message in verse nine.
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If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.
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This was both a promise and a warning. If a
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haz would trust in God instead of panicking, he would
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be safe and secure, But if he refused to believe
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and tried to handle the crisis his own way, he
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would lose everything. The choice was completely up to the king.
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Trust God and be saved, or trust in human solutions
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and be destroyed. To help AHAs believe, God made an
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incredible offer through Isaiah, the prophet told the king that
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he could ask for any sign he wanted to prove
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that God would keep his promises. Isaiah seven ten to
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eleven shows us this amazing moment. Moreover, the Lord spoke
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again to a Has, saying, ask a sign for yourself
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from the Lord your God. Ask it either in the
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depth below or in the height above. This was an
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unlimited offer. Ahaz could ask for anything, something from deep
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in the earth or high in the heavens. He could
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ask for an earthquake, a star to move the sun
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to stand still, or anything else he could imagine. God
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was willing to perform any miracle to convince this frightened
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king that his promises were real and trustworthy. But Ahaz
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refused the offer. In verse twelve, he gave what sounded
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like a spiritual answer, I will not ask, nor will
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I test the Lord. On the surface, this might seem
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humble and respectful, after all, didn't the scriptures say not
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to test God? But Isaiah could see right through this
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false humility. Ah Haz wasn't being pious. He was being stubborn.
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He had already decided not to trust God, and he
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didn't want any sign that might change his mind or
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prove him wrong. He was determined to handle this crisis
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his own way, using political alliances and military strategies instead
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of relying on divine help. By refusing God's gracious offer,
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Ahaz was actually showing great disrespect and unbelief. God had
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opened Heaven's storehouse of miracles and invited the king to
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choose whatever he wanted, But a has slammed the door shut.
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This refusal revealed the true condition of his heart. He
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simply didn't want to depend on God for anything. Isaiah's
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response to the king's refusal was firm and direct. The
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prophet was clearly frustrated with a Haz's stubborn unbelief. Isaiah
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seven thirteen to fourteen records his pointed words. Then he said,
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here now, o house of David, is it a small
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thing for you to weary men? But will you weary
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my God? Also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you
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a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
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and shall call his name Immanuel. Even though Ahaz had
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rejected God's offer, the Lord would give a sign anyway.
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This wasn't just for Ahaz any more. It was for
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the entire House of David and all future generations. The
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sign was extraordinary. A virgin would become pregnant and give
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birth to a son whose name would be Immanuel, meaning
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God with us. This prophecy had both immediate and future fulfillment.
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In the immediate context, it meant that before a child
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born at that time could grow up to know right
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from wrong. The two threatening kings would be gone and
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their kingdoms destroyed. But the prophecy pointed far beyond the
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current crisis to something much greater, the coming of the Messiah,
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who would truly be God with us. Isaiah continued describing
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this child in verses fifteen to sixteen, koords and honey,
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he shall eat that he may know to refuse the
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evil and choose the good. For before the child shall
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know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the
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land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.
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The immediate message was clear, this crisis would be over quickly,
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long before any baby born now would be old enough
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to understand moral choices. But the deeper meaning spoke of
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God's ultimate plan to dwell among his people in human form.
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Despite receiving God's clear promise and sign, King Ahaz chose
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to ignore everything Isaiah had told him. Instead of trusting
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in the Lord's protection, he decided to solve the problem
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using human wisdom and political alliances. The Second Book of
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Kings tells us exactly what he did in Chapter sixteen,
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verses seven to eight. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser,
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King of Assyria, saying, I am your servant and your son,
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come up and save me from the hand of the
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King of Syria and from the hand of the King
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of Israel who rise up against me. And Ahaz took
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the silver and gold that was found in the house
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of the Lord and in the treasures of the king's
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house and sent it as a present to the King
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of Assyria. This decision was a complete disaster on multiple levels. First,
29:42
Ahaz was openly declaring that he didn't trust God to
29:45
protect him. Second, he was making Judah a servant nation
29:50
to Assyria, giving up the independence his ancestors had fought
29:54
to maintain. Third, he was robbing God's temple to pay
29:59
tribute to a pagan king, showing incredible disrespect for the Lord.
30:05
The silver and gold he sent belonged to God and
30:08
had been dedicated for worship and temple service. By taking
30:12
these sacred treasures to buy Assyrian help, a Haas was
30:16
essentially saying that pagan military power was more valuable than
30:21
the God of Israel. This wasn't just a political mistake,
30:25
it was spiritual rebellion of the worst kind. Ahaz was
30:30
trading his nation's freedom and God's protection for temporary relief
30:34
from his current problem. He couldn't see that this decision
30:38
would create much bigger problems in the future. Ahas's plan
30:43
worked exactly as he hoped it would, but the cost
30:46
was far higher than he had imagined. Tiglath Pileser, the
30:51
third of Assyria, was delighted to receive Judah's tribute and
30:54
request for help. It gave him the perfect excuse to
30:58
attack Syria and Northern Israel, which he had wanted to
31:02
do anyway. The Assyrian war machine moved swiftly and brutally,
31:08
according to Second King sixteen nine, So the King of
31:12
Assyria heeded him. For the King of Assyria went up
31:16
against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to
31:20
kir and killed Resin. Damascus, the proud capital of Syria,
31:27
was completely destroyed. King Resin was executed, and the entire
31:31
population was deported to distant lands. Northern Israel suffered an
31:37
even worse fate. The Assyrians conquered city after city, taking
31:42
the best people as slaves and scattering them across their empire.
31:47
The kingdom that had existed for over two hundred years
31:50
was wiped off the map forever. In one sense, AHAs
31:55
had gotten exactly what he wanted. The two kings who
31:58
threatened him were gone, and their armies would never attack
32:01
Jerusalem again. The immediate crisis was over, but the price
32:07
of this victory was Judah's independence. By calling on Assyria
32:12
for help, Ahaz had made his nation a vassal state.
32:17
From now on, Judah would have to pay heavy tribute
32:20
to Assyria every year. Worse yet, they would have to
32:24
worship Assyrian gods and follow Assyrian laws. The Kingdom of
32:29
Judah was still standing, but it was no longer truly free.
32:34
Ahaz had traded temporary safety for permanent slavery, and his
32:38
people would pay the price for generations to come. Years
32:42
had passed since Ahaz made his fatal deal with Assyria,
32:46
and now a new king sat on the Assyrian throne.
32:50
Senecharib was even more ruthless and ambitious than his predecessor.
32:55
He had inherited the most powerful military machine the world
32:58
had ever seen, and he was determined to use it
33:01
to expand his empire even further. The new king looked
33:05
at his maps and saw opportunity everywhere. Rebellious cities to crush,
33:11
tribute payments to collect, and territories to add to his
33:14
growing domain. Senachireb launched systematic military campaigns across the entire region,
33:22
moving his armies like pieces on a giant game board.
33:26
His strategy was simple but terrifying. Attack one fortified city
33:31
at a time, destroy it completely as an example to others,
33:36
then move on to the next target city. After city
33:39
fell before the Assyrian war machine, ancient strongholds that had
33:44
stood for centuries were reduced to smoking ruins in just
33:47
days or weeks. The Assyrians had perfected the art of
33:52
siege warfare, using massive battering rams, siege towers, and engineering
33:57
skills that smaller nations couldn't match. They would surround a city,
34:02
cut off all supply lines, and then systematically break down
34:05
the walls until resistance became impossible. When each city fell,
34:11
Senecaib would deport the most skilled and educated people to
34:14
other parts of his empire, leaving only the poorest behind
34:18
to serve as farmers and laborers. This policy broke the
34:22
spirit of conquered peoples and made future rebellions nearly impossible.
34:26
News of each victory spread terror throughout the region, as
34:30
kings and governors realized that no walls were high enough
34:33
and no army was strong enough to stop the Assyrian advance.
34:37
Of all Senacarib's conquests during this campaign, none struck more
34:42
fear into the heart of Judah than the fall of Lakish.
34:46
This wasn't just any city. It was Judah's second most
34:50
important stronghold after Jerusalem itself. Lakish controlled the main road
34:56
between Egypt and Jerusalem, making it a crucial defensive position
35:00
for the entire kingdom. The city sat on a high
35:04
hill with massive walls and was considered nearly impossible to capture,
35:09
but the Assyrians had learned how to take even the
35:12
strongest fortresses. They built enormous earthen ramps against Lacsha's walls,
35:17
allowing their siege engines to reach the top of the fortifications.
35:22
Day and night, battering rams pounded against the gates while
35:26
archers rained arrows down on the defenders. The siege was
35:30
brutal and relentless. Inside the city, people watched their food
35:35
supplies dwindle and their water run low. Children cried from
35:40
hunger while their parents wondered if help would ever come,
35:44
But no help arrived. After weeks of fighting, Leakish fell
35:49
to the Assyrian army. The victory was so important to
35:53
Senakib that he had artists carved detailed pictures of the
35:57
battle on the walls of his palace back in Nineveh.
36:01
When news reached Jerusalem that Lekish had been captured, panic
36:05
spread through the city like wildfire. If the mighty fortress
36:09
of Leakish couldn't stop the Assyrians, what hope did any
36:14
other city have. People began to flee Jerusalem, taking whatever
36:20
they could carry and heading for the hills. The roads
36:24
were filled with refugees, all trying to get as far
36:27
away as possible from the advancing Assyrian army. Everyone knew
36:32
that Jerusalem would be Senacharib's next target. Unlike his father, Ahaz,
36:39
King Hazikiah was determined to trust in God rather than
36:42
make deals with foreign powers. When he realized that war
36:46
with Assyria was inevitable, Hezekiah began preparing both spiritually and practically.
36:53
The eighteenth chapter of Second Kings tells us that he
36:56
trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after
37:00
him was none like him among all the kings of
37:02
Judah nor who were before him. Hezekiah's first priority was
37:07
spiritual revival. He reopened the temple that his father had
37:11
partially closed, repaired the damage that years of neglect had caused,
37:16
and called the people back to proper worship of the
37:19
true God. He destroyed the pagan altars and idols that
37:22
Ahaz had set up throughout the kingdom, including the bronze
37:26
serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness, because people
37:29
had begun worshiping it instead of remembering its original purpose.
37:34
But Hezekiah also knew that faith needed to be combined
37:38
with practical preparation. He strengthened Jerusalem's walls, organized the city's defenses,
37:46
and most importantly, solved the water problem that had worried
37:50
rulers for generations. The king ordered his workers to dig
37:54
a tunnel through solid rock, connecting the Gihan spring outside
37:59
the city walls to the pool of Saloam inside the city.
38:03
This amazing engineering project took months to complete, but it
38:07
meant that Jerusalem could have fresh water even during a
38:10
long siege. Hezekiah also stored up food, weapons, and other
38:15
supplies throughout the city. He organized the population into defensive
38:20
units and made sure everyone knew their role. If the
38:23
city came under attack. Unlike his father, Hezekiah was preparing
38:28
to resist Assyria rather than surrender to it. When Senakaib's
38:34
army finally surrounded Jerusalem, they didn't immediately attack the walls. Instead,
38:40
they decided to try a different strategy first, psychological warfare.
38:45
The Assyrian commander, known as the Rab Shaka, came right
38:49
up to Jerusalem's walls with a small group of officials
38:52
and began shouting messages designed to destroy the defender's morale.
38:56
The eighteenth chapter of Second Kings records this dramatic confrontation
39:00
in detail. The rab Shahke called out in Hebrew so
39:04
that everyone on the walls could understand exactly what he
39:07
was saying. Do not let Hazikia deceive you, for he
39:11
shall not be able to deliver you from his hand.
39:14
Nor let Hazikia make you trust in the Lord, saying,
39:18
the Lord will surely deliver us. This city shall not
39:21
be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
39:26
The Assyrian commander was trying to plant seeds of doubt
39:29
and fear in the minds of Jerusalem's defenders. He reminded
39:34
them of all the other cities that had fallen to Assyria,
39:37
asking mockingly where their gods were now. He claimed that
39:42
no god had ever been able to stop the Assyrian army,
39:46
so why should the God of Israel be any different.
39:50
The rab Shahkeh even tried to turn the people against
39:53
their own king, suggesting that Hezekiah was foolishly leading them
39:57
to destruction. He promised that if if they would surrender peacefully,
40:01
Senakarib would treat them well and relocate them to a
40:05
good land where they could live comfortable lives. But if
40:09
they insisted on fighting, he warned that they would all
40:12
die horribly from hunger, thirst, and disease. During the siege,
40:18
people on the walls listened to these words with growing fear,
40:21
wondering if the Assyrian commander might be right about their
40:24
chances of survival. While the Rab shake was trying to
40:28
terrorize Jerusalem with his threats, King Hezekiah turned to the
40:32
one source of hope and guidance he trusted completely, the
40:37
prophet Isaiah. The king sent his officials to Isaiah with
40:41
a message of desperation, and the prophet's response was immediate
40:45
and confident. Isaiah told them exactly what God wanted Hezekiah
40:50
to know, as recorded in Isaiah thirty seven six through seven,
40:55
do not be afraid of the words which you have heard,
40:59
with which the serpent of the King of Assyria have
41:01
blasphemed me. Surely I will send a spirit upon him,
41:06
and he shall hear a rumor and return to his
41:08
own land, and I will cause him to fall by
41:11
the sword in his own land. This was an incredible promise.
41:17
God was telling Hezekiah not to fear the Assyrian threats
41:21
because he would personally deal with Senecarib. The prophet continued
41:26
with even more specific promises about Jerusalem's protection. In verse
41:31
thirty three to thirty five, Isaiah declared, Therefore, thus says
41:37
the Lord, concerning the King of Assyria, he shall not
41:41
come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor
41:44
come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound
41:47
against it by the way that he came by the
41:51
same shall he return, And he shall not come into
41:54
this city, says the Lord. For I will defend this
41:58
city to save it for my own sake and for
42:01
my servant David's sake. Isaiah was promising that Senecaib wouldn't
42:07
even begin a proper siege of Jerusalem. The Assyrian king
42:12
wouldn't shoot a single arrow at the city walls or
42:15
build the earthen ramps that had destroyed so many other fortresses.
42:20
God would defend Jerusalem not just for the sake of
42:23
the current people, but for his own reputation and because
42:28
of his promises to King David's centuries earlier. When senecaib
42:33
sent Hezekiah a written message full of threats and blasphemies
42:36
against God, the king knew exactly what to do with it.
42:41
Second Kings nineteen fourteen tells us and Hezekiah received the
42:47
letter from the hand of the messengers and read it.
42:50
And Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord
42:53
and spread it before the Lord. The king literally took
42:58
the threatening letter and laid it out in front of
43:00
God's altar, as if to say, Lord, you can read
43:05
this for yourself. Then Hezekiah prayed one of the most
43:08
powerful prayers recorded in scripture. He began by acknowledging God's
43:14
absolute sovereignty. O, Lord, God of Israel, the one who
43:18
dwells between the Cheribim, You are God, you alone, of
43:23
all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven
43:27
and earth. Hezekiah recognized that He wasn't just asking for
43:32
help from a local tribal deity, but from the creator
43:35
and ruler of the entire universe. The king continued by
43:40
pointing out how Senecarib had insulted not just Judah, but
43:44
God himself. Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid
43:50
waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their
43:54
gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but
43:58
the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they
44:03
destroyed them. Hezekiah understood that this crisis was about more
44:08
than just political power or military strategy. It was about
44:12
whether the true God was stronger than human pride and
44:15
military might. Then came the heart of his prayer. Now, therefore,
44:22
O Lord, our God, I pray save us from his hand,
44:27
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that
44:29
you are the Lord God. You alone. Hezekiah wasn't just
44:34
asking for rescue, He was asking God to show the
44:37
entire world who was really in charge. God's answer to
44:42
Hisekiah's prayer came swiftly and dramatically that very night. While
44:48
the huge Assyrian army was camped around Jerusalem, feeling confident
44:52
about their coming victory, something incredible happened. The nineteenth chapter
44:57
of Second Kings records it simply but powerfully in verse
45:01
thirty five. And it came to pass on a certain
45:05
night that the Angel of the Lord went out and
45:08
killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and
45:11
eighty five thousand, And when people arose early in the morning,
45:16
there were the corpses all dead. In just one night,
45:21
God's angel destroyed almost the entire Assyrian army, without any
45:25
human army lifting a sword. When the sun rose the
45:29
next morning, what had been a mighty military force was
45:33
now a field of dead bodies. The soldiers of Jerusalem
45:37
couldn't believe their eyes when they looked out from the
45:40
city walls. The massive army that had seemed so threatening
45:44
was gone. Senacharib woke up to find that his mighty
45:48
military machine had been completely destroyed by divine intervention. There
45:54
was nothing left for him to do but retreat to
45:56
his homeland in shame and humiliation. Verse thirty six tells
46:01
us so Senacharib, king of Assyria, departed and went away,
46:07
returned home and remained at Nineveh. The king, who had
46:11
conquered city after city across the known world was forced
46:15
to run home like a defeated child. His reputation as
46:19
an unstoppable conqueror was ruined forever. News of this miraculous
46:24
deliverance spread throughout the ancient world, and everyone knew that
46:29
the God of Israel had done something that no human
46:32
army could accomplish. Jerusalem was saved not by clever strategy
46:37
or superior weapons, but by direct divine intervention. After this
46:43
incredible victory over Assyria, something unexpected happened to King Hezekiah
46:49
that would test his faith in a completely different way.
46:53
The twentieth chapter of Second Kings begins with these sobering words.
46:58
In those days, has Zekiah was sick and near death,
47:03
and Isaiah, the prophet, the son of Amaz, went to
47:06
him and said to him, thus says the Lord set
47:10
your house in order, for you shall die and not live.
47:15
The same king who had just witnessed God's miraculous power
47:19
in destroying the Assyrian army was now facing his own mortality.
47:24
This must have been confusing and frightening for Hezekiah. Why
47:28
would God save him from his enemies only to let
47:31
him die from sickness. But instead of accepting this news passively,
47:37
Hezekiah did what he had learned to do in every crisis.
47:41
He turned to God in prayer. Verse two to three
47:44
describes his desperate appeal. Then he turned his face toward
47:49
the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, remember now,
47:54
o Lord, I pray how I have walked before you
47:58
in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done
48:00
what was good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
48:06
The king reminded God of his faithfulness and begged for mercy.
48:11
God heard this prayer and changed his mind about Hezekiah's fate.
48:15
Before Isaiah had even left the palace, God told the
48:19
prophet to return with a new message. Return and tell Hezekiah,
48:24
the leader of my people. Thus says the Lord, the
48:29
God of David, your father, I have heard your prayer.
48:34
I have seen your tears. Surely I will heal you.
48:38
On the third day, you shall go up to the
48:41
house of the Lord, and I will add to your
48:43
days fifteen years. God gave Hezekiah fifteen more years of
48:48
life along with a miraculous sign. The shadow on the
48:53
sun dial moved backward ten degrees, defying the normal course
48:57
of nature. Shortly after, hezekin Hiah's miraculous recovery from his
49:01
deadly illness, something happened that would change the future of
49:06
Judah forever. The thirty ninth chapter of Isaiah tells us
49:10
that Meridach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon,
49:15
sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard
49:19
that he had been sick and had recovered. This seemed
49:23
like a wonderful gesture of friendship from a distant king.
49:26
The Babylonian ambassadors arrived in Jerusalem with expensive gifts and
49:31
warm congratulations for the king's recovery. Hezekiah was thrilled to
49:37
receive such honoured guests from this powerful kingdom far to
49:40
the east. But what happened next revealed a serious flaw
49:45
in the good king's character pride. Instead of being humble
49:51
about God's blessing, Hezekiah decided to show off everything he
49:55
owned to these foreign visitors, the Bible says in verse two.
50:01
And Hezekiah was pleased with them and showed them the
50:04
house of his treasures, the silver and gold, the spices
50:08
and precious ointment, and all his armory, all that was
50:12
found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house
50:16
or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
50:20
The king took these strangers on a complete tour of
50:23
his palace, his treasury, his weapons storage, and every valuable
50:27
thing in his entire kingdom. He wanted to impress them
50:32
with Judah's wealth and power. Hezekiah probably thought he was
50:36
building a useful political alliance or showing that Judah was
50:40
a kingdom worth respecting, But he never stopped to think
50:43
about what these visitors might do with all the detailed
50:46
information he was giving them about his kingdom's resources and defenses.
50:51
This moment of pride would have consequences that would last
50:55
for generations. When Isaiah heard what Hezekiah had done with
50:59
the Babylonian and visitors, the prophet immediately came to see
51:03
the king with a message from God that would shock
51:06
and horrify him. The conversation is recorded in verses three
51:11
to six of Isaiah thirty nine. Isaiah asked Hezekiah directly,
51:17
what did they see in your house? When the king
51:20
admitted that the visitors had seen everything he owned, Isaiah
51:24
delivered one of the most devastating prophecies in the entire Bible.
51:29
Hear the word of the Lord of hosts. Behold, the
51:33
days are coming when all that is in your house
51:36
and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall
51:39
be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.
51:45
And they shall take away some of your sons who
51:48
will descend from you, whom you will beget, and they
51:51
shall be eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon.
51:57
This prophecy revealed the terrible future that a way Judah.
52:02
Everything Hezekiah had proudly shown to the Babylonian ambassadors would
52:06
one day be taken to Babylon as spoils of war.
52:10
Even worse, some of his own descendants would be carried
52:13
away as captives to serve in the Babylonian king's palace.
52:18
Isaiah's vision expanded beyond just this one conversation to show
52:22
him the complete destruction that was coming. The prophets saw
52:27
Jerusalem's mighty walls broken down, the beautiful temple that Solomon
52:32
had built going up in flames, and thousands of people
52:35
being marched away from their homeland in chains. He saw
52:40
families torn apart, children growing up in a foreign land,
52:44
and the Holy City lying empty and ruined. This wasn't
52:49
just a political defeat that Isaiah was seeing. It was
52:52
the end of everything the people of Judah held dear.
52:56
But God's vision through Isaiah didn't end with destruction and exile.
53:01
The fortieth chapter of Isaiah begins with words of comfort
53:05
that looked far beyond the coming judgment to a time
53:08
of restoration and hope. Comfort, Yes, comfort, my people, says
53:15
your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to
53:20
her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,
53:24
for she has received from the Lord's hand double for
53:27
all her sins. After the punishment would come forgiveness and restoration.
53:33
Then Isaiah saw something remarkable in verses three to five,
53:38
the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the
53:42
way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a
53:45
highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and
53:50
every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked places shall
53:54
be made straight and the rough places smooth. The glory
53:58
of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall
54:01
see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
54:07
The prophet envisioned someone who would come before the Lord's
54:10
arrival to prepare the way like servants who would smooth
54:14
out a road before their king traveled on it. This
54:16
mysterious voice would call people to get ready for God's
54:19
coming by removing every obstacle and making everything straight and level.
54:25
Mountains would be lowered, valleys would be filled in, and
54:29
crooked paths would be made straight. This wasn't just about
54:33
fixing actual roads. It was about preparing people's hearts for
54:38
the Lord's arrival. The message was that when God came
54:43
to restore his people, his glory would be so obvious
54:47
that every one in the world would see it. This
54:50
voice in the wilderness would announce that the time of
54:53
exile and punishment was over and the time of redemption
54:58
had begun. One of the most amazing things about Isaiah's
55:02
prophecies was how specific they became about the future. In
55:08
the forty fourth and forty fifth chapters of Isaiah, the
55:12
prophet did something incredible. He named the exact person who
55:16
would end the Babylonian exile, and he did this more
55:20
than one hundred fifty years before that person was even born.
55:25
Isaiah forty four twenty eight records God's words about this
55:30
future deliverer, who says of Cyrus, he is my shepherd,
55:35
and he shall perform all my pleasure, saying to Jerusalem
55:40
you shall be built, and to the Temple your foundation
55:44
shall be laid. God called this Persian king, named Cyrus,
55:51
his shepherd, some one who would care for God's people
55:54
and carry out God's plans perfectly. Even more remarkably, in
55:59
Chapter four, verse one, God gave Cyrus a title that
56:03
was normally reserved only for Jewish kings. Thus, says the
56:07
Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I
56:11
have strengthened to subdue nations before him, and loose the
56:15
armor of kings, to open before him the double doors,
56:18
so that the gates will not be shut. God called
56:23
this pagan king his anointed one, the same word used
56:27
for the Messiah. This showed that God could use anyone,
56:32
even people who didn't know him, to accomplish his purposes
56:36
for his people. Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would conquer Babylon easily,
56:42
with city gates opening before him without a fight. More importantly,
56:47
this foreign king would give the Jewish exiles permission to
56:50
return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
56:56
God explained his reasons for choosing Cyrus in verse four,
57:00
for Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel, my elect. I
57:05
have even called you by your name. I have named you,
57:09
though you have not known me. God was working through
57:13
this Persian king specifically to bless his chosen people, even
57:17
though Cyrus himself didn't worship the true God. As Isaiah's
57:22
prophecies continued, he began to speak about some one even
57:26
more important than Cyrus, a mysterious figure he called God's servant.
57:33
This servant would do far more than just bring the
57:35
exiles back from Babylon. He would bring salvation to the
57:40
entire world. In Isaiah forty two one through four, God
57:45
introduced this special person. Behold my servant, whom I uphold
57:51
my elect, one in whom my soul delights. I have
57:55
put my spirit upon him. He will bring forth justice
57:58
to the gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise
58:02
his voice, nor cause his voice to be heard in
58:04
the street. A bruised reed, he will not break, and
58:09
smoking flax, he will not quench. He will bring forth
58:13
justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged
58:18
till he has established justice in the earth, and the
58:21
coast land shall wait for his law. This servant would
58:26
be completely different from earthly kings and conquerors. He wouldn't
58:30
use force or violence to accomplish his mission. Instead, he
58:35
would be gentle with weak and hurting people, like someone
58:39
who wouldn't break a damaged reed or put out a
58:42
barely burning flame. His mission would extend far beyond the
58:47
Jewish people to include all the nations of the earth.
58:51
In Chapter forty nine, verses five through six, God expanded
58:56
on the servant's calling. And now the law Lord says,
59:00
who formed me from the womb to be his servant?
59:04
To bring Jacob back to him, so that Israel has
59:07
gathered to him. It is too small a thing that
59:11
you should be my servant to raise up the tribes
59:14
of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel.
59:18
I will also give you as a light to the gentiles,
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that you should be my salvation to the ends of
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the earth. This servant would not only restore Israel, but
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become God's salvation for every nation and people group in
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the world. The most detailed and shocking prophecy about God's
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servant came in Isaiah's fifty third chapter, where the prophet
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described how this special person would accomplish his mission through
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suffering and death. Isaiah saw something that seemed impossible. God's
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chosen one would be rejected, tortured, and killed, but through
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his death he would bring salvation to countless people. The
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prophecy begins with amazement in verse one, who has believed
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our report? And to whom has the arm of the
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Lord been revealed? What Isaiah was about to describe would
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be so unexpected that most people wouldn't believe it, he
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continued in verses two through three. For he shall grow
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up before him as a tender plant, and as a
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root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness,
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and when we see him, there is no beauty that
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we should desire him. He is despised and rejected by men,
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a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid,
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as it were, our faces from him. He was despised,
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and we did not esteem him. This servant wouldn't look
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like a powerful king or impressive leader. Instead, he would
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be ordinary in appearance and would experience terrible suffering and rejection.
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But the most remarkable part of the prophecy was the
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reason for his suffering, explained in verses four through six.
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Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
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Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
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But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised
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for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon him,
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And by his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep,
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have gone astray. We have turned every one to his
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own way, and the Lord has laid on him the
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iniquity of us. All the servant would suffer not for
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his own sins, but for the sins of other people.
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His pain would bring healing to others, and his death
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would pay the price for every one's wrong doing. Isaiah's
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visions reached even further into the future, beyond the return
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from exile and beyond the suffering servants mission, to the
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ultimate transformation of everything. In Chapter sixty five, Verses seventeen
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to nineteen, the prophet saw God's final plan for creation.
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For behold, I create new heavens and a new Earth.
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And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind,
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but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create.
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For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her
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people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, enjoy in
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my people. It shall no longer be heard in her
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the voice of weeping nor the voice of crying. God
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would eventually create an entirely new universe, where all the
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pain and problems of the old world would be completely forgotten.
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This new creation would be so wonderful that no one
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would hear and remember the troubles of the past. Isaiah
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described a world where death itself would be conquered, as
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shown in verse twenty. No more shall an infant from
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there live but a few days, nor an old man
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who has not fulfilled his days. For the child shall
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die one hundred years old, but the sinner, being one
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hundred years old, shall be a cursed even more amazingly,
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in Chapter eleven, verses six through nine, Isaiah saw a
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time when violence would end completely. The wolf also shall
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dwell with the lamb. The leopard shall lie down with
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the young goat. The calf and the young lion and
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the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
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The cow and the bear shall graze their young ones
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shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw
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like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the
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cobra's hole, and the wean child shall put his hand
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in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy
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in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be
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full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters
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cover the sea. This future world would be completely peaceful,
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with natural enemies living together in harmony. Isaiah's final visions
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focused on the ultimate restoration of Jerusalem and God's people
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to a glory that would exceed anything they had ever
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experienced before. In Chapter sixty, verses one to three, the
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prophets saw Jerusalem shining with divine light that would attract
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all the nations of the world. Arise, shine, for your
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light has come, and the glory of the Lord is
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risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
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and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise
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over you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
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The gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to
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the brightness of your rising. Jerusalem would become like a
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lighthouse in a dark world, drawing people from every nation
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to come and worship the True God. The wealth and
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resources of the entire world would flow into the Holy City,
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as described in verses five through six. Then you shall
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see and become radiant, and your hearts shall swell with joy,
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because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you.
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The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The
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multitude of camels shall cover your land. The dromedaries of
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Midian and Epha, all those from Sheba shall come. They
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shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the
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praises of the Lord. But the most amazing promise came
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in chapter sixty one, verses six, where God revealed the
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ultimate purpose for his people. But you shall be named
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the priests of the Lord. They shall call you the
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servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of
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the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. God's
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people would become a kingdom of priests, serving as mediators
1:06:19
between God and all the nations of the earth. Every
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one would know that they belonged to the Lord, and
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through them, the whole world would come to know and
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worship the true God. Isaiah's incredible journey of prophecy ended
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with this vision of ultimate restoration, where God's original plan
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for humanity would finally be completely fulfilled. If this story
1:06:43
of faith, courage, and divine revelation has inspired you, please
1:06:48
subscribe to our channel for more biblical stories that bring
1:06:52
Scripture to life. Share this video with someone who needs
1:06:55
to hear about God's faithfulness through difficult times, and let
1:07:00
us know in the comments which biblical character you'd like
1:07:03
us to explore next. Until next time, remember that the
1:07:08
same God who called Isaiah, protected Hezekiah, and promised restoration
1:07:14
is still writing his story through your life to day.