Isaiah 37:33 says, Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. Isaiah then gave the people God’s promise about Assyria. The Assyrian army was not going to come into Jerusalem or even fire arrows into the city. We may have times when the enemies of God do come in battle against His people, but they will never fire an arrow or any other weapon against the true Jerusalem, God’s Holy City.
Verse thirty-four adds, By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. Isaiah said that Sennacherib would go back the way he came without ever entering Jerusalem in spite of his boasts. No matter how much people of the world may boast about their military might today, if they are fighting against God, they will never stand a chance of defeating Him. Even if they win a temporary victory, He will one day send them away to everlasting punishment.
Verse thirty-five continues, For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. Isaiah said God was going to defend Jerusalem for His sake and the sake of David. Sennacherib had declared God to be unable to defend Jerusalem, and God was going to show him that he was wrong so that people would know that He is the all-powerful God. He was also going to do this because of His promise to David. For us as followers of Jesus Christ, God has delivered us to everlasting victory for His glory and because the promise made to David was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came to die for the sins of all people. We just have to accept His gift of salvation.
Verse thirty-six says, Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. The people of Judah and Jerusalem didn’t have to do anything but continue to believe in God in order to be saved from the Assyrian army. We are told that the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians and killed one-hundred and eighty-five thousand of them, and those that did survive awoke the next morning to a camp full of dead men. I believe that a few were spared so they could be witnesses to what had happened, and that was that the people of Judah had not done this. God will always bring victory to those who are truly His people. It also says that God sent His angel and not a bunch of angels to do this. I think we often try to limit the power of an angel carrying out an assignment from God.
Verse thirty-seven adds, So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. In spite of his boasting, Sennacherib went away defeated. Those who boast about their power and claim God cannot defeat them will one day be sent away to everlasting punishment just as Sennacherib was sent away that day.
Verse thirty-eight continues, And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. While Sennacherib was worshipping in the house of his god, two of his own sons killed him. Not only was his god not powerful enough to defeat God and His people, his god couldn’t even keep him safe while he was worshipping him. No false god can ever keep anyone safe. The two sons who killed Sennacherib fled to Armenia, but a third son assumed his throne. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to understand that He alone is on the throne, and no one can ever take His position away from Him.
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