Isaiah 37:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord."

NIV: Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God. "

NASB: But now Lord, our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.'

CSB: Now, Lord our God, save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God —you alone.

NLT: Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God. '

KJV: Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.

NKJV: Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

This request concludes Hezekiah's prayer to the Lord (Isaiah 37:14–15). He has come to the temple and unfolded Sennacherib's words before the Lord. The Assyrian king has said that Israel's God is no different from the gods of any other nation the Assyrians conquered. Sennacherib sees no reason to believe the Lord will save Judah (Isaiah 37:10–12).

Hezekiah wants Sennacherib to regret those blasphemous words. He wants the Assyrians to learn that Israel's God is the only true God and all the others defeated by them were empty objects and not gods, at all (Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 115:4–8; Habakkuk 2:18–19). Judah's king spells out his hope very clearly: Save us from Sennacherib and Assyria! He doesn't merely express a problem but is bold enough to ask directly for a solution. The Lord commands us to do this when we are burdened and weighed down by anxiety (Philippians 4:6).

More than rescue, Hezekiah, also sees an opportunity for God to show His divine glory to the entire world. He is the only true God of all the idols that litter the world. Those gods are empty craft projects. He is the living Creator of the universe (Exodus 3:14–15). When He does for His people what no other god of any other nation has been able to do—defeat the Assyrians—everyone who learns of it will be forced to acknowledge that Israel's God is truly God.

Isaiah 37:14–20 records Hezekiah's perfect response to recent Assyrian threats (Isaiah 37:10). With no other options, Judah's King Hezekiah falls entirely on God's mercy in prayer and humility. He asks the Lord to respond to King Sennacherib's blasphemy. Hezekiah begs the Lord to save Judah from the Assyrians so that the entire world will see that Israel's God is the only true Lord.

Hezekiah is overcome with grief at news that Sennacherib has mocked the Lord and is coming to destroy Jerusalem. God reassures Hezekiah that the Asyrian king will return home to be killed there. Hezekiah prays in the temple, asking the Lord to defend His name and save Judah. Through Isaiah, the Lord reveals to Hezekiah that Jerusalem will not be touched. Assyria's army won't even have the chance to attack. Responding to their aggression and blasphemy, the "angel of the Lord" virtually wipes out the gigantic Assyrian army overnight. Sennacherib returns home and is later killed by his sons.

Isaiah 37 continues the narrative started in Isaiah 36. Assyrian messengers threaten to bring their enormous, nearby army to take Jerusalem. Hezekiah seeks God in response and is reassured that Jerusalem will not see so much as a single Assyrian arrow. The Lord promises to save the city and make the survivors prosper. The angel of the Lord kills an overwhelming number of Assyrian soldiers overnight. Sennacherib returns home and is eventually killed by his own sons. Hezekiah will then face a serious illness and be granted a brief reprieve by God (Isaiah 38).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).