Isaiah 38:6
And I will deliuer thee and this citie, out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this citie. Isaiah 38:6 (KJV)
“And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.” This verse is part of the larger narrative of Isaiah 36‑39, which describes the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. In Isaiah 38, the focus shifts to a different crisis. Hezekiah falls gravely ill, and the prophet Isaiah comes to him with a message from God concerning his health. Isaiah 38:6 (KJV) reads, “And it shall come to pass, that I will pray for thee unto the LORD… and I will put thy life again as the days of a young man.” This passage promises Hezekiah recovery and a restored lifespan, not deliverance from the Assyrian army. However, it is important to note that the Assyrian siege under King Sennacherib had already been resolved before Hezekiah’s illness described in Isaiah 38. According to Isaiah 37:36-38, God sent an angel who struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, leading to the withdrawal of the Assyrian forces. The promise of divine protection against the Assyrians is recorded elsewhere. After Hezekiah’s prayer for help during the siege, an angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36). That miraculous defeat leads the Assyrian forces to withdraw, sparing Jerusalem from destruction. After this event, Hezekiah became ill, and Isaiah delivered God’s message of healing and deliverance in Isaiah 38. This passage underscores God’s sovereignty and faithfulness in keeping His promises. Hezekiah’s trust in God throughout these trials demonstrated the importance of relying on divine protection during adversity. The broader lesson from these passages is the importance of trusting God in different trials—whether confronting a foreign empire or facing personal illness. Hezekiah’s faith resulted in both physical healing and national salvation, illustrating God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Both narratives together highlight God’s sovereignty, compassion, and steadfastness toward His people.
