Isaiah 36:15

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 36:15 (KJV)

Context

This verse records the words of the Assyrian field commander, the Rabshakeh, during King Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem. The Assyrians had already captured many fortified cities of Judah and now threatened the capital. The commander spoke to the people on the wall, trying to demoralize them and sever their confidence in both their king and their God.

Meaning

The Rabshakeh urges the people not to let Hezekiah persuade them to trust in the Lord. He quotes Hezekiah’s own message—”The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria“—and twists it into a reason for doubt. His intent is to convince them that reliance on God and hope in divine rescue are futile, because the Assyrian king had conquered many nations and their gods.

This message is not aligned with truth. Hezekiah was a righteous king who had restored the worship of the true God and who relied on the Lord for guidance and protection. The Assyrian taunts were a direct challenge to the faith of the people in God’s promises. The enemy’s tactic was to replace faith in God’s promise with fear of human power.

Biblical connections

Hezekiah himself trusted in the Lord and encouraged his people to do the same (2 Chronicles 32:6-8). The Rabshakeh saw this trust as the greatest threat to his mission. The immediate context shows the Assyrian offering a false peace (Isaiah 36:16-17) and later claiming that no god of any nation had delivered his people from Assyria (Isaiah 36:18-20). This verse sets the stage for God’s dramatic deliverance in Isaiah 37, where the angel of the Lord strikes the Assyrian army.

Application

This verse reminds us that faith in God’s Word will be tested, often through intimidation and mockery. Our enemies, whether physical or spiritual, may try to undermine our trust in God. We are called to be discerning, to cling to God’s promises, to seek His wisdom, and to rely on His strength, even when circumstances appear hopeless. The Rabshakeh’s words warn us against allowing external pressures to erode trust in God’s deliverance.

Reflection

When doubts and threats arise, remember that God remains faithful to His promises. Hezekiah responded to the threat by seeking the Lord’s counsel through the prophet Isaiah, and God fulfilled His promise by miraculously defeating the Assyrian army outside the walls of Jerusalem. Trust in the Lord, for He is able to deliver.