Isaiah 37:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-7

We may observe here, 1. That the best way to baffle the malicious designs of our enemies against us is to be driven by them to God and to our duty and so to fetch meat out of the eater. Rabshakeh intended to frighten Hezekiah from the Lord, but it proves that he frightens him to the Lord. The wind, instead of forcing the traveller's coat from him, makes him wrap it the closer about him. The more Rabshakeh reproaches God the more Hezekiah studies to honour him, by rending his clothes for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:4

It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh ,.... He had heard them; but the sense is, that it might be that he would take notice of them, and resent them in a public manner, and punish for them; and this is said, not as doubting and questioning whether he would or not, but as hoping and encouraging himself that he would: and it may be observed, that Hezekiah does not call the Lord "my God", or "our God", because he and his people were under the chastening hand of God for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-4

Our highest solicitude. A very graphic scene is here sketched. The highest personages in the realm are moved to the strongest feelings of indignation and concern. Dignity is entirely forgotten; the profound agitations which have stirred their souls are expressed in actions which, to less excitable and imaginative people, seem violent and unbecoming. But the rent garments and the coarse sackcloth best uttered, for them, the distracted heart and a deep sense of shame. It was eloquence in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-5

Spiritual advice in, time of need not to be despised even by great kings. The great of the earth—kings, princes, nobles, statesmen, generals—are too apt to rest upon their own internal gifts of wisdom, talent, sagacity, cleverness, and to place little reliance upon others. Especially are they apt to feel a jealousy towards "the spiritualty," and to hold themselves above the necessity of seeking aid from persons whom they view as unpractical, ignorant of worldly business, flighty,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-18

Hezekiah's resources. The conduct of the king on hearing the haughty message of the Assyrian is that of a man of habitually religious mind and religious practice. 1 . He rends his garments and covers himself with sackcloth. This was significant of sorrow and of self-humiliation: "Humble yourselves beneath the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in due time." Instead of searching far and wide for the causes of our distress, it were well to look first into our own hearts, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-38

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:4

It may be the Lord … will hear ; i.e. "will notice," or "will punish." If Isaiah laid the matter before God, and prayed earnestly, it was possible that God would intervene to save Judah, and punish the blapshemous words uttered. The living God . In opposition to the dead idols of the heathen, which had neither life, nor breath, nor perception (see Psalms 115:4-8 ; Psalms 135:15-18 ). The remnant that is left . It is usual to explain this of Judah generally, which still survived,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:4

Responsibility of prayer-leaders. The message sent to Isaiah, the prophet of God, was this: "Pray for us; be our leader, our intercessor." "Wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left." Scripture singles out Samuel and Moses as great prayer-leaders, or intercessors, but we can add Joshua, David, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul, drawing further illustrations from each of these. The Prophet Jeremiah has a very striking sentence, which indicates the power that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:4

It may be the Lord thy God - The God whom thou dost serve, and in whose name and by whose authority thou dost exercise the prophetic office.Will hear the words - Will come forth and vindicate himself in regard to the language of reproach and blasphemy which has been used. See a similar use of the word ‘hear’ in Exodus 2:24; Exodus 3:7.To reproach the living God - The revilings of Rabsbakeh were really directed against the true God. The reproach of the ‘living God’ consisted in comparing him to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-38

Assyria defeated (37:1-38)Hezekiah now realized his mistake in ignoring Isaiah and relying on Egypt. In a humble but open acknowledgment that Judah’s plight was desperate, he sent to ask Isaiah to appeal to God for help (37:1-4). Isaiah reassured Hezekiah that God would not tolerate Assyria’s mockery of him (5-7).When the Assyrians temporarily withdrew from Jerusalem to deal with an enemy attack to the south-west, they sent a letter renewing their threats. They reminded the Jerusalemites that... read more

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