Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor
Isaiah 35:3-10
Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the LORD has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Two focal points of sorrow and sighing:
theories
“Do not call conspiracy
everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy… Isaiah 8:12-13a
rhetoric
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:14-16
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32
The smear campaign of Sennacherib, King of Assyria:
You speak only empty words () (Isaiah 36:5)
Come, make a bargain () (Isaiah 36:8)
The LORD told me to invade this country () (Isaiah 36:10)
Do not let the Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, “The LORD will surely deliver us…do not listen….do not let Hezekiah mislead you… (from Isaiah 36)
The response of the people:
But the people remained silent, and said nothing in reply, because the King had commanded, “Do not answer him.” Isaiah 36:21
Hezekiah’s response:
When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD. Isaiah 37:1
“Therefore, pray for the remnant that still survives…” Isaiah 37:4b
Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD… Isaiah 37:14-15
James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Hezekiah’s prayer:
16 “LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD , and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.
18 “It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God.” Isaiah 37:16–20
God’s response to that prayer:
33 “Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: “He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. 34 By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,” declares the LORD . 35 “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” Isaiah 37:33–35
Matthew 12:25
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
Small Group Questions
- What do you love the most—Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas?
- Read Isaiah 35:3-10. Which promise in this passage resonates most deeply with you? Why?
- How do you seek God’s wisdom when it comes to your vote? Do you follow Hezekiah’s example?
- Do you believe God can use both good and bad leaders to accomplish his purpose?
Why or why not?
- How do you need to be praying as election day nears?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?