從歷史角度來看三十六至三十九章，更可證明以賽亞預言的正確性；所發生的事記載在列王記下18：13到20：21和歷代志下32章。第三次聖靈感動以賽亞預言，上帝奇妙的作為，因見百姓謙卑呼求祂，祂就拯救他們；相信上帝的結果是事奉上帝，而敵擋上帝的結果則是災難的臨到。亞述人攻擊耶路撒冷，實際上他們是向上帝挑戰，他們驕傲自大，殘酷的對待所有他們所征服來的國家，包括北國以色列，尤其是猶大人；亞述人大聲的說，沒有一個國家的上帝能拯救他的子民，以色列的上帝也無法拯救耶路撒冷，亞述人褻瀆輕視上帝（36：18~20）。

        希西家的僕人（36：22，比較22：15~24）回報王說，亞述人侮辱他們及要求耶路撒冷投降，希西家謙卑自己，他明白他們根本沒有能力戰勝亞述，（就是依靠埃及也不成）（37：3），因此希西家想到以賽亞（上帝的先知必得知上帝心意），就去見他，此時希西家所關切的是，上帝的名不要受到羞辱。

        亞述王再次的送信到耶路撒冷褻瀆上帝，這一回希西家親自到上帝面前向上帝禱告，求上帝拯救他們，若上帝拯救他們，各地的人將知，唯有耶和華是真神，上帝要得到榮耀（37：20），希西家謙卑及誠懇的禱告，感動了上帝的心，上帝藉以賽亞答應拯救耶路撒冷，上帝為祂自己名的緣故，也為上帝的僕人大衛的緣故（因上帝曾允許延續大衛的朝代），保護耶路撒冷（37：32，35）。上帝不讓希西家滅亡，也預表了將來上帝要藉耶穌成為全人類的救贖。

        上帝奇妙的動工，祂差遣死亡天使到圍攻者亞述人的營地，殺滅他們，剩下少數的亞述人和亞述王，羞慚的逃回他們的家園（37：29）；亞述王西拿基立驕傲邪惡，引導了他的國走向滅亡，他雖向他的偶像祈求，但最後卻死在他兒子手下（37：3，37~38）。相對的，希西家王的謙遜和敬虔，使他的城得拯救。當希西家王在殿中禱告時，上帝不但允許拯救他的城，──也允許醫治他的疾病，並多給了他十五年的壽命，使他能服事讚美上帝。希西家神奇病癒的消息傳遍巴比倫地區，而那時巴比倫亦在亞述的管轄之下。但不久後巴比倫反判，成為世界另一強權國。?

        巴比倫王米羅達巴拉但，差了一隊代表去耶路撒冷恭賀希西家王，希西家竟然驕傲的向巴比倫使者，顯示他所有的財富，他落入將上帝的榮耀歸給自己的試探中，也失去了一個在外邦人中，為上帝做見証的機會。上帝差以賽亞去指責希西家，他接受了上帝的指責，以賽亞也清楚的預言，在尼布甲尼撒王時，巴比倫要擄走希西家王宮中一切的寶物。

上帝啊！當日您奇妙的醫治了希西家王，而如今您仍是醫治者，求您大能的手，在我們的生命中工作，奉您榮耀的名禱告。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Chapters 36 to 39 form an historical account which verifies the accuracy of Isaiah's prophecies. It relays events that are also recorded in 2 Kings 18:13 to 20:21 and 2 Chronicles 32. For the third time, the Spirit of the Lord has moved an inspired writer to tell of this wonderful mircale of God's deliverance of His people after they had humbled themselves and cried out to Him. It serves to illustrate well the results of trusting in the Lord, as well as the disastrous results of waging war against God, for when the Assyrians came against Jerusa lem, they were in fact challenging God. They were proud, arrogant, and cruel to those whom they subjected, which at that time included all the surrounding nations, including the Northern Kingdom of Israel and most of Judah, except Jerusalem. Their argument was that because none of the gods of these other nations had delivered them, the God of Israel also would not be able to deliver Jerusalem. Therefore, they blasphemed and mocked God (36: 18-20).

        Hezekiah's servants (36:22 compare 22:15-24) reported to him the Assyrians' insults and demands for Jerusalem to surrender. Hezekiah responded in the right way; he humbled himself, finally realizing they had no strength on their own (or through the help of Egypt) to overcome their powerful enemy (37:3). Therefore, Hezekiah sought the Lord by going to God's spokesman, Isaiah. Hezekiah's main concern was that God's Name not be shamed and mocked.

        Once again, the God of Israel was blasphemed through a letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. This time, however, Hezekiah went personally and directly to God in prayer, asking Him to save them so that all people everywhere would know that He alone is God and that He might receive all the glory (37:20). Hezekiah's humble and sincere prayer touched the heart of God. Through Isaiah, God promised He would save for Himself a remnant, and therefore He would defend Jerusalem for His own Name's sake and for the sake of David His servant, to whom He had promised an enduring dynasty (37:32, 35). God would not allow Hezekiah to perish, for His plan of redemption through Jesus had yet to be fulfilled (cf. Matt. 1:9-10).

        After God had accomplished the miraculous deliverance by sending His death angel over the besiegers' camp, only a few survivors, including Sennacherib, returned to their homes in shame (37:29). Sennacherib's pride and wickedness had lead to the downfall of his nation, and to his own death, for while he was praying to his idol, he was struck down by his sons; thus Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled (37:3, 37-38). In sharp contrast, Hezekiah's humility and godliness led to the salvation of his city. While praying in the Temple of the true and living God, Hezekiah was promised salvation and was also granted healing from his sickness, giving him fifteen additional years of life in which to serve and praise God (ch. 38).

        News of Hezekiah's miraculous recovery spread as far as Babylon, a nation which at the time was still under Assyrian subjection (but soon to revolt and become the world power). Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a delegation to congratulate Hezekiah. In proudly showing them all the wealth of his kingdom, he fell into the tempta tion of taking the credit and glory for himself which belonged to God alone. Hezekiah also missed a great opportunity to be a witness for God to these pagan ambassadors. With Isaiah's rebuke, Hezekiah bowed to the will and justice of God. Isaiah's explicit prophecy was perfectly fulfilled in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, for indeed the Babylonians carried away all the royal treasures their ambassadors had seen many years earlier. (For additional comments, see "Day unto Day" on 2 Kings 18, 19, and 20, and 2 Chronicles 32.)

        Lord, You miraculously healed Hezekiah, and You are still the healer now. We ask for Your mighty hand to work miracles in our lives and the lives of others. We pray this for Your greater glory, O Lord. Amen.