Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations--the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—This phrase reflects the Assyrian king Sennacherib's taunt against the God of Israel, comparing Him to the deities of other nations that Assyria had conquered. Historically, Assyria was a dominant empire known for its military prowess and conquests. The rhetorical question implies the futility of relying on these gods, as they were unable to protect their people. This highlights the common ancient Near Eastern belief in the power of national deities, which were often seen as protectors of their respective lands. Theologically, this sets the stage for demonstrating the uniqueness and supremacy of the God of Israel, who is not limited by geography or political power. the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph,
Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph were regions that had been conquered by the Assyrians. Gozan is often identified with the region around the Habur River in modern-day Syria. Haran is a city with biblical significance, known as the place where Abraham's family settled after leaving Ur (Genesis 11:31). Rezeph is less well-known but was another city under Assyrian control. The mention of these specific locations underscores the extent of Assyrian conquests and the perceived impotence of their gods. This serves as a contrast to the God of Israel, who is not bound by territorial limitations. and of the people of Eden in Telassar?
The "people of Eden" here is not related to the Garden of Eden but refers to a region or people group in Mesopotamia. Telassar is thought to be a location within this region, though its exact identification remains uncertain. The mention of Eden and Telassar adds to the list of places that fell to Assyria, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their conquests. This phrase also serves to highlight the Assyrian belief in their own invincibility and the ineffectiveness of other nations' gods. In a broader biblical context, this sets up a contrast with the God of Israel, who will demonstrate His power and faithfulness by delivering Jerusalem from Assyrian hands, as seen later in the chapter. Persons / Places / Events 1. GozanA region in Mesopotamia, often associated with the exile of the Israelites. It represents a place of captivity and defeat. 2. HaranAn ancient city in Mesopotamia, known for its historical and religious significance. It was a center of moon worship and a place where Abraham once dwelled. 3. RezephA lesser-known location, possibly a city or region in the Assyrian Empire, symbolizing the reach and power of Assyria. 4. EdenNot the Garden of Eden, but a region or people group, possibly located in Mesopotamia, indicating a place of previous prosperity now under Assyrian control. 5. TelassarA location associated with the people of Eden, possibly a city or region conquered by the Assyrians, representing the futility of relying on false gods. Teaching Points The Futility of IdolatryThe verse highlights the impotence of the gods of the nations conquered by Assyria. It serves as a reminder that reliance on anything other than the one true God is ultimately futile. God's Sovereignty Over NationsThe historical context underscores God's control over the rise and fall of nations. Believers can trust in God's ultimate authority and plan, even when worldly powers seem overwhelming. Faith in the True GodThe Assyrian king's challenge is an opportunity to affirm faith in the God of Israel, who is not like the powerless idols of other nations. Believers are encouraged to place their trust in God alone. Historical Lessons for Modern FaithThe events remind us that history is filled with examples of God's faithfulness and the failure of false gods. This encourages believers to learn from the past and apply these lessons to their faith journey. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the historical context of Assyrian conquests enhance our understanding of Isaiah 37:12? 2. In what ways do modern "idols" or false securities compare to the gods mentioned in this verse, and how can we guard against them? 3. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in Isaiah 37:12 provide comfort in today's world of political and social upheaval? 4. What lessons can we learn from the failure of the gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and Eden that apply to our personal faith journey? 5. How can we use the message of Isaiah 37:12 to strengthen our witness to others about the power and faithfulness of the one true God? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 19:12This verse parallels Isaiah 37:12, recounting the same message from the Assyrian king, emphasizing the historical context of Assyrian conquests. Isaiah 36:18-20These verses provide context for the Assyrian king's taunts, questioning the power of other nations' gods, setting the stage for God's deliverance of Jerusalem. Psalm 115:4-8This passage contrasts the impotence of idols with the power of the living God, reinforcing the theme of Isaiah 37:12 about the futility of false gods. People Adrammelech, Amoz, Assyrians, David, Eliakim, Esarhaddon, Haran, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Rabshakeh, Sennacherib, Sharezer, Shebna, TirhakahPlaces Ararat, Arpad, Assyria, Cush, Egypt, Gozan, Hamath, Haran, Hena, Ivvah, Jerusalem, Lachish, Lebanon, Libnah, Mount Zion, Nineveh, Rezeph, Sepharvaim, Telassar, Tigris-Euphrates Region, ZionTopics Assar, Deliver, Delivered, Destroyed, Destruction, Eden, Fathers, Forefathers, Gods, Gozan, Haran, Nations, Rezeph, Safe, Sons, Tel, Telassar, Tel-assar, ThelassarDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 37:12 8748 false religion Isaiah 37:10-13 5937 rivalry Isaiah 37:11-13 5776 achievement Library Where to Carry Troubles
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.'--ISAIAH xxxvii. 14. When Hezekiah heard the threatenings of Sennacherib's servants, he rent his clothes and went into the house of the Lord, and sent to Isaiah entreating his prayers. When he received the menacing letter, his faith was greater, having been heartened by Isaiah's assurances. So he then himself appealed to Jehovah, spreading …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Triumph of Faith
'And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, 16. O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth. 17. Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open Thine eyes, O Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The First Trumpet.
The first trumpet of the seventh seal begins from the final disturbance and overthrow of the Roman idolarchy at the close of the sixth seal; and as it was to bring the first plague on the empire, now beginning to fall, it lays waste the third part of the earth, with a horrible storm of hail mingled with fire and blood; that is, it depopulates the territory and people of the Roman world, (viz. the basis and ground of its universal polity) with a terrible and bloody irruption of the northern nations, …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 The Golden Eagle is Cut to Pieces. Herod's Barbarity when He was Ready to Die. He Attempts to Kill Himself. He Commands Antipater to be Slain.
1. Now Herod's distemper became more and more severe to him, and this because these his disorders fell upon him in his old age, and when he was in a melancholy condition; for he was already seventy years of age, and had been brought by the calamities that happened to him about his children, whereby he had no pleasure in life, even when he was in health; the grief also that Antipater was still alive aggravated his disease, whom he resolved to put to death now not at random, but as soon as he should …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and Salvation for Us.
1. Christ not only the minister, but also the author and prince of salvation. Divine grace not obscured by this mode of expression. The merit of Christ not opposed to the mercy of God, but depends upon it. 2. The compatibility of the two proved by various passages of Scripture. 3. Christ by his obedience truly merited divine grace for us. 4. This grace obtained by the shedding of Christ's blood, and his obedience even unto death. 5. In this way he paid our ransom. 6. The presumptuous manner in which …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Harbinger
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD , make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. T he general style of the prophecies is poetical. The inimitable simplicity which characterizes every …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665 …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Concerning the Lord's Supper
There are two passages which treat in the clearest manner of this subject, and at which we shall look,--the statements in the Gospels respecting the Lord's Supper, and the words of Paul. (1 Cor. xi.) Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree that Christ gave the whole sacrament to all His disciples; and that Paul taught both parts of it is so certain, that no one has yet been shameless enough to assert the contrary. Add to this, that according to the relation of Matthew, Christ did not say concerning the bread, …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Isaiah 37:12 NIVIsaiah 37:12 NLTIsaiah 37:12 ESVIsaiah 37:12 NASBIsaiah 37:12 KJV
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