37:28,29
“But I know ...” The Lord knew everything that Assyria did and where she was, and what she thought. The same is true for all of us. The Lord knows everything. So because of Assyria’s arrogance and pride the Lord would draw her back in. She had been allowed to conquer many lands as part of the Lord’s judgement on these places (including Israel), now Assyria would be judged. This has relevance for all nations and organisations and individuals. If we are succeeding, seeming to conquer all, whether that be in a military sense, or economic or academic, then we should ask ourselves why? The Lord grants success and we are to use it wisely and morally. If we become proud and start using the success purely for our own advantage then we can be sure that a fall is not far away.
37:30-32
Isaiah has proclaimed this message to Hezekiah. It was Hezekiah who heard the message, not the Assyrians. Hezekiah needed to understand where Assyria really stood. Now Isaiah speaks to Hezekiah about Hezekiah. Assyria had probably devastated much of the agriculture of the land, so even if the army did withdraw there would still be a problem of food. So Isaiah is addressing this issue. In the first couple of years the land would still produce sufficient food for them, after that they would be able to “sow and reap”, to reestablish things. This was symbolic of what would happen to the people of Judah, a remnant would be left that would take root and bear fruit. This is looking far ahead. “It is the zeal if the Lord Almighty that will accomplish this” (see Is 9:7). The Lord had brought the destruction, He would likewise bring the rebuilding.
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