Assyria’s siege of Jerusalem in King Hezekiah’s day typifies a similar siege by end-time “Assyria.” When God’s people prove loyal to their king under a threat of death, and the king proves loyal to God, God destroys the invading Assyrian army. At the same time, both king and people undergo spiritual rebirth. Just as Hezekiah performed the spiritual role of a proxy savior to his people, so does God’s end-time servant. While Hezekiah suffered a life-threatening illness to pay the price of his people’s deliverance, God’s servant suffers disfigurement by his enemies.
Isaiah 10:28–32He advances on Aiath, passes through Migron;
at Micmash he marshals his weaponry.
They cross over the pass,
stopping overnight at Geba.
Ramah is in a state of alarm,
Gibeah of Saul is fleeing.
Cry out, O Daughter of Gallim!
Hear her, Laishah; answer her, Anathoth!Madmenah has moved out of the way,
the inhabitants of Gebim are in full flight.
This same day he will but pause at Nob
and signal the advance
against the mountain of the Daughter of Zion,
the hill of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 38:1–5In those days Hezekiah became gravely ill.
And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz
came to him and said,
Thus says Jehovah: Put your house in order.
You will die; you will not recover.
At this Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall
and prayed to Jehovah:
I beseech you to remember, O Jehovah,
how I have walked before you faithfully
and with full purpose of heart and have done
what is good in your eyes.
And Hezekiah wept disconsolately.Then the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah:
Go and tell Hezekiah,
Thus says Jehovah, the God of your father David:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will add fifteen years to your life.
And I will deliver you and this city
out of the hand of the king of Assyria;
I will protect this city.
Isaiah 37:35–36I will protect this city and save it,
for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.
Then the angel of Jehovah went out and slew
a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.
And when men arose in the morning,
there lay all their dead bodies!
Isaiah 29:7–8The nations amassed to fight against Ariel,
all who congregate at her stronghold
to distress her,
shall be as a dream seen in the night:
like a hungry man who dreams he eats
but awakens famished,
or like a thirsty man who dreams he drinks
but wakes up faint and craving.
So shall be all the nations
that amass to fight against Mount Zion.