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<p>We may here observe, 1. That those who receive messages of terror from men with patience, and send messages of faith to God by prayer, may expect messages of grace and peace from God for their comfort, even when they are most cast down. Isaiah sent a long answer to Hezekiah’s prayer in God’s name, sent it in writing (for it was too long to be sent by word of mouth), and sent it by way of return to his prayer, relation being thereunto had: “<i>Whereas thou hast prayed to me</i>, know, for thy comfort, that thy prayer is heard.” Isaiah might have referred him to the prophecies he had delivered (particularly that <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.10.1-Isa.10.34" href="/passage/?search=Isa.10.1-Isa.10.34">Isa. 10:1-34</a>) and bid him pick out an answer from thence; but, that he might have abundant consolation, a message is sent him on purpose. The correspondence between earth and heaven is never let fall on God’s side. 2. Those who magnify themselves, especially who magnify themselves against God and his people, do really vilify themselves, and made themselves contemptible, in the eyes of all wise men: <i>“The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised</i> Sennacherib, and all his impotent malice and menaces; she knows that, while she preserves her integrity, she is sure of the divine protection, and that though the enemy may bark he cannot bite. All his threats are a jest; it is all but <i>brutum fulmen—a mere flash</i>,” 3. Those who abuse the people of God affront God himself; and he takes what is said and done against them as said and done against himself: “<i>Whom hast thou reproached</i>? Even <i>the Holy One of Israel</i>, whom thou hast <i>therefore</i> reproached because he is a Holy One.” And it aggravated the indignity Sennacherib did to God that he not only reproached him himself, but set his servants on to do the same: <i>By thy servants</i>, the abjects, <i>thou hast reproached me</i>. 4. Those who boast of themselves and their own achievements reflect upon God and his providence: “<i>Thou hast said, I have digged, and drunk water</i>; I have done mighty feats, and will do more; and wilt not own that <i>I have done it</i>,” <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.37.24-Isa.37.26" href="/passage/?search=Isa.37.24-Isa.37.26">Isa. 37:24-26</a>. The most active men are no more than God makes them, and God makes them no more than of old he designed to make them: “<i>What I have formed of ancient times</i>, in an eternal counsel, <i>now have I brought to pass</i>” (for God does all according to the counsel of his will), “<i>that thou shouldst be to lay waste defenced cities</i>; it is therefore intolerable arrogance to make it thy own doing.” 5. All the malice, and all the motions and projects, of the church’s enemies, are under the cognizance and check of the church’s God. Sennacherib was active and quick, here, and there, and every where, but God knew his going out and coming in, and had always an eye upon him, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.37.28" href="/passage/?search=Isa.37.28">Isa. 37:28</a>. And that was not all; he had a hand upon him too, a strict hand, a strong hand, <i>a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips</i>, with which, though he was very headstrong and unruly, he could and would <i>turn him back by the way which he came</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.37.29" href="/passage/?search=Isa.37.29">Isa. 37:29</a>. <i>Hitherto he shall come and no further</i>. God had signed Sennacherib’s commission against Judah (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.10.6" href="/passage/?search=Isa.10.6">Isa. 10:6</a>); here he supersedes it. He has frightened them, but he must not hurt them, and therefore is discharged from going any further; nay, his commitment is here signed, by which he is clapped up, to answer for what he had done beyond his commission. 6. God is his people’s bountiful benefactor, as well as their powerful protector, both a sun and a shield to those that trust in him. Jerusalem shall be defended (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.37.35" href="/passage/?search=Isa.37.35"
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