- 119-
the time of the Exodus and of the destruction of the army of Pharaoh in the waves of the
Red Sea (comp. Exodus 14:23-31). Then, as now, was the danger extreme, and it seemed
as if Israel were defenseless and powerless before the mighty host of the enemy. Then, as
now, was the word of the LORD clear and emphatic; then, as now, it was the night season
when the deliverance was wrought; and then, as now, was it Israel's birth-time as a
nation. For now, after the final transportation of Israel, did Judah stand forth as the people
of the LORD, the inheritors of the promise, the representatives of the kingdom of God.
As then, so now was Judah saved without drawing sword or bow, only by the
interposition of the LORD. And so it has to all times remained by the side of the miracles
of the Exodus as the outstanding event in the typical history of the people of God,
perpetuated not only in the later non-canonical literature of Israel, but possibly forming
the historical basis of Psalm 46,* and more probably that of Psalm 75 and 76.**
- But Delitzsch refers this Psalm to the deliverance of Judah in the time of Jehoshaphat (2
Chronicles 20).
** Comp. Delitzsch on these Psalms. In the LXX. Psalm 76 (Sept., lxxv.), and also
originally Psalm 75 also bore the inscription, (...) In the Apocr. the references are in
Ecclus. 48:18-22; 1 Macc. 7:41; 2 Macc. 8:19.
Yet other thoughts come to us - how the worldly policy of even a Hezekiah in forming
alliances against Assyria was rebuked, and he learned in the school of affliction and
humiliation to turn from all such help to God, and then obtained mercy; and how from the
first Isaiah stood forth faithful in his warnings, and calm and unshaken in his confidence,
the true prophet and representative of the LOAD. And yet beyond these lessons, which
are to all times, comes to the Church and to every member of it the conviction that He
who supernaturally, although by what we call natural means, once swept away the host of
Egypt and again laid dead the proud warriors of Assyria, also watches with ever mindful
care over the meanest of His creatures, so that not a sparrow can fall to the ground
without His knowledge, nor yet any harm befall His people, nor earthly might overthrow
His cause. For He of old is the living and the true God.
But as regarded Sennacherib himself, the Divine judgment seemed to slumber a long
time.* Yet, after many years' reign, it overtook him.
- 2 Kings 19:37 must not be understood as chronologically following immediately upon
ver. 36. It is merely the Scriptural conclusion of this whole narrative. In truth, ver. 37 (see
next note) contains a brief summary of events, separated by some period of time. But it is
the sublime characteristic of the prophetic view-point of sacred history to pass over
intervening events as of no importance, and to connect the fulfillment with the prediction
as in unbroken succession.
(^)