S u n d a y
S
c A
It d e t e M M
m
JUNE 1, 1947 FA C IN G N A T IO N A L PERILS 2 K i. 19:5-7, 32-37; 20:12-17.
the Egyptians. As a result, the Syrians fled from their encampment and the Samaritans were saved. God ofttimes works in unusal ways to perform His wonders, but what of it? He is the God of the unusual. He is not to be limited in His ways of working. "Behold, they were dU d e ad corpses” fv. 35). Who ever saw any other kind of corpses but dead ones? The language here is doubtless used to emphasize the completeness of God’s judgment. When God works, nothing is left undone. He is not given to halfway measures. When He exercises judgment, that judg ment is sufficient for the situation. It is always so when He works. "And Hezekiah . . . shewed them all the house of his precious things” (20:13). Was Hezekiah smitten with vainglory at this time, or was he courting favor with a worldly prince? Quite likely both were true. At any rate, it is interesting to, note that even as Hezekiah showed the prince of Babylon “ all,” Babylon under Neb uchadnezzar took “all” as the Lord said (v. 17). Neither pride nor com promise with the world are profit able for the child of God. For the Children A K in g H o n o r s G od (2 C h r o n ic l e s 29:1-7, 15-20, 28-31) M em o r y V erse : “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psa. 122:1). The children of Israel had forgot ten God! Their king had led them in the worship of idols. God’s heart was grieved at the sins of His people. At last, a new king, Hezekiah, ruled Israel, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” At once Hezekiah re-opened the temple. He called the religious leaders of the Jews together and told them to cleanse themselves and then to cleanse the house of the Lord. Quick ly the men obeyed their king and began to prepare the temple as a place of worship once again. At the end of sixteen days it was ready. King Hezekiah, the rulers of the city, and the people went to God’s house to worship Him. The singers sang and the trumpeters played.
Points and Problems "So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah” (v. 5). In time of peril, there is no refuge comparable to Jehovah. King Hezekiah demon-
Outline and Exposition D e l iv e r a n c e P r o m is e d (19 :5 -7 )
In times of national peril, an ap peal to the Lord will secure ample protection from threatened danger. When Hezekiah turned to the Lord, he was told he need not fear the threat of peril. God would send a blast which would cause the Assyr ian king to return to his own land. Hezekiah’s peace would be in the measure he believed the Lord’s word. P e r il A v e r t e d (19:32-37) In times of national peril, an ap peal to the Lord accomplishes more than great armies of trained and equipped men. When the Assyrian returned to his own land, he sent back a letter to Hezekiah, threaten ing to return and destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah took the letter before the Lord, pointing out that it not only threatened Jerusalem, but contained blasphemies against God himself. In answer, the Lord promised that He would defend the city from the invader. That same night, an angel from the Lord destroyed 185,000 of the enemy forces. The siege was lift ed and the invader returned to his own land, where he was murdered as he engaged in worship before his heathen idol. D is a s t e r T h r e a t e n e d (20:12-17) The safe way of facing national peril is by careful attention and obedience to the Word of the Lord. Hezekiah was visited by some men from Babylon to whom he showed his treasures, both in the city and the temple. Isaiah seized upon this incident to speak of the certain dis aster awaiting Judah because of dis regard of the Lord’s word. This dis aster became a reality when Judah was taken captive by Babylon. Ca lamity ever follows disobedience to the Word of the Lord.
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A. K ent F o r the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon outlines o f Internation al Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by the Interna tional Council of Religious Education; used by permis sion.
strated true wisdom in that when national disaster seemed imminent, he sought the will of God. As in dividuals and as a nation, we are too slow to learn this lesson today. Too often there is a turning to ma terial resources, to the wisdom of men, or to some false religion in time of stress or peril. No people were ever in worse peril than were Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Hezekiah turned to God and deliverance came. Let us learn from his experience. "And he shall hear a rumour” (v. 7). The reference here is probably to the message that came to Senna cherib with regard to the coming of a powerful enemy (v. 9) whom he greatly feared. It was only a ru mor, but God is able to take even rumors and cause them to minister to the fulfillment o f His plans. Re member how on another occasion, as recorded in Second Kings 7:6, God caused the Syrians to hear noises which they imagined to be the on coming armies of the Hittites and
MAY, 1947
PAGE THIRTY-NINE
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker