732
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
November 1927
to come to those whose souls are saved. Though impious and treacherous men seem, for a time, to prevail far against us, God will, in answer to His people’s prayers, overturn them in.such a way as to make the wrath of man to praise Him and advance the cause of righteousness by leaps and bounds. The previous chapter records how the Assyrian king’s officer taunted Hezekiah’s men outside the walls, blasphemed the God of Israel and boasted of what they would shortly do to the forces of Hez- ekiah. “But they held their peace and an- swered not a word: for the king’s com mandment was, saying, Answer not a word” (36:21). Let the forces of atheism and anarchy talk big if they like. They have ever | throughout history boasted of what they would do, insulted those who would serve God, and blasphemed the Maker of Heaven and earth. But what have they accomplished in the long run ? The forces of Christianity have marched steadily on. The more these men have been allowed to rave, the more they have set all decent people at ^defiance, rendered themselves ridiculous in the eyes of wise men and ob noxious to the wrath of God. As Rabshakeh, with noise and banter sought to scare Hezekiah’s forces,' so thé enemies of God and righteousness have ever endeavored to conquer Christianity by frightening people out of their confi dence in God. “Don’t let Hezekiah de ceive you, ’ shouted Rabshakeh to those upon the walls, neither let him make you trust m the Lord, saying, The Lord will deliver you” (36:14-15). What was the result of all this big talk? Instead of being turned from God (lie people rent their’ garments in holy indignation at the contempt put upon the name of God and in holy zeal for His fi r?' ‘,He? ekiah went into the house of the Lord (v. 1) and a message was sent to the prophet Isaiah, saying: “This is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy . . . . wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant” (vs. 2 - 4 ). Back comes the word from Isaiah: tie not afraid o f the words thou hast |H h H | ’ -.Behold, God will send a blast upon the king o f Assyria. He shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and God will cause him to fall by the sword in ms own land (vs. 6 - 7 ). It well becomes a nation’s rulers to de- sire the prayers of men of God, and espe cially in a day of trouble. That is a time to stir up, not only ourselves, hut others to prayer to Almighty God. As Isaiah quickly got the mind of God in the mat- ter, so those who walk with God may still be assured frcm Heaven and be able to oring the word of encouragement to the oppressed. Isaiah’s prophecy proved true. Rab- shakeh had to return to assist his king who had a war on with Libnah (v. 8 ). Before withdrawing, however, he sends another insulting letter to Hezekiah. Dont get the idea that Jerusalem will not be taken,” he says. “Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands . . . . and shalt thou be delivered?” (vs. 10 - 11 ). It does not appear that Hezekiah sent any reply to Rabshakeh. Instead, he spread the letter before the Lord and prayed unto the Lord” (vs. 14-15). That would be a good thing to do with some of the atheistic literature that is being
broadcasted today, instead of being par alyzed by it. Liberty of access to the throne of Grace is the unspeakable privilege of the people of God. When we get a mean letter, we can do nothing wiser than to “spread it before • the Lord.” Let the thing itself speak to God, then let God speak for us. Hezekiah had a great conception of God. “Thou art God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made Heaven and earth” (v. 16). When we’ really believe that there is no power that can stand in competition with God, then we shall be assured that He will dispose of the forces of evil in a way that will best glorify Himself and teach the peoples of the earth. It was no mere selfish prayer that Hez ekiah offered. He prayed for the glory . of God (v. 20^cf. Jn. 14:13). “Save us, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.” When the motive behind oUr prayer is that, by the outcome, God’s cause may be advanced, whatever may be the cost to us personally, then may we be sure that our pleas prevail and that He will make us instruments in bringing to pass that which shall stand the test of time and eternity. Hezekiah’s prayer was.answered. "The •angel of the Lord smote the camp of the Assyrians” (v. 36). 185,000 men died mysteriously in the camps of the Assyrian army, and the remaining forces dragged themselves back to Nineveh, where they remained, while “Judah took root down ward and bore fruit upward” (v. 31). — o — P ith and P oint Let trouble and perplexity drive you to prayer, and prayer, will drive away trouble and perplexity. Where prayer focuses, power falls. Prayer in the name of Jesus Christ is hurling the Victor’s Name in the devil’s ear. If you do not pray when the sun shines, how will you know how to pray when the dark clouds arise? Every time you pray you possess more of the enemy’s ground. The Lord’s soldiers are doing real fight ing when they are on their knees. Satan may build a wall around us, but he cannot put a roof over us. —o— S uggestive Q uestions Has one who is right with God any rea son to fear at any time? (Psa. 27:1-3.) What proposition does God make to all His children in the day of trouble? (Psa. 50:15.) What is there that is too hard for God to do? (Jer. 32:17, 27; cf. Isa. 37:16.) What did God reply to Hezekiah’s prayer? (2 Kgs. 19:20.) Does God say the same to all who pray with a desire to do His will? (1 Jn. 5: 14-15.) Did Hezekiah pray for God’s glory or his own? (Isa. 37:20; cf. Jas. 4:3.) When strong forces are arrayed against us, “what shall we say to these things?" (Rom. 8-31.) ’ —o— G olden T ext I llustration Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isa. 26:3). There is what is called ‘the cushion of the sea,’” says Dr. A. T. Pierson. “Down beneath the surface that is agitated with
storms, and driven about with high winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life, we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed for hundreds of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep down in the praying soul to be reached by any external disturbance.’' He who enters into the peace of God and learns, as did Hezekiah, to cast all his care upon the Lord, will become a partaker of His undisturbable calm. — o — 'T'HE historical setting for this lesson A is to be found in the situation which is set forth in Chapter 7. There we learn that Ephraim, the Northern king
dom, had entered in to an offensive alli ance with the King of Syria against Judah and purposed to de pose Ahaz and to en throne the son of Ta- beal. As the war c l o u d s began to g a t h e r , the Lord spoke to Isaiah to
take his son, Shear-Jashub, with him, and to meet King Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool. (Little Shear- Jashub was an ever-present prophecy, as his name indicates, -that out of the dis asters of time a “ remnant shall return.”) At this time Ahaz had entered into ne gotiations with the King of Assyria, Tig- lath-pileser, to assist him in his struggle with this Northern confederacy. Isaiah knew that Ahaz_ was making a mistake in relying upon"this foreign power for deliverance instead of upon the God of Israel. To show him that there would be no danger, if he only relied upon, the Lord, Isaiah spoke of the two kings of the confederated nations as “too tails of these smoking firebrands.” He, how ever, warned him that “if ye will not be lieve, surely ye shall not be established.” In order to strengthen his faith God of fered through Isaiah to perform any mir acle in the heavens above or in the earth beneath at the suggestion of Ahaz, to which offer he piously replied that he would not tempt God. This case is one of straining “out the gnat and swallowing the camel." Upon Ahaz’s impious con duct the prophet addressed the “house of Israel” (the regal or dynastic house), and gave them a prophetic prediction concerning the virgin birth of Christ who is “God with us." Some scholars have thought that this prediction of Isa iah 7 :14 was fulfilled in the birth of Isa iah’s son, mentioned in Chapter 8:3, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” This interpre tation cannot be correct, because, had the birth of Isaiah’s son been the fulfillment of the prediction, he would have called him by the name of “Immanuel.” Although the immediate danger was averted by the disastrous alliance which Ahaz made with Assyria, and which alli ance proved in many ways fatal to Ju dah, it laid the foundations for later in cursions into the “West” by the Assyrian monarch. A few years later—B.C. 710,701||jthe Assyrian king, Sennacherib, invaded Ju dah and threatened the existence of the little kingdom. At this time it seems that negotiations were entered into be tween Judah and Egypt for the Egyp-
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