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Lesson for July 2, 1911
day when some professing Christians dare to say that the gods of the heathen are good enough, which is to say t h at our Lord is no better t h an theirs. (3) "They held their peace," for the King had said, "Answer him not a word," which is a very difficult thing to do in such a case. "I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me," said the Psalmist (39:1). B ut it is useless to controvert with prejudice, u n r e a- son, or ignorance. (4) The Lord was al- ready on the track of the blasphemer. Sen- nacherib, diverted by an advance of Egyp- tians, went to meet t h em at Libnah; a nd was obliged to content himself with send- ing a dispatch instead of an a r my against Jerusalem, and that letter sealed his doom. III. THE VICTORY OF FAITH OVER AS- SYRIA. (1) Hezekiah's humiliation. He and his courtiers clothed in sackcloth sought the Lord (37:1). So (a) trouble breaks down the pride of m an and leads good men to confess their helpless unworthiness before God. (b) To the soul thus brought low exaltation is not f ar off (1 Pet. 5:6, 7); and (c) trial also sends us to the Word of God wherein alone we find wisdom and com- fort in perplexity and distress. It thus sent Hezekiah to the prophet, the living Bible of his time. (2) Isaiah had a ',thus saith the Lord" for him t h at was full of con- solation, and the same good Word is today for them t h at are in any kind of trouble (<. Cor. 1:3, 4). (3) Note these terms: "Be not afraid," "blasphemed ME," "send a blast,',' "hear a rumor," "return," "fall." Following this word of encouragement came Sennacherib's message. Hezekiah entered the good fight of faith with prayer and sup- plication (Eph. 6:18). God had made known His purpose, yet the king prayed for its accomplishment. (4) His prayer is a fine instance of -simplicity,- address, directness, definiteness, brevity, (a) -In his Simple faith he spread out the letter t e f o re the Lord, (b) The t e r ms of the address (v. 16) are, each, appropriate, honoring to God, and en- couraging to his own faith. - I t is a great thing to know, meditate, and properly apply the titles of the Great King, -(c) Verse 17 is plea ' for God's attention. So though God's purpose and promise are sure, we still pray; so though He knows all things, we address Him in our h uman way, as if He knew and heeded not save for His own condescension to our cry. (d) Verses 18, 19, are a s t a t eme nt of the case, and (e), verse 20. t he plea for salvation, and that for the vindication of the divine honor, and the revelation of t he true God. <5)
VICTORIES OF FAITH. Lesson I.—Isa. 36.38. ' I. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. (1) The monumental records of Assyria and the Bible harmonize wonderfully. They supplement each other. (2) Assyria was the ascendant power. H er empire swept west- ern Asia. Divine Providence is clearly seen. The world-empire founded by Nimrod-Asshur (Gen. 10:9-11) was transferred to Israel (Gen. 11:8; 12:2). Now t h at Israel has failed it passes back to Asshur "till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,' (Dan. 9:25-27; Luke 21:24), when Babel .meets its final doom, and Israel is reinstated (Rev. 18; 22:7; Isa, 60; 65:25). (3) The prosperity and deliverances under Hezekiah indicated (a) God's readiness to establish J u d ah even at the last hour if she would be obedient; and (b) t h at subsequent triumphs of the Gentiles were and are only possible by Je- hovah's sufferance. (4) An uprising in Baby- lon gave occasion to Judah and other west- ern powers to throw oft the Assyrian yoke, but Sennacherib, "the great king," soon set- tled his affairs and marched to the punish- ment of his rebellious tributaries. (5) While besieging Lachish on the coast he demanded the submission of Hezekiah. (6) Hezekiah, forgetting his Almighty Ally, stripped even the temple itself of its golden treasure to buy oft his tormentor. (7) By so doing he degraded the theocratic throne; for the true gold of the temple is the pres- ence of the God of glory, and they who by compromise with evil rob' Him of His vic- tory commit sacrilege. (8) Such compro- mises are fruitless,' for sin and Satan soon reassert themselves and we are t h e poorer for the loss of a golden - opportunity to glorify God by giving, place to His salva- tion. (9) Sennacherib accepted his treasure and his submission, b ut repenting his len- iency soon sent an a r my under Rabshakeli to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. II. RABSHAKEH'S BOASTFUL -BLAS- PHEMY. (1) Read bit by bit Isa. 36:4-21. (2) To Hezekiah's commission, and to thé populace of Judah, Rabshakeh made a terrorizing speech in which he spoke contemptuously of (a) their military skill and strength (v. 4); (b) the futility of their trust in E g y p t; and (c) last, and fatally to t he cause of As- syria, even of Jehovah Himself. Other gods could not save themselves nor their people. Who was Jehovah t h at He "should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" So daring sinners in their ignorance blaspheme the Name of the Lord. But we live to see the
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