Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-08


tons Of the Prophets were for the
people Of God TO keep a strictly
neutral position without any regard
TO batteries or threatenings. Baby
lon had Just commenced her struggle
for INDEPENDENCE, and tried To form
an elliance with Judah, for which
purpose q special ambassador, Nero
dach Baladan, was sent 70 King
Hezekiah. This pious king, in an
unguarded moment, entertained
the messengers and displayed
to them his own treasures
and the treasures OF the house
Of the Lord, which kindness aud
courtesy drew forth from the more
clear seeing Prophet Of God the aw-
ful announcement that the time
would come when all these treasures
should be carried away into Baby
lon, aisdVhat even the princes Of
Judah should be made base slaves in
the palace OF Babel (ch. S9l.
During the time Of this Prophet,
the kingdom Of Judah was invaded
by the combined forces OF Syria and
Israel. This unfortunate kingdom,
Israel, had fallen through idOlatry
and every sin, but she filed her cup
OF iniquiiy by combining with an
idolatrOus nation i'm war upon her
brethren. This brought the long
predicted destruction, and Israel
was captured by the Assyrians. The
event stands out more clearly rs a
Judgment Of God when IL Is re-
membered that the same Assyrian
power was miraculsusly defeated
when attempting to invade Judah.
If we keep these facts in view. the
writings Of Isaiah become intelligi-
bic ana clear.
The first twelve chapters Of this
book contain reprOOfs, warnings and
promises, chiefly directed 10 Judah
and Israel. In these promises, pre-
diCtiOns Of the coming Of Messiah
and his work are prominent. The
next chapters llS-23l are directed
against Assyria, Babylon, Moab,
Egypt, Philistin, Syria, Edom, and
Tyre. In chapters (24-35) the sins
and the misery OF the people are re-
huked. The Assyrian invasion is
predicted aud the destruction Of
Samaria, while the deliverance Of
Jerusalem Is being promised. The
four chapters are Historical, describ-
ing the invasion Of Senacherib and
the defeat OF his army, and also the
sickness Of the King Hezekiah and
his recovery. The closing chapters
5000 are again prOphetical ym-
bracing events from the BabylOnian
captivity to the establishment Of the
Aiillenial Kingdom Of Christ. The
deIiverance Of the Jews from Baby
ION, the character, suflcTings, death
and glory Of Messiah, the gospel call
Of the gentle world, the wickedness
of the Jews in rejecting Messiah ami
their consequent scattering, their
final return and the prevalence Of
the kingdom Of God, all these
are clearly predicted, bat
the subjects are often blended
together, and The transition from
one 70 another is sometimes - rapid
as 10 render ii difficult TO follow the
connection. Indeed, in opleT 10
understand fully the passages that
refer 10 events yet future. some di-
vine revelation seems to be neces-
saTy. For It Is only 10y the aid Of the
spirit OF prophecy that prophecies
can be fully understood.
MICAH, Il. G.. 75S-6se, was a CON
temporary Of Hosea and Isaiah, and
lived in the southern part Of the
kingdom Of Judah. He does little
more than reiteTate the predic-
tons Of the two mentioned prophets,
adding such illustrations aud exhor-
tatiUns a. were suitable to the class
among whom lie labored.
One Of his most remarkable pre-
dicu0ns states that the git Of
prOI hecy should be Withdrawn
from the ten tribes for
long time. Therefore,
night shall lie sent you, that
ye shall not have a vision, and It
shall lie dark unto you, that ye shall
not divine; and the sun shall 90
down over the prophets and the day
shall be dark over them. Then
shall the seers be ashamed, and the
diviners c0nfounded yea, they
shall all cover their lips; for there Is
no answer from God" fiii:6.7.l
Here IL is predicted that the people
should be LETT in spiritual darkness
because Of the cessation Of prophecy,
but the darkness shall not be an
everlasting one, for il is a night
caused by the 'sstting II the sun,
and consequently, as day follows
night, 50 a time viii again come
when the prophetic day shall dawn
upon the people. This Is clearly
implied In the language used, 50
that the very threat TO withdraw
the spirit Of prophecy implies a
promise Of IT, renewal.
NAHUM, BIC. 72l-Gg1. This prOph-
q was contemporary with Micah
ard Isaiah He commenced his
ministry at the tiine Of the captivi-
ty OF the Ten rribes. And while the
AssyTian power was bCasting over
this success, he Is called upon to an
uOunce the fall and destruction Of
their great metropolis, Niucveh.
This is the theme OF the whole book.
Nahum wrote his predictions in
Poetical form, aud its sublimity Of
style is unsurpassed. The 10Th and
18th verses Of the .first chapter
are a parenthetical Insertion, Civ
ing to the captives in AssyTia n
promise Of deliverance At some fu-
ture time.
INTERVAL OF FIFTY YEARS.
For a space Of $50 years, the voice
Of prophecy had now been heard
among the people. Sometimes two
or more inspired men were raised
up at the same time, in different
parts Of the country. But with the
death Of Isaiah, Micah and Nahum,
an interval OF fifty years comes
during which period no proph-
ecies were delivered, as far - we
know. Daring this time the Ten
tribes toll In their captivity, and
Judah. still in possession Of his in
heritance in Palestine, is growing
IN sin and hastening on 10 destruc.
ton. But rs this fatal moment APP
breaches, God again senCs inspired
messengers 10 warn the people, and
TO declare His DEGREES. He never
oveIthrOws nations without due
warning. He never said that fur
Their revelations were superiluous.
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