Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-12
ASSYRIAN INVASION
DIR. GILBERT ON SUNDAY school,
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER I3.
Continually Growing Power of As
syria Was a Constant enace to
Judah After the Down
fail of Israel.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON for November
Is. The Assyrian Invasion, IL. Kings. NIX:
20-22, 2s-31. BY J. L. Gilbert, d. D., IL. D..
secretary of American Society OF Relig-
ious Education.
CONTENT. After the downfall of Is
| rael the growing power of Assyria was a
constant menace to Judah. SarGon. the am
bilious ruler. when he had captured Sa-
| maria. might have advanced with ease
! upon Jerusalem. had it not been for re-
bellions at home. His son, Scnnacherib, a
| monarch as warlike as his father. after
| crushing Ne odach. The king Of Babylon,
undertook an expedition against judah and
Egpyt. aspiring 10 doubt to worid-com!n-
ion. This was the crisis in the history Of
Judah to prove whether the religious re-
vival under HeZekiah would inspire the
people with faith in God. or whether they
would seek safety by forbidden means. \
strong party favored alliance with Egypt.
When, finally, an attack was made on Lib
nah. one of the frontier towns. Hezekiah
Immediately sought the advice of Isaiah.
the prophet. who was then highly esteemed
as a servant of God. While waiting for the
| reply the king was in his chamber en-
gagged in prayer.
ANSWER. Hezekiah's petition verses
10 to 49, was fun of humility. dependence
and faith. the Out-breathing of Il soul
that for many years had earnestly sought
the favor of heaven. God did not turn a
| ttil tdI-Ilt oll iAOl i'It-' " 80
such a suppiiant. And yet He did not an
swer HezCkiah direct. He preferred rather
to honor ard employ the prophet. Isaiah
sent TO HeZekiah the word which he had
received from the Lord Nerse 2W. There
was great significance in this intermediary
method. As shown a few weeks since.
Isaiah was the one ran of that day who
knew the counsel of God. At the time
of his call to the prophetic office lisa. XII:
I-l3l, he had heen permitted to see what
none of his cotenporaries, saw, and he
therefore stood for that larger vision in
the hour of the nations supreme peril; 1t
was not more important to keep !ieZekiah
from a wrong policy and maintain Judah
against enemies than it was TO strengthen
Isaiah in the public favor; and this was
done by making. him the bearer OF Gods
REPROACH. Isaiah directed Hezekiah
to reject in q hold and defiant manner the
latter had been offensive and even bias
phem9us in his assumed ability to subju.
gate sb Juaa ,he even yens cI ,rns,aG M ,ae A ~ ia m
The Assyrian king. flushed by recent vic
tories. recited the achievements of his
dab must also fan. But Hezekiah was
instructed to say that the virgin daughter
OF Zion despised. him. Isaiah also directed
had insulted Jehovah in his boa>tful words.
This thought is expanded at considerable
length verses % to 30, but the words are
omitted by the committee from our study.
Yet ought they to be carefully read.
CONTROL. Tn Lord had been pleased
to enfechle and int!midate all the enemies
which Sennacherib had hitherto encoun-
tered. so that they fell before him like
grass. His success was therefore no de-
cided proof of extraordinary power. and
he had no reason 10 vaunt himself. Know.
ing his secret thoughts. as well as his UNI
dertakinsss, the Lord now proposed 10 show
the Assyrian king his weakness, especially
as Hezekiah had dared to resist him. Be,
cause of his implacable enmity against the
PROJECTIONS. authority and worship of the
Almighty it became necessary to punish
1 hts fluEpHEnfeG md r.G his nItrE The
Lord was about TO deal with the impudeni
invader as with some savage beast. or in,
tractable mule or horse. He would faster
q hook in his nose and Il bride in his
mouth, and turn him back toward his home
making him know that there was One in.
finitely above him Verse 2S) able to contro
his actions and TO thWart his plans dan
PREDICTION. Thus far the words Of
Isaiah coming from the Lord We're designe,
FOR Sennacherib. the king Of Assyria. tn
prophet now proceeds TO deliver his Owl
message 10 HeZekiah. This il in TWO parts
First. he gives "A sign that the Assyriar
army shall be expelled from the couDtr,
verse 2sJ. During the year of the tempo
rary occupancy the food supply would b.
only that which groweth of itself; in tn
which SpTingcth up from seed of the frs
year: but the third year shall be one o
sowing and reaping. the enemy having de
parted. Second. Isaiah opens up in Drie
what he had received in the vision at tr
Time of his call isaiah Xi:i0J. He lets HeZ
cklHE parity INTO the secret OF Julah'S cap
tivity and return verse J0j. and of the sub
sequent increase and prosperity Of the rem
nant brought back from captivity tvers
81. This statement he rests upon tn,
faithfU!neSs and power of God for its full
fillment.
:. DEFENSE. Continuing his remarks Il
Hezekiah. the prophet informs him tina
God will defend the city against the Assyr
ians. They shall not come into it, nor lie
fore IL. They shall not cast a bank asains
ii. that IS throw liz earthWorks for III
purpose Of a siege. But they shall retiIrJ
TO their own country. The Lord Himsel
viii defend the place tveraes S2.$i, an
soldiers. Then is declared the motive the
prompts Jehovah in shus protecting Jert
that the great king. whose long and pros
porous reign 50 honored God. was not We
forgotten; The coyenart made with mir
Xi:l2-lD and did not permit the city to b
overthrow \ purpose in the counscls q
:. the Almighty required its existence. Hc2
disturbed because of that purpose. Va:
designs are %centered in certain stratesi
, points in the worlds geography.
SLAUGHTER. We can now see VIII,
j, Isaiah was employed TO unfold Gods wi
ccncerr ms Assyria and Judah, Only
3, prophet could have made these things plair
The two kings. SennaCherib and Hezekiaf
had received from human lips. messages o
overthrow on the one side. and of protec
fulfilled the prophets claim VIII b
strengthened and the cause of religion nd
vanced III. Kings VS.. That night III
Lord made bare His arm of power We
An angel went through the Assyrian camI
II was the old mthod of attack cr7ployc
In Egypt tEX. Xii:2al. and on other occa
sions. When the morning came 1S5.HN c
: the enemy were found dead. to the ute
amazement Of those left alive. Thi
slaughter seems to uS ut first 10 h" incred
, lille. Il is useless TO speculate concernin
u The mode Of execution. The being VIII
made the universe. in whose hands are III
X lives of all men. surely has the power i
q moment of time to destroy the live
! which He gave and which He has sus
! REGICIDE, sennaSherib; followed by,
: Lord had spared, FASTENED to his home
y Nineyeh verse 90. He was not only d.
:. urived of power to do arm to Juda
: Inn he was humbled in spirit under Il
power of God. Like all Oriental monarch
were decided by the supernatural bcin1
who rule tho world. he evidently conclude
that he had in some way offended the g
OF his country. He therefore proceeded
worship in the great temple. seeking. doub
less. to Dronitiate Nisroch. the nation
deity, that he might. being restored
favor. regain what he had lost verse j.
! But that was 4 day of tTeachery and bloc
a While thus engaged he was attacked
two sons. AdrammeIech and ShareZer. al
father. who had met such calamities. meri
r ed death. Yet. because of the punislme
/ due to such a crime. they fled to Armeni
N and a third son. E1arhaddon. reign
~ CEzra. iv:2J. Thus this boastful heath
ruler paid the penalty for his biasphemy,
CONCLUSION. The great doctrine d
70 signed to be taught in this lesson is tn
~ God rules among the nations of the ear
X for the establishment of His own Kin
J. dom CE2ekial. NXi:20. Scnnacherib's q
IL 1900 Ia1 Iaan - continued tia-p-F- fro