The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-12
Sunday School Lesson for November 13
The AsSyrian Invasion.
? Kings, XIX. 2O-22, 1927.
BY J. e. GILBERT D. D., Ii. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

CONTEXT.--After the downfall OF
Israel the growing power of Assyria
was constant menace to Judah. Sar-
gon, the ambitious ruler. when he had
captured Samaria, might have ad-
varced with ease upon Jerusalem. had
il not been for rcbelllons at home. His
son, SennaCherih, monarch as war
like as his fother, after crushing Mcr-
odach, the king of Babylon. undertook
an expedition against Judah and
Egypt, aspiring no doubt to world dom
irion. This was the crisis i'm the his
tory of Judah to prove whether tho re-
ligious revival under Hczekiah would
tins uire the people with faith in God,
or whether they would seek safety by
| forbidden means. a strong party fav-
orcd alliance with Egypt When. final
", on attack was made on Libnah. one
of the frontier towns Hezelliah i'm
mediatcly sought the advice of Isaiah
the prophet. who was then highly cs-
| tcemed as a servant of God. While
waiting for the reply the king was in
his chamber engaged in prayer.
\ n 5 w T. R,--Hezekiah's petition
| (verses Is to l9) was full of humility,
dependence and faith, the out breath
| ing of soul that for many years had
| earnestly sought the favor of heaven.
! God did not turn a deaf earle could
| not refuse or disregard such Il sup
! plant. And yet lie did not answer
| Hezckiah direct. He preferred rather
| to honor and employ the prophet.
| Isaiah sent to Hezckiah the word
| which he had received from the Lord.
| tNcrse 20) There was great signifiC-
| ance in this intermediary method. AS
| shown q few weeks since, Isaiah was
the one man of that day who knew
| the counsel of God. At the time of his
| call to the prophetic office lisa. ri: l.
| 49, he had been permitted to see what
none of his contemporaries saw, and
| he therefore stood for that larger vi
! sion i'm the hour Of the nations Su-
| prCme peril. 1t was not more import
ant To keep Hczekiah from Il wrong
| policy and maintain Judah against
| enemies than ii wac to strengthen
Isaiah i'm the public favor. and this
was done by making him the bearer
of Gods answer to the kings prayer.
| REPROACH.--Isaia directed lleZc-
| kiah to reject i'm IA bold and defiant
| manner the demand of SennaCherib to
surrender. The latter had been often
siVe and even blasphcmous in his as
sumcd ability to subjugate Judah, ever
| challenging the Almighty in whom tn,
Jews trusted. Nerses 10 to 2lD The
| Assyrian king. flushed by recent vic
tories. recited the achievements of his
arms as a ground for asserting that
Judah must also fall. But Hezekiah
was instructed to say that the virgir
daughter Of Zion despiscd him. Isaiah
also directed Hezckiah to say to Sen.
nacherib that he had insulted Jehovah
in his boastful words. This thought is
expanded at considerable length
oversees % to 20 but the words art
omitted by the committee from oul
study. Yet ought they to be carefully
| read.
| CONTROL.-The Lord bad beal
pleased to cnfeeble and intimidate al
the enemies which Sennacherib hao
hitherto encountered. 50 that they fcl