Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-08-20

with the God whom he longed 10
serve. And because he valued Gods
laws above everything else. and made
a deep study OF Il. his vision was clari.
fed and he was able TO see the evils
into which his nation was falling step
by step. And he knew that sin Q
punishment and that the judgments of
God must in time fall upon his ma
ton.
Thus in his early manhood he came
to be a student of the political c9ndi-
ton OF his nation. and 10 strive 10
point out the dangers into which the
nation was most surely drifting In
this way he laborcd. conscious of the
great evils which existed and the ire
with him. He scarcely recognized the
king So changed had his c-ountenance
become under the strain of the danger
that surrounded him. and his heart
was moved towards him.
oh. he thought 10 himself. ~ he
would only listen 10 the message which
God has sent unto him. II he would
only believe the promise which God
has given OF the coming one. imrnan
uel. the very God himself who should
come to the nation
But even as he beheld the fac. 81
King Ahaz Isaiah knew that he would
not receive his message. and his
hea-t sank heavy within him Never
theless. the message must be spoken.
he exclaimed a. he stepped forward
and proclaimed with a loud voice so
that all the people that were assem-
hled heard
Take heed. and he quiet: fear not.
neither he fainj-hcartied for The two
tails " these smoking hrebrands. for
the fierce anger % Rsrin 18th SYRIA.
and Of the son ., Remaliah Because
syria Ephrsim and the son 81 Re
malsih. have taken evil council against
thee saving. let Us 90 up against
judah and ~ IL. and let Us make a
breach therein for Us. and SCI a king
in he midst q IL ever the son Of Ia
heai
Tie p7ophe- paused A. he 6nished
-he words - The eoast % the enemies
q judah and ,hen with t~huuderous
tones r. cried
Thus saith The Lord God. II shall
uot stand neither shall i' come 10 pass
Fer the head % syria Is Damascus.
and the head O. Damascus Is Rein
and within three score and five wears
shall Ephraim BE broken. that II be
not 4 people. And the head Of Eph-
ram is Samar.a and the head OF
Samaria Is Ramalaih's son II ye
Will no; believe. sure ye shall not b.
established
The effect ~ the words upon tie
people vas apparent 4 CLEAN OF hope
shone in their faces where before had
one Of utter despair.
King AhsE noted the look. but ne
spoke not a word
II you believe uof that this shall
come TO pass. ask Of the Lord a sign
Nay ! will not ask. answered Ahaz
superciliously and with an assumed
Of deep reverence. for why should
I tempt the Lord in asking a sign.
This he spake fearing TO publicly
obedience 70 the urgent words
Of the prophet that he trust wholly in
God for he knew that at that very
moment his emissaries were on their
way n the king Of Assyria with pres
10 win his help in the present
peril.
With an imperiOls gesture the proph-
e. turned from the king and. fac.
ing the assembled people. he shouted.
The Lcrd himself shall give YOU a
sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive.
and bear a son. and shall call his
name Emmanuel. Butter and honey
shall he eat. thai he may know to re-
fuse the evil and choose the good"
Days passed. and then came the
knowledge TO Isaiah hat in spite of
message from the Lord. Ahaz had
perfected an alliance with the king
Assyria.
1t cannot be helped. Ahaz may for
get. but there be those in the nation
who will remember Gods promise of
the King Emmanuel, and will remain
faithful. It was a timely message
though the king would not heal and
heed"