The Yale expositor., 1908-09-04


which could have but one end, the
throwing open of the gates of the city
TO the enemy.
In the palace itself the disaffection
was strong and it was not long before
a conspiracy was on foot to betray the
city into the hands Of Rabshakeh.
What good this sackcloth these
vain prostrations and pleadings in the
temple, this sending to the Prophet
lsaiah?" they impatiently inquired.
rs not every moment in which we
stand out against the demands of Hab-
shaken. but adding to the weight of
penalty which he will exact of the city
when at last he shall succeed in break
ing down the walls?"
And so they plotted together and
sought opportunity to open negotia-
tons with Rabshakeh, and. the oppor-
tunity came when the messengers
came with the final letter from the AS
syrian general demanding the surren-
der of the city. One of their mum
Der succeeded in slipping out of the
gate unobserved during the excitement
and confusion attending the departure
of the Assyrian messengers, and re-
turned with them to the camp. a hint
of the plan having been given to the
messengers while they were at the pal
ace. 1t was arranged that after ma
king terms with Rabshakeh for the
surrender of the city, they should re.
turn and at signal agreed upon the
citys gates should be thrown open,
and the secreted bands OF Rabshakeh's
army should rush into the city and
take possession.
When Hezekiah had received Rab-
shakeh's letter, a feeling almost Of
despair came over him and yet con.
scious that God alone could help in
the desperate extremity which faced
the city. Hezekiah took the letter and
went alone into the house of the Lord
and there gave himself to earnest
prayer. Had not Isaiah the prophet
sent him message OF encouragement
weeks before when the peril first
| threatened the city. and had he not
said that the city should be delivered
from the hand of the Assyrian king.
But with the coming of this last mes
sage and the continued strengthening
Of the position of the enemy before
the city, a shadow of doubt began to
creep into the heart Of the king. Could
God and would God deliver?
He read the letter over again aloud
How blasphemous 1t sounded. Sure.
ly he will not suffer such reproach
against his name? And then as though
he needed to reassure his own soul OF
the majesty and power OF the God Of
his nation, he poured out his soul In
alteration, exclaiming:
20, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel,
that dwellest between the cherubims,
thou art the God, even thou alone, Of
all the kingdoms of the earth thou
hast made heaven and earth. Incline
thine ear, o Lord, and hear; open thine
eyes, o Lord, and see: and hear all
the words of Sennacherib, which hath
sent to reproach the living God"
As he prayed a new assurance came
to his heart and when word came to
him from Isaiah saying that the Lord
would surely hear and deliver he felt
more hopeful and cheerful than he
had for weeks past.
The men who were in the conspiracy
against the city wondered as they
looked upon the calm face of the king,
and felt not little disconnected, but
they went ahead with their plans and
that night everything was in readiness
to carry out the surrender of the city
in the morning.
But morning came and no sign came
to open the gates. AS the watchers on
the wall looked toward the Assyrian
camp they noted the deathlike still
ness. Fear took possession of their
hearts. and, forgetful of their plot,
they fed to take the king word.
What could 1t mean? Where the
day before all had been activity now
all was silent as the grave.
1T is Gods hand who would send
deliverance according to his word"
exclaimed Hezekiah, confidently.
Thou shalt go and see," he added,
turning to the group Of men who had
brought him word.
They had plotted to betray the city
and now were they to be driven into
the very jaws OF death itself? And
they wondered what had become of
their comrade In the conspiracy who
had gone out to the Assyrian camp
the night before and who was to have
given them the signal that morning.
AS though by way of answer as they
reached the outskirts of the camp,
they almost stumbled over the form of
one whose garb told only too plainly
that he was a Hebrew.
at is he," they exclaimed together,
a shudder passing over them. And a
hasty look about revealed heaps OF
dead bodies on every hand.
God has sent deliverance, indeed.
And our brother would be alive to-day
had we not doubted the king and the
word which the Prophet Isaiah spoke"
The UNLIMITED Guest.