St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-09-05

with the God whom he longed to
serve. And because he valued Gods
laws above everything else, and made
deep study of it, his vision was clart
ned and he was able to see the evils
into which his nation was falling ster
py step. And he knew that sin meant
punishment and that the judgments OF
GOO must in time fall upon his ma.
ton.
Thus In his early manhood he came
10 be a student of the political condi,
ton of his nation, and to strive to
point out the dangers into which the
natlon was most surely drifting. In
this way he labored, conscious Of the
great evils which existed and the IRE.
with him. He scarcely recognized the
king so changed had his countenance
become under the strain Of the danger
that surrounded him, and his heart
was moved towards him.
Oh" he thought to himself, "if he
would only listen to the message which
God has sent unto him. If he would
only believe the promise which God
has given of the coming one, Imman-
uel, the very God himself who should
come to the nation
But even as he beheld the face OF
King Ahaz Isaiah knew that he would
not receive his message, and his
heart sank heavy within him. Never.
theless, the message must be spoken
he exclaimed as he stepped forward
and proclaimed with a loud voice so
that all the people that were assem-
bled heard:
Take heed, and be quiet; fear not,
neither be faint-heartted for the two
tails of these smoking firebrands, for
the fierce anger of Rein with Syria,
and of the son of Remaliah. Because
Syria, Ephraim and the son of Re-
malaih, have taken evil council against
thee, saying, Let us go up against
Judah, and vex it, and let us make a
breach therein for us, and set a king
in the midst Of it, even the son Of Ia
beal.'
The prophet paused as he finished
the words Of the boast of the enemies
of Judah, and then with thunderous
tones he cried:
Thus saith the Lord God, 1T shall
not stand neither shall it come to pass.
For the head of Syria is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rein;
and within three score and five years
shall Ephraim be broken, that 1t be
not people. And the head of Eph-
riam is Samaria, and the head of
Samaria is Ramalaih's son. II We
will not believe, sure We shall not be
established
The effect of the words upon the
people was apparent. A CLEAN of hope
shone in their faces where before had
rested one of utter despair.
King Ahaz noted the look, but he
spoke not a word.
IF you believe not that this shall
come to pass, ask of the Lord a sign"
Nay l will not ask" answered Ahaz
superciliously and with an assumed
air of deep reverence, 'for why should
tempt the Lord In asking a sign"
This he spake fearing to publicly
pledge obedience to 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 to the king of Assyria with pres.
ents to win his help in the present
peril
With an imperious gesture the proph-
ct turned from the king and, fac
ing the assembled people, he shouted:
The Lord himself shall give you a
sign; Behold virgin shall conceive,
and bear son, and shall call his
name Emmanuel. Butter and honey
shall he eat, that he may know to re-
fuse the evil and choose the good"
Days passed, and then came the
knowledge to Isaiah that in spite of
his message from the Lord, Ahaz had
perfected an alliance with the king
of Assyria.
ut 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. 1t was a timely message
though the king would not hear and
heed"