Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-30

subject with petition, but Hezekiah rec
ognized Isaiah's intimacy with God so
much that he said pray to the Lord
thy God. He did not put himself in
the same class spiritually with Isaiah.
When Rabshekahs letter came, Heze-
kiah read Il and spreao 1t before Jeho-
yah. He was indignant, panied beyond
measure, that anyone should speak so
disparagingly Of God. He could do moth
ing else. SO he spread the letter before
God and prayed. / want you to note the
opening words of that prayer. In address,
ing God, he answered every charge Rab-
shekah had made. He had said He was
weak before Sennacherib Hezekiah
speaks to Him as, 0 Lord God of hosts.
He had charged that He was not depend
able. Hezekiah speaks to Him as the
God of Israel, the covenant keeping God.
Hezekiah speaks to Him as He who sits
between the cherubin, the creator of all
the world, showing his trust in Him as
! in living Being. He then asks very
simply but earnestly that He will take
note of this sin, and answer in such q
manner that His name shall be vindicat-
ed. Such a prayer, asked for the glory
of God never fails, and God sent the
answer at once.
The answer, came through Isaiah, who
also had been praying. He uttered the
prophecy, the record Of which we have
here There are two words and two
expressions in it to which would call
your attention The words are there
fore" and but" in verses q and Is, and
the expressions "for my servant David's
sake" and for mine own sake" in verse
s.
Senpacherib had been guilty of the sin
so common to the wording. He had
not taken God into account. He was
Boosting Of his success, and attributing
1t all to his own power. God speaks an
other word. His plan, which embraces
all the nations, had been formed long
before Sennacherib was born, and he was
but the unconscious fulhllment of 1t. 1t
was because God had planned 1t, there
fore. the nations we're powerless before
the Assyrian king. God was laying the
foundations for the conditions necessary
to be found when Christ should APP
pear.
But God also knew Sennacherib, his
downsitting, his going out, his coming
in, all about him. He would now show
him how powerless he was; He would
put a hook in his nose and turn him
about by the way he came. Sennacherib
had boasted OF his power and had SCOT
have. God would now show him his
utter weakness, because the source of his
power had withdrawn from him.
Hezekiah was assured by Isaiah that
although for two seasons they had not
been able to plant their crops because
of the invading army, they should do so
now when the invader was to be re-
moved. For God would take hand
now; He would uefnd the city for His
e., ~. r. Tg~
own name had been reproached by Sen
nacherib: He would protect that. He
had made David promises; He would
protect them.
SENNACHERIB'S WITHDRAWAL.
That night God slew $4,000 of the
choicest of the Assyrian army. 1t may
have been a storm or fatal disease or
some other method; but there could be
no doubt but that It was Hezekiahs
God. Sennacherib was beginning to
learn his lesson. He could not fight
against such an opponent, and he with
drew without ever drawing bow or
casting a bank against the city. Twenty
years later his own sons slew him in
his palace. Thus every word of Isaiah's
prophecy was literally fulfilled.
What vast odds there were against
Hezekiah. humanity speaking! But he
had a simple faith that won. The arm
OF flesh was strong, but not strong COM
pared with Jehovah, who fought this
battle for Hezekiah. Is your burden
great? Are the odds apparently all
against you? Do things look blue. Well.
think of Hezekiah and his God. He will
fight and win for you.
Prayer releases this power in your be-
half. There is nothing too trivial about
which to talk to your Father Spread
your difficulties before the Lord after
you have done all you can, and claim
His promise, for the love of His name"
as the French say. Do you know the joy
of answered prayer? You may know
it, If you follow Hezekiahs example.