The Columbus journal., 1911-06-28

the close Of Hezekiah's reign.
PIAACE@Jerusalem and vicinity. The
| destruction OF the army was probably
southwest OF Judah toward Egypt
The importance Of the event which
forms the subject Of this lesson ID
shown BY the fact that its history ID
given in three books Of the Bible, and
probably referred to in another, &C.
cupying seven or eight chapters be.
sides the clay cylinder on which Sen.
nacherib made his own record.
1t was great crisis in Israels his.
tory like the exodus. and return from
captivity. . signal landmark. to teach
and warn and encourage and comfort
Israel in other great crises. and the
nations and individuals of all times.
Hezekiah. although the son of a bad
father (but good mother). began his
reign with . thorough and widespread
reformation and revival of the true re-
ligion, even while the Assyrians we're
invading the Northern Kingdom. He
cleansed and repaired the temple, re.
stored the temple services, and pro-
vided for the support of the Levites
and for popular religious instruction
from the books Of the Law, thus bring.
ing about q great uprising against
idolatry.
The result was most happy. "Heze-
kiah had exceeding much riches and
honor" His kingdom was tranquil,
strong and wealthy. But one constant
danger threatened Judah-the grow.
ing power Of Assyria, whose overload
ship Ahaz had acknowledged, against
the urgent protests Of Isaiah.
In 701 b. C. the great invasion Of
Palestine was made by Sennacherib.
with q double siege Of Jerusalem.
Sennacherib sent an army demanding
the surrender Of Jerusalem. He may
have felt that It was q mistake to
leave in his rear 20 powerful q fort
ress, while he had still to complete
the overthrow of the Egyptians"
The Assyrians. coming near to the
walls Of the city and speaking through
Rabshakeh. the chief omcer of Sen
nacherib. made the contest one be-
tween Jehovah and the Assyrian idols.
between the true religion. the one
means Of redeeming the world. and
Hezekiah. and Isaiah. and apparently
the scribes and elders. clothed in
went into the temple and
prayed from their Utmost souls.
Note how afflictions lead to prayer.
Hezekiah saw before him captivity.
suffering, probably death, the loss Of
his Kingdom, the extinction of his
line. the exile Of his people. But above
all he saw the fall of true religion, /
the dishonor Of Gods name, q relig.
ious and moral loss to the world. We
should pray for temporal blessings,
Tor whatever We need; but at the
same time we should never let the de-
sire for earthly things overshadow the
arger and more important spiritual
but rather, as in Hezekiah's
.ase. the pressure of personal need
should make more intense the desire
or Gods cause and kingdom.
Then came q message from God
through Isaiah. Hitherto Isaiah's mes
age had been one of warning to
Judah. in order to make them so ODE
lient to God that the relief could
ONE to them as blessing. Now his
Message concerns the Assyrians. but
lso shows judah Why God comes to
heir help.
Tho v,ondorf,,1 do1;vo.,nn> oo->
rhen the angel of the Lord smote
( the Assyrians q hundred and four.
core and i've thousand. Just where
his occurred We do not know. But
was marching toward !
Egypt. The deliverance was a deliv-
rance Of Egypt as we'll as of Judah.
he scene may well have been near 8
gypt Whether 1t was by q storm,
r pestilence. no one knows. 1t Is
that the histories of both
Is chief rivals In this campaign, Ju. p
ali and Egypt. should contain indie a
endent "reminiscences of so sudden q
nd miraculous a disaster to his host. G
From Egyptian sources there has u
,me down through Herodotus a story u
lat q king Of Egypt. being deserted p
= the military caste, when SIENNA n
lerib. king of the Arabs and Assy. IL
ans invaded his country. entered his u
Inctuary and appealed with weeping IN
his god: that the god appeared and 10
leered him: that he raised an army o'
artisans and marched to meet Sen. 81
lcherib in Potassium: that by night %
multitude Of field mice ate up the IL
livers. bOwstrings and shieldstraps
the Assyrians; and that. as these
ID ON the morrow. very many Of
EN- fell. A stone statue Of the king. an
ds Herodotus. stood in the temple ke
Hephaestus. having q mouse in the da
nd. Now, since the mouse was WI
mbol Of sudden destruction. and te'
en- Of the plague. this story Of IN
seems to be merely . pic WI
rescue form of tradition that pestt 90
ice broke out In the ASsyrian camp IN