The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-07-20

strength, a very present help in trouble
Pisa. 46:1.
Inst weeks lesson was great PIC
tire of the reform Of the nation. 10
day we have another picture Wiiich
needs to be carefully put before tue
children. It is a national picture OF
ruler and the invasion OF MS coun'f!'
In reality it reveals the prlnclpies
which are the same today, ana WHICH
atfect the lives of boys and girls as
well as men; the dangers, temptations
tho need of prayer, the need OF lie
of faith in God, the care OF heavenly
father, deliverance and victory. IL -
q great thing for any nation or any
individual to have such a marvellous
experience of Gods salvation. IL oc-
Cured probably B. G. 701, the latter
mart of Hezekiahs reign. Assyrla On
tbe north was enlarging its sporoers
ond seeking to overcome Judea. READ
narallel accounts in II Kings is; II
Chron. 32 and Isa. 36:37. we nave Oh
the TAYLOR cylinder anaccount by SEN
nacherib of the victory over Hezekiah'
found in Nineveh in 1880 and now IN
the British museum.
|. The Situation. When the great
Sargon died at Nineveh, the Syrian
governments sought to assert their III
dependence. 1t was a good Tune Ior
Hezekiah also to assert his 1ndepenu-
ence. Accordingly they refused to pay
the customary tribute to Assyria. for
time Sennacherib was too busy at
tending to other portions of the en-
pire to pay much attention to the Guy
Of Jerusalem. Later, however, ne SUD-
dued the cities on the coast and threat
ened Egypt itself.
II. The supplication wv. 2o-2z).
God does things because we pray
There was more power in HezeKlahs
nrayer than there was in his army.
Through his prayers he laid lSo,OoV
of his enemies in the grave. Hezekian S
God saved his people out Of the hand
of Sennacherib ". 19), God did 1t. one
great reason why he heard Hezekiahs
Drayer was because it was for Gods
own glory that Hezekiah asked ". lS)'
One great reason why so many OF our
nrayers are not answered is because
they are selfish-seeking our own
qualification and not Gods honor
Flames Alb R. W. Rending his
clothes and putting on sackcloth' he
zekiah went to the house Of God whlle
his messengers sought out the propnet
Isaiah. From II Chron. 80 30 we lind
that Isaiah joined with Hezeklan IN
his earnest prayer Matt. 1919, 2O)'
thus the king and prophet worked as
well as prayed. They showed their
faith by their work DANES 2:17, 49,.
At the same time they waited upon
God for an answer, not because COD
was unwilling to bestow good THINGS
mr. must be importuned, but that his
gifts may bring the greater benent.
He sometimes delays his answer
thereby fitting us to receive them De-
cause of the intensity of our desire
and to appreciate the things he mas
TO bestow. God is as ready to say TO
% us as to Hezekiah, "Thy prayer is
heard" If we will not meet the cond1-
tons of prevailing prayer Il John
3 90; John 5 IA; Rom. S:26.2O.
III. Gods Glorious peliVerance wv
23-3O. God permitted the Assyrlans
to attack andGthey thus imagined they
we're having their own will and could
do as they pleased, but when his ROD
had done it's work, they found the dlr'
ference. The God against whom they
raved guided them as with "brldle
and turned them back to Assyria. Sen
nacherib considered himself more than
match for God och. IS :23-25) but
had to return like a conquered beast
of burden with Gods shook" in his
nose and bride on his lips. God al
lows the enemies of his people to go
certain length in order that his people
NAV be humbled and seek him. Then
he puts forth his hand and says, "IhiS
far and no further" Jehovah gives Us
the same promise he gave Hezeklah
81 will defend this city," is not tn'
CITY of Jerusalem that God defend:
more safe than a city defended by al
army? (Psa. 1876, 6; 27:D. God haC
promised David that his kingdom
should not perish, for in it lay TIM
hone of the world and his plans To-
the redemption of mankind. Not De
cause Of the people did God defend tn
city. but because of his oath. This Il
a most dramatic picture, the mys
terious destruction of the AssyriaI
, army wv. 35, S6). The Lord sent M
angel, literally his messenger, wh'
applied his own plan for the accom-
plishment Of his purpose.