The Green Forest tribune., 1917-07-20

cured probably E. C. 70l, the latter part of Hezekiah's reign. Assyria on the north was enlarging Its borders and seeking to overcome Judea. Read parallel accounts in II Kings IS; II Chron. g and Isa. 36:S :S7. We have on the Taylor cylinder an account 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 h. dependence. It was good time for Hezekiah also to assert his independ- ence. Accordingly they refused to pay the customary tribute to Assyria. For a time Sennacherib was too busy at tending to other portions of the en- pire to pay much attention to the city of Jerusalem. Later, however, he sub- dued the cities on the coast and threat ened Egypt itself. While besieging Lakish he sent large body of troops 10 conquer Judea and take the city or Jerusalem for 1t was not safe to leave such large fortress behind him on his march into Egypt.
 II. The SuppIication (vv. 2O-22). God does things because we pray. There was more power in Hezekiah's prayer than there was in his army. Through his prayers he laid 1S5,OOO of his enemies in the grave. Hezekiah's God saved his people out of the hand of Sennacherib (v. 19) God did it. One great reason why he heard HeZekiah's prayer was because it was for Gods own glory that Hezekiah asked (v. 19). One great reason why so many of our prayers are not answered is because they are selfish-seeking our own qualification and not Gods honor (James 4 B K. VI. Rending his clothes and putting on sackcloth, He Zekiah went to the house of God while his messengers sought out the prophet Isaiah. From II Chron. g 20 we find that Isaiah joined with Hezekiah In his earnest prayer (Matt. 1S:19, 20), thus the king and prophet worked as well as prayed. They showed their faith by their work Games 2:17, 1S). At the same time they waited upon God for an answer, not because God was unwilling to bestow good things, or must be importuned, but that his gifts may bring the greater benefit. He sometimes delays his answer, thereby fitting us to receive them be- cause of the intensity of our desire and to appreciate the things he has to bestow. God is as ready to say to us as to HeZekiah, "Thy prayer is heard" if we will not meet the condi- tions of prevailing prayer q John 8 3:22; John 5 IA: Rom. s :26.2O.
 III. Gods Glorious Deliverance (vv. 23-37). God permitted the Assyrians to attack and they thus imagined they were having their own will and could do as they pleased, but when his rod" had done It's work, they found the diff ference. The God against whom they raved guided them as with a "bridle" and turned them back to ASsyria. Sen nacherib considered himself more than match for God (Ch. IS :23-25) but had to return like a conquered beast of burden with Gods "hook" in his nose and bridle on his lips. God al lows the enemies of his people to 20 a certain length in order that his people may be humbled and seek him. Then he puts forth his hand and says, This far and no further" Jehovah gives us the same promise he gave Hezekiah, 'I will defend this city" Is not the city of Jerusalem that God defends more safe than a city defended by an army? Psa. 46:5, 6; 27:D. God had should not perish, for in 1t lay the hope of the world and his plans for the redemption of mankind. Not be- cause of the people did God defend the city, but because of his oath. This is a most dramatic picture, the mys- terious destruction of the Assyrian army (vv. 35, 36). The Lord sent his angel, literally his messenger" who applied his own plan for the accom- plishment of his purpose. In Psa. 104 4 the winds" are said to be Gods messengers and in II Sam. 24 :16, "the
 
 struction, it was of God, and when il smote the camp of the Assyrians be hold the devastation, behold they were all dead corpses." How empty was Sen nacherib's boast and how potent were Hezekiahs prayers. Noiselessly, all unseen, the angel of Jehovah moved through that Assyrian camp that night and when the survivors awoke in the morning, behold the devasta, tion." Jehovah had kept his word and manifested his power. It is dan, gerous thing for men to trifle with God (Psa. 76 :5-7). This is but faint foreshadowing of the Judgment which must soon come upon all who defy | God.
 cylinder to which reference has beer made. Why? Because it was a great crisis in Israel's history like the exodus and the return from captivity. It is 6 l great thing for any nation or any indf.