The Arvada enterprise., 1917-07-19

Last weeks lesson was great pic
ture of the reform Of the nation. To-
day We have another picture which
needs to be carefully put before the
ruler and the invasion Of his country.
In reality 1t reveals the principles
which are the same today, and which
affect the lives Of boys and girls as
well as men; the dangers, temptations,
the need of prayer, the need Of life
Of faith in God. the care Of q heavenly
father, delivernnce and victory. 1t Is
great thing for any nation or any
individual to have such marvellous
experience of Gods salvation. 1t &C.
CURED probably B. c. 7O1, the latter
part Of Hezekiahs reign. Assyria on
the north was enlnrging its borders
and seeking to overcome Judea. Read
parallel accounts in II Kings -; II
Chron. 81 and lisa. 80 81. We have on
the Taylor cylinder an account by Sem
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 In
dependence. 1t was a good time for
Hezekiah also to assert his independ-
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 city
Of Jerusalem. Later, however. he sub
dued the cities on the coast and threat
ened Egypt itself.
u. The duplication wv. 2022).
God does things because we pray.
There was more power In Hezekiahs
prayer than there was In his army.
Through his prayers he laid $4,000
OF his enemies In the grave. Hezekiah's
God saved his people out Of the hand
Of Sennacherib ". 19). God did 1t. One
great reason why he heard Hezekiah's
prayer was because 1t was for Gods
own glory that Hezekiah asked ". 10Y.
One great reason why 40 many Of our
prayers are not answered Is because
they are selflsh-seeking our own
qualification and not Gods honor
(James 4:3 X. w. 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. 81 30 we find
that Isaiah Joined with Hezekiah In
his earnest prayer Matt. 10 10, 2O),
thus the king and prophet worked as
faith by their work (James 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
nnd to appreciate the things he has
to bestOw. God Is as ready to say to
US as to Hezekiah. "Thy prayer Is
heard" II we will not meet the condi-
lions Of prevailing prayer Il John
1922; John 5:l4; Rom. 8 :2827).
III. Gods Glorious Deiiveranes wv.
23-37). God permitted the Assyrinns
to attack and they thus imagined they
were having their own will and could
do as they pleased, but when his "rod"
had done Its work. they found the dif-
ference. The God against whom they
raved guided them us with a "bridle"
and turned them back to Assyrla. Sen
nncherib considered himself more than
match for God (Ch. 10 :23-25) but
had to return like a conquered beast
OF burden with Gods shook" In his
nose and bride on his lips. God III
lows the enemies Of his people TO go n
certain length In order TINT his people
may be humblcd and seek him. Then
he puts forth his hand and says. "Thls
far and no further" Jehovah gives US
the same promise he gave HezekInh.
II will defend this city" IL not the
city Of Jerusalem that God defends
more safe thnn n city defended by nm
nrmy7 (Psn. 20, 9: 27:D. God had
promised David that his kingdom
should not perish, for In II lay the
hope OF the world and his plnns for
the redemption OF mankind. Not be.
cnuse OF the people did God defend the
city. but because OF his onth. This In
Il most dramatic picture. the mys-
tcri0us destruction Of the Assyrinn
army wv. 80. 3G). The Lord sent his
nigel. literally his 'messcngcr." who
applied his own plan for the nccom.
pllshmcnt OF his purpose.
There IN II sort Of II grim irony In
the ending Of ScnDnchcribs career. He
who Ind 80 dciinntly nskcd. "who nre
they among nll the gods Of the country
that have delivered their country out
OF mine hand" In led bnck to the house
OF his own god whom he imngInes to
be so potent 10 worship and In that
very presence is SHIN by the hnnds Of
one Of his own sons. The Importance
OF this event II shown by the fnct that
II is referred to In three books Of the
Bible md probably referred TO moth.
er. occupying seven or eight chapters.
besides being recorded on the grcat
rviI pd.p IN tvhi oh VofArnuru Ia fuuIu