The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-05-17
Lesson for May ID
ISAIAH AND THE ASSYRlAN
CRISIS.

LESSON TEXT-Isa. SO, 81.
GOLDEN TEXT-"God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in
trouble."-Ps. 46:1.
PRIMARY TOPIC-How God An
swered Their Letter.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Isaiah and the
Boastful Assyrian.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-How Isaiah's Faith Saved q City.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Isaiah's Service to His Country.
l.. The King of Assyria Invades
Judah Elsa. 36).
1. Rabshakeh Meets a Deputatlon
From Judah wv. 1-21). Rabshakeh
was a representative of Sennacherib,
the king of Assyria, whose mission
was to induce Judah to surrender. In
order to accomplish this he:
Q) Tried to bully them into SUBJ
mission wv. 4-9). He tainted them
with their weakness and told them
that Egypt was a broken reed that
would not only fail Of support but
even pierce the hand that reached
out to 1t. He challenged them by
offering 1900 horses, If they would
furnish riders for them. If they could
not furnish this small number 1t
would be futile for them to attempt
to withstand the great Assyrian army.
(2) He asserted that it was use
less for them to put their trust In
God ". 10Y. He even declared that the
Lord had sent him to destroy Judah.
(3) He tried to create a panic
among the people ivy. 1920. Fear
ing a panic among the people the
deputation Of the Jews urged Rab-
shaken not to speak in the Jews
language. Taking up the suggestion
he spoke loudly in the Jews language,
warning them against trusting in Heze-
kiah.
az He promised them plenty in an
other land similar TO their own wv.
10, ~. He urged them to make agree
ment with him and upon his return
from Egypt he would take them to a
land of plenty, but the people were
loyal to Hezekiah, for they knew that
the cruel Assyrians could lot be
trusted.
2. The Deputation Reports to Heze-
kiah ". 22). They rent their garments
doubtless in fear and dismay over
their perilous condition, for the crisis
long before predicted by Isaiah had
now come upon them.
II. Hezekiah's Behavior lisa. 81:
1850.
/. Resorted to the House of the
Lord ". D.. This is a sure resort of
Gods people ipetime of distress-fPs.
.ss% s By faiT ~ a a@ PROF .
A Used that those who in tine of distre:
! resorted to His house would be hear
by Him (II Chron. 7:15, 16).
2. Sent Isaiah wv. 2-7). The logici
and natural thing for the king to {
under such circumstances was
send for Gods prophet. The proph'
sent back words of encouragement
Hezekiah, assuring him that &C
would bring ~deliverance.
3. Hezekiah's Prayer wv. 1920
Rabshakeh, who seems to have witt
drawn from Jerusalem for a lit
while, now returns from Sennacheri
with a letter warning Hezekiah again'
trusting God for deliverance, assurir
him that he would be deceived for +
god was able TO stand against the A
syrian army. He spread the letter b.
fore the Lord and prayed.
% He recognized Gods thron
making it the ground of his pie
". 16).
(2) He recognized the peril whic
threatened the people wv. 1913
S~ennacherib had indeed laid waste II
surrounding nations, but that ruin r.
suited because the gods of the natior
were not real.
(3) He asked for deliverance {
20). He desired hat deliveranC
would come in such a way as to Wind
cate and honor the Lord.
/. Isaiah's Message to Hezekiah "
21-35).
D That Sennacherib's sin was bla
phemy against the Holy One of Isra'
ivy. 21-23).
(2) That Se%nnacherib had forgotte
that he was an instrument in God
hand wv. 24-2S).
(3) Judgment upon Sennacherib wa
imminent wv. 29-35). DeliveranC
would soon come and that through tn
energy of the Lord of hosts.
ri. Destruction of the Assyria
Army ivy. 36-3S).
The angel of the Lord went fort
and smote in the camp of the A
syrians $4,000 men, so ~Sennacheri
was turned back by the way he cam
He did not enter Jerusalem and afte
this defeat he went back to Nineve
to live and while there worshipin
In tba bouSa of his God he WAS a.