Evening star., 1924-05-17

One Of the finest monuments ever
rescued from the Assyrian ruins con-
tafns the record of Sennacherib's s
memorable western campaign that
brought upon Judah the Assyrian
crisis The Taylor cylinder. which
belongs to the British museum, con-
firms the lesson assigned for eur
study this week. In some respects
the two narratives supplement each
other. While they leave great gaps
to be filled out, they present to us
one of the most thrilling dramas of
divine dispensations and also one OF
the greatest religious crises in all his
tory.
this Assyrian crisis. The great
prophet and statesman had. through
his spiritual insight, q clear concep-
tion of the value of isolation for
Israel. He fought strenuously against
the king and his associates making
fusal of paying tribute to Sennach-
crib. He tried with all his per-
suasive powers to influence the ma
tion from making any treaties of a
defensive nature with any foreign
power He believed that Judah
should place her trust absolutely in
the Lord as their protector. I'm
fortunately they rejected his advice,
the leaders made treaties with Egypt,
treating their compacts with Assyria
as mere scraps of paper" Events
moved rapidly. 1t was not long be-
fore the folly of their putting their
trust lin the shadow OF Egypt" be-
came apparent to all, wnen the FORCES
Of Assyria swept through the land
like the roar of the sea, carrying
away thousands into captivity and
laying waste the cities and citadels
of Judah and her allies, who upon the
death of Sargon had welcomed the
opportunity that they thought was
Assyrian yoke.
Sennacherib, who succeeded his
father, Sargon. had to fight his way
to the throne. The new Assyrian
monarch had to put down opposition
in various places before he paid any
consideration to the league of Pales-
tinian nations, who under the leader
ship of Hezekiah had cast their lot
in with the Egyptians, who had
promised them help against Sennach-
crib. Mastering the opposition in
the east quicker than was expected,
the successor Of Sargon turned west
ward, where he was everywhere VIC
torious until after a series of VIC
tories in Palestine he filled Jerusalem
with fear and frenzy over their i'm
minent peril.
Jerusalem Imperilled.
Hezekiah was like a bird in a cage,
in Jerusalem, his royal city" as re-
suit of the efforts of Sennacherib. He
now realized the error of being
drawn into the Babylonian-P -PaleStin-
ian Egyptian alliance. The mighty
warrior, who had defeated Merodach-
baladan and checked the Egyptian
army that was rushing northward to
aid Hezekiah and his associates in
making defence against Sennach-
cribs forces, could apparently con-
hour the king was ready TO max e
terms with the Assyrian leader by the
payment Of an enormous indemnity.
Sennacherib, in a defiant letter, de-
surrender of Jerusalem. There was
only one source of help left, SO the
king placed the desperate situation
before Jehovah in prayer.
Fighting the Egyyptian forces on
the front, as they were being rushed
northward to avert a national calam-
ity, Sennacherib realized his danger
from d rear attack, so he sent MS
prime minister, Rabshakeh, to con-
duct the negotiations. He revealed
the skill of d demagogue and the
ability of Il trained diplomat in his
conferences with the representatives
of Hezekiah He showed unusual
oratorical ability in his efforts to de-
stroy the morale of the people, who,
while not members of the conference
| occupied places where they could
hear the negotiations He appealed
especially to those who were dis
satisfied with the religious reforms
that Hezekiah had introduced by
denying the power of Jehovah 10
protect them, threatening them with
depor rtation unless they surrendered
Internationally and accepted the
promise of enjoying their home and
happiness under the rule of SIENNA
cherib.
Jerusalem was panic stricken. The
condition was desperate. Watchers
upon the city walls must have seen
at night upon the horizon the glea m
of the fires of the mighty Assyrian
hosts When the hour was darkest
and the people were filled with terror,
Isaiahs faith rose to its loftieSt
height He stood like stone wall
against surrendering to Assyria. His
reply to Rabshakeh is not surpassed by
any of the most heroic defiances re-
corded in Greek or Roman history.