Evening star., 1927-12-10

xXvi.3.
Although Isaiah took "the first step
in the emancipation of spiritual reli-
gion from the forms Of political life.
probably no prophet ever had greater
access to the rulers OF his nation than
the brilliant seer and statesman, whose
messages we are again called to con-
slider in connection with this week S
lesson. Separation of church and state
does not call for an indifference upon
the part of Christians to the moral Is
sues involved in the political questions
of the day.
Isaiah in his career as prophet
fulfilled the ideal expressed by Demos
themes four centuries afterward: ITO
discern events in their beginnings, to
be beforehand in the detection of
movements and tendencies, and to
forewarn his countrymen according
ly; to fight against the political vices,
from which no state IS free, of pro-
crastination. supineness, ignorance
and party jealousy; to impress upon
all the paramount importance Of unity
and friendly feeling, and the duty of
providing promptly for their country's s
needs"
The prophet could never have sue
ceeded in his social reform work If he
had neglected to consider how Je-
hovah desired the nation to serve
Him. Wherever there exists a free
and Independent ministry among the
preachers, priests and pastors of all
faiths in our land, the spirit of Isaiah
lives, for they will not hesitate to
preach against the sins of the indi.
vidual, society or nation. He cannot
make a spiritual Interpretation of
secular events, explain the meaning
of history and justify the ways of
God unless he sees Him at work help.
ing men to solve their personal, ma
tional and international problems and
overcome their sins.
Entangling Alliances Opposed.
Early in his ministry Isaiah tried
to prevent the timid and terrified AhaZ
from entering into an alliance with
Assyria. Damascus and Israel had
forgotten their old animosities and
formed an alliance with the view of
checking the danger that they faced
from the rapidly growing power OF
Tiglathpileser-the Pull of II Kings
Xv.19--who had usurped the throne
of Assyria, and by his executive abil.
ity and military genius had unified the
empire and was making rapid work in
the conquest of other nations. They
had tried to force Judah to join their
league and to compel Ahaz to enter
their coalition by besieging Jerusalem.
The king succeeded in defeating them
but he faced peril from the invas sion
of Judah by the Edomites and Philis.
tines, who never overlooked an op-
portunity to humble their hereditary
foes. Ahaz had determined to seek
aid from Assyria against his enemies,
Isaiah saw two things clearly-that
the two northern kingdoms, Damas
Gus and Israel Ephraim) were
doomed before the victorious ad
vances Of Tiglathpiloser; they were
only "the stumps Of two smoking
torches, with fire nearly gone out. .
lie also saw that the intervention OF
Assyria's monarch in the acairs OF
Palestine at the request of Ahaz
meant that Judah was destined to be-
come province of Assyria without
being conquered by the force of arms
1t meant the nations doom. He
called upon the King to put his trust
in Jehovah, and assured him that IL
Judah would serve Him, then they
would be protected from all danger
In vain the prophet tried to prevent
the King from depending upon the
power of the Assyrian prince by the
promise Of the opening of a new reign
through the gift of a divine child
the promised Messiah, who would in
stitute an era Of peace and good will
After the death of Ahaz the leaders
of Judah commenced to think OF
breaking their covenant with Assyria
and forming a new alliance with
Tirhakah, the first Nubian king tc
break into the history of Gods chosen
people as King Of Cush Isaiah tried
to prevent their forming any alliance
with Egypt-'a people which cannot
| profit, and bring neither help nol
gain, but only shame and reproach"-
he denounced it as a rebellion against
Jehovah, that must lead to Judah.
irretrievable ruin. He recognized
Judah's danger as a buffer state be
tween Egypt and Assyria meant that
the nation would be ground to powder
| in any conflict between the two great
| er powers, if she broke her agreement
| as a vassal of Assyria. He urged
| them to put their trust in God and
| to do His will This would insure
them protection, peace and prosperity
rs a people.
Isaiah tried in every way to i'm
press upon the nation that their only
| way of safety was dependent upor
their trusting Jehovah. He took ar
| unpopular course in his efforts to keer
| the people from breaking their GOV
enants with AssYria. During a period
Of three years he appeared upon the
streets Of Jerusalem, dressed in the
carb of captured slave, "naked anf
barefoot" as warning against theil
agreeing with Egypt. When the pow
erful Sennaherib turned his attention
to the group Of Palestine cities ant
countries. who had been influenced
to break their treaties with Assyria
Isaiah's predictions were recognized
as being fulfilled. In fact, the AS
syrian conquered "46 walled towns
shut up feZekiah in Jerusalem, lik.
Z bird in a cage; and the nation wa.
completely prostrated by the turn O
events" His record Of this campaign
found upon the six-sided, baked ella,
| cylinder. confirms the Biblical &C
count. Ilezekiah tried to secure pro
'oction by paying heavy for hi!
'ebclliOn and joining with Egypt
! when Sennacherib laid seige t.
'.achish.
Evidently he was not satisfied will
the payment of this large indemnity
for he sent Rabshakeh demanding {
surrender. Isaiah's reply to the AS
syrian ambassador matches the mos
heroic defiances of Greek or Roman