prophets and kings-第53章
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was lifted up to his destruction： for he transgressed against the Lord his God。〃 Verse 16。
The sin that resulted so disastrously to Uzziah was one of presumption。 In violation of a plain command of Jehovah； that none but the descendants of Aaron should officiate as priests； the king entered the sanctuary 〃to burn incense upon the altar。〃 Azariah the high priest and his associates remonstrated； and pleaded with him to turn from his purpose。 〃Thou hast trespassed；〃 they urged； 〃neither shall it be for thine honor。〃 Verses 16； 18。
Uzziah was filled with wrath that he； the king； should be thus rebuked。 But he was not permitted to profane the sanctuary against the united protest of those in authority。 While standing there； in wrathful rebellion； he was suddenly smitten with a divine judgment。 Leprosy appeared on his forehead。 In dismay he fled； never again to enter the temple courts。 Unto the day of his death； some years later； Uzziah remained a lepera living example of the folly of departing from a plain 〃Thus saith the Lord。〃 Neither his exalted position nor his long life of service could be pleaded as an excuse for the presumptuous sin by which he marred the closing years of his reign； and brought upon himself the judgment of Heaven。
God is no respecter of persons。 〃The soul that doeth aught presumptuously； whether he be born in the land； or a stranger； the same reproacheth the Lord； and that soul shall be cut off from among his people。〃 Numbers 15：30。
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The judgment that befell Uzziah seemed to have a restraining influence on his son。 Jotham bore heavy responsibilities during the later years of his father's reign and succeeded to the throne after Uzziah's death。 Of Jotham it is written： 〃He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord： he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done。 Howbeit the high places were not removed： the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places。〃 2 Kings 15：34； 35。
The reign of Uzziah was drawing to a close； and Jotham was already bearing many of the burdens of state； when Isaiah； of the royal line； was called； while yet a young man； to the prophetic mission。 The times in which Isaiah was to labor were fraught with peculiar peril to the people of God。 The prophet was to witness the invasion of Judah by the combined armies of northern Israel and of Syria； he was to behold the Assyrian hosts encamped before the chief cities of the kingdom。 During his lifetime； Samaria was to fall； and the ten tribes of Israel were to be scattered among the nations。 Judah was again and again to be invaded by the Assyrian armies； and Jerusalem was to suffer a siege that would have resulted in her downfall had not God miraculously interposed。 Already grave perils were threatening the peace of the southern kingdom。 The divine protection was being removed； and the Assyrian forces were about to overspread the land of Judah。
But the dangers from without； overwhelming though they seemed； were not so serious as the dangers from within。 It was the perversity of his people that brought to the Lord's servant the greatest perplexity and the deepest depression。
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By their apostasy and rebellion those who should have been standing as light bearers among the nations were inviting the judgments of God。 Many of the evils which were hastening the swift destruction of the northern kingdom； and which had recently been denounced in unmistakable terms by Hosea and Amos； were fast corrupting the kingdom of Judah。
The outlook was particularly discouraging as regards the social conditions of the people。 In their desire for gain； men were adding house to house and field to field。 See Isaiah 5：8。 Justice was perverted； and no pity was shown the poor。 Of these evils God declared； 〃The spoil of the poor is in your houses。〃 Ye beat My people to pieces； and grind the faces of the poor。〃 Isaiah 3：14； 15。 Even the magistrates； whose duty it was to protect the helpless； turned a deaf ear to the cries of the poor and needy； the widows and the fatherless。 See Isaiah 10：1； 2。
With oppression and wealth came pride and love of display； gross drunkenness； and a spirit of revelry。 See Isaiah 2：11； 12； 3：16； 18…23； 5：22； 11； 12。 And in Isaiah's day idolatry itself no longer provoked surprise。 See Isaiah 2：8； 9。 Iniquitous practices had become so prevalent among all classes that the few who remained true to God were often tempted to lose heart and to give way to discouragement and despair。 It seemed as if God's purpose for Israel were about to fail and that the rebellious nation was to suffer a fate similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah。
In the face of such conditions it is not surprising that when； during the last year of Uzziah's reign； Isaiah was called to bear to Judah God's messages of warning and
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reproof； he shrank from the responsibility。 He well knew that he would encounter obstinate resistance。 As he realized his own inability to meet the situation and thought of the stubbornness and unbelief of the people for whom he was to labor； his task seemed hopeless。 Should he in despair relinquish his mission and leave Judah undisturbed to their idolatry？ Were the gods of Nineveh to rule the earth in defiance of the God of heaven？
Such thoughts as these were crowding through Isaiah's mind as he stood under the portico of the temple。 Suddenly the gate and the inner veil of the temple seemed to be uplifted or withdrawn； and he was permitted to gaze within； upon the holy of holies； where even the prophet's feet might not enter。 There rose up before him a vision of Jehovah sitting upon a throne high and lifted up； while the train of His glory filled the temple。 On each side of the throne hovered the seraphim； their faces veiled in adoration； as they ministered before their Maker and united in the solemn invocation； 〃Holy； holy holy； is the Lord of hosts： the whole earth is full of His glory；〃 until post and pillar and cedar gate seemed shaken with the sound； and the house was filled with their tribute of praise。 Isaiah 6：3。
As Isaiah beheld this revelation of the glory and majesty of his Lord； he was overwhelmed with a sense of the purity and holiness of God。 How sharp the contrast between the matchless perfection of his Creator； and the sinful course of those who； with himself； had long been numbered among the chosen people of Israel and Judah！ 〃Woe is me！〃 he cried； 〃for I am undone； because I am a man of unclean lips； and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips：
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for mine eyes have seen the King； the Lord of hosts。〃 Verse 5。 Standing； as it were； in the full light of the divine presence within the inner sanctuary； he realized that if left to his own imperfection and inefficiency； he would be utterly unable to accomplish the mission to which he had been called。 But a seraph was sent to relieve him of his distress and to fit him for his great mission。 A living coal from the altar was laid upon his lips； with the words； 〃Lo； this hath touched thy lips； and thine iniquity is taken away； and thy sin purged。〃 Then the voice of God was heard saying； 〃Whom shall I send； and who will go for Us？〃 and Isaiah responded； 〃Here am I； send me。〃 Verses 7；8。
The heavenly visitant bade the waiting messenger； 〃Go； and tell this people；
〃Here ye indeed； but understand not； And see ye indeed； but perceive not。 Make the heart of this people fat； And make their ears heavy； and shut their eyes； Lest they see with their eyes； and hear with their ears； And understand with their heart； And convert； and be healed。〃 Verses 9； 10。
The prophet's duty was plain； he was to lift his voice in protest against the prevailing evils。 But he dreaded to undertake the work without some assurance of hope。 〃Lord； how long？〃 he inquired。 Verse 11。 Are none of Thy chosen people ever to understand and repent and be healed？
His burden of soul in behalf of erring Judah was not to be borne in vain。 His mission was not to be whol
