prophets and kings-第57章
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ter the Promised Land； the word of the Lord had been： 〃And now； Israel； what doth the Lord thy God require of thee； but to fear the Lord thy God； to walk in all His ways； and to love Him； and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul； to keep the commandments of the Lord； and His statutes； which I command thee this day for thy good？〃 Deuteronomy 10：12； 13。 From age to age these counsels
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were repeated by the servants of Jehovah to those who were in danger of falling into habits of formalism and of forgetting to show mercy。 When Christ Himself； during His earthly ministry； was approached by a lawyer with the question； 〃Master； which is the great commandment in the law？〃 Jesus said to him； 〃Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart； and with all thy soul； and with all thy mind。 This is the first and great commandment。 And the second is like unto it； Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself。 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets。〃 Matthew 22：36…40。
These plain utterances of the prophets and of the Master Himself； should be received by us as the voice of God to every soul。 We should lose no opportunity of performing deeds of mercy； of tender forethought and Christian courtesy； for the burdened and the oppressed。 If we can do no more； we may speak words of courage and hope to those who are unacquainted with God； and who can be approached most easily by the avenue of sympathy and love。
Rich and abundant are the promises made to those who are watchful of opportunities to bring joy and blessing into the lives of others。 〃If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry； and satisfy the afflicted soul； then shall thy light rise in obscurity； and thy darkness be as the noonday： and the Lord shall guide thee continually； and satisfy thy soul in drought； and make fat thy bones： and thou shalt be like a watered garden； and like a spring of water； whose waters fail not。〃 Isaiah 58：10； 11。
The idolatrous course of Ahaz； in the face of the earnest appeals of the prophets； could have but one result。 〃The
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wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem； and He 。 。 。 delivered them to trouble； to astonishment； and to hissing。〃 2 Chronicles 29：8。 The kingdom suffered a rapid decline； and its very existence was soon imperiled by invading armies。 〃Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war： and they besieged Ahaz。〃 2 Kings 16：5。
Had Ahaz and the chief men of his realm been true servants of the Most High； they would have had no fear of so unnatural an alliance as had been formed against them。 But repeated transgression had shorn them of strength。 Stricken with a nameless dread of the retributive judgments
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of an offended God； the heart of the king 〃was moved； and the heart of his people； as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind。〃 Isaiah 7：2。 In this crisis the word of the Lord came to Isaiah； bidding him meet the trembling king and say：
〃Take heed； and be quiet； fear not； neither be fainthearted 。 。 。 。 Because Syria； Ephraim； and the son of Remaliah； have taken evil counsel against thee； saying； Let us go up against Judah； and vex it； and let us make a breach therein for us； and set a king in the midst of it： 。 。 。 thus saith the Lord God； It shall not stand； neither shall it come to pass。〃 The prophet declared that the kingdom of Israel； and Syria as well； would soon come to an end。 〃If ye will not believe；〃 he concluded； 〃surely ye shall not be established。〃 Verses 4…7；9。
Well would it have been for the kingdom of Judah had Ahaz received this message as from heaven。 But choosing to lean on the arm of flesh； he sought help from the heathen。 In desperation he sent word to Tiglath…pileser； king of Assyria： 〃I am thy servant and thy son： come up； and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria； and out of the hand of the king of Israel； which rise up against me。〃 2 Kings 16：7。 The request was accompanied by a rich present from the king's treasure and from the temple storehouse。
The help asked for was sent； and King Ahaz was given temporary relief； but at what a cost to Judah！ The tribute offered aroused the cupidity of Assyria； and that treacherous nation soon threatened to overflow and spoil Judah。 Ahaz and his unhappy subjects were now harassed by the fear of falling completely into the hands of the cruel Assyrians。
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〃The Lord brought Judah low〃 because of continued transgression。 In this time of chastisement Ahaz； instead of repenting； trespassed 〃yet more against the Lord： 。 。 。 for he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus。〃 〃Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them；〃 he said； 〃therefore will I sacrifice to them； that they may help me。〃 2 Chronicles 28：19； 22； 23。
As the apostate king neared the end of his reign； he caused the doors of the temple to be closed。 The sacred services were interrupted。 No longer were the candlesticks kept burning before the altar。 No longer were offerings made for the sins of the people。 No longer did sweet incense ascend on high at the time of the morning and the evening sacrifice。 Deserting the courts of the house of God and locking fast its doors； the inhabitants of the godless city boldly set up altars for the worship of heathen deities on the street corners throughout Jerusalem。 Heathenism had seemingly triumphed； the powers of darkness had well…nigh prevailed。
But in Judah there dwelt some who maintained their allegiance to Jehovah； steadfastly refusing to be led into idolatry。 It was to these that Isaiah and Micah and their associates looked in hope as they surveyed the ruin wrought during the last years of Ahaz。 Their sanctuary was closed； but the faithful ones were assured： 〃God is with us。〃 Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself； and let Him be your fear； and let Him be your dread。 And He shall be for a sanctuary。〃 Isaiah 8：10； 13； 14。
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Chapter 28
Hezekiah
In sharp contrast with the reckless rule of Ahaz was the reformation wrought during the prosperous reign of his son。 Hezekiah came to the throne determined to do all in his power to save Judah from the fate that was overtaking the northern kingdom。 The messages of the prophets offered no encouragement to halfway measures。 Only by most decided reformation could be threatened judgments be averted。
In the crisis； Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity。 No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute。 He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services； so long neglected； and in this work he earnestly solicited the co…operation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling。 Confident of their loyal support； he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far…reaching reforms。 〃Our fathers have trespassed；〃 he confessed； 〃and done that which was evil in the eyes
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of the Lord our God； and have forsaken Him； and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord。〃 〃Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel； that His fierce wrath may turn away from us。〃 2 Chronicles 29：6； 10。
In a few well…chosen words the king reviewed the situation they were facingthe closed temple and the cessation of all services within its precincts； the flagrant idolatry practiced in the streets of the city and throughout the kingdom； the apostasy of multitudes who might have remained true to God had the leaders in Judah set before them a right example； and the decline of the kingdom and loss of prestige in the estimation of surrounding nations。 The northern kingdom was rapidly crumbling to pieces； many were perishing by the sword； a multitude had already been carried away captive； soon Israel would fall completely into the hands of the Assyrians； and be utterly ruined； and this fate would surely befall Judah as well； unless God should work mightily through chosen representatives。
