prophets and kings-第63章
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re； nor come before it with shield； nor cast a bank against it。 By the way that he came； by the same shall he return； and shall not come into this city； saith the Lord。 For I will defend this city； to save it； for Mine own sake； and for My servant David's sake。〃 Verses 29…34。
That very night deliverance came。 〃The angel of the Lord went out； and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand。〃 Verse 35。 〃All the mighty men of valor； and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria；〃 were slain。 2 Chronicles 32：21。
Tidings of this terrible judgment upon the army that had been sent to take Jerusalem； soon reached Sennacherib； who was still guarding the approach to Judea from Egypt。 Stricken with fear； the Assyrian king hasted to depart and 〃returned with shame of face to his own land。〃 Verse 21。 But he had not long to reign。 In harmony with the prophecy that had been uttered concerning his sudden end； he was assassinated by those of his own home； 〃and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead。〃 Isaiah 37：38。
The God of the Hebrews had prevailed over the proud Assyrian。 The honor of Jehovah was vindicated in the eyes of the surrounding nations。 In Jerusalem the hearts of the people were filled with holy joy。 Their earnest
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entreaties for deliverance had been mingled with confession of sin and with many tears。 In their great need they had trusted wholly in the power of God to save； and He had not failed them。 Now the temple courts resounded with songs of solemn praise。
〃In Judah is God known： His name is great in Israel。 In Salem also is His tabernacle； And His dwelling place in Zion。 There brake He the arrows of the bow； The shield； and the sword； and the battle。
〃Thou art more glorious and excellent Than the mountains of prey。 The stouthearted are spoiled； they have slept their sleep： And none of the men of might have found their hands。 At Thy rebuke； O God of Jacob； Both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep。
〃Thou； even Thou； art to be feared： And who may stand in Thy sight when once Thou art angry？ Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven； The earth feared； and was still； When God arose to judgment； To save all the meek of the earth。
〃Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee： The remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain。 Vow； and pay unto the Lord your God： Let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared。 He shall cut off the spirit of princes： He is terrible to the kings of the earth。〃 Psalm 76。
The rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire is rich in lessons for the nations of earth today。 Inspiration has likened the glory of Assyria at the height of her prosperity to a
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noble tree in the garden of God； towering above the surrounding trees。
〃The Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches； and with a shadowing shroud； and of an high stature； and his top was among the thick boughs。 。 。 。 Under his shadow dwelt all great nations。 Thus was he fair in his greatness； in the length of his branches： for his root was by great waters。 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him： the fir trees were not like his boughs； and the chestnut trees were not like his branches； nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty。 。 。 。 All the trees of Eden； that were in the garden of God； envied him。〃 Ezekiel 31：3…9。
But the rulers of Assyria； instead of using their unusual blessings for the benefit of mankind； became the scourge of many lands。 Merciless； with no thought of God or their fellow men； they pursued the fixed policy of causing all nations to acknowledge the supremacy of the gods of Nineveh； whom they exalted above the Most High。 God had sent Jonah to them with a message of warning； and for a season they humbled themselves before the Lord of hosts and sought forgiveness。 But soon they turned again to idol worship and to the conquest of the world。
The prophet Nahum； in his arraignment of the evildoers in Nineveh； exclaimed：
〃Woe to the bloody city！ It is all full of lies and robbery； The prey departeth not；
〃The noise of a whip； and the noise of the rattling of the wheels； And of the prancing horses； and of the jumping chariots。
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The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear： And there is a multitude of slain。 。 。 。
〃Behold； I am against thee； Saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Nahum 3：1…5。
With unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps account with the nations。 While His mercy is tendered； with calls to repentance； this account remains open； but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed； the ministry of His wrath begins。 The account is closed。 Divine patience ceases。 Mercy no longer pleads in their behalf。
〃The Lord is slow to anger； and great in power； and will not at all acquit the wicked： the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm； and the clouds are the dust of His feet。 He rebuketh the sea； and maketh it dry； and drieth up all the rivers： Bashan languisheth； and Carmel； and the flower of Lebanon languisheth。 The mountains quake at Him； and the hills melt； and the earth is burned at His presence； yea； the world； and all that dwell therein。 Who can stand before His indignation？ and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger？ His fury is poured out like fire； and the rocks are thrown down by Him。〃 Nahum 1：3…6。
It was thus that Nineveh； 〃the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly； that said in her heart； I am； and there is none beside me；〃 became a desolation； 〃empty； and void； and waste；〃 〃the dwelling of the lions； and the feeding place of the young lions； where the lion； even the old lion； walked； and the lion's whelp； and none made them afraid。〃 Zephaniah 2：15； Nahum 2：10； 11。
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Looking forward to the time when the pride of Assyria should be brought low； Zephaniah prophesied of Nineveh： 〃Flocks shall lie down in the midst of her； all the beasts of the nations： both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it； their voice shall sing in the windows； desolation shall be in the thresholds： for He shall uncover the cedar work。〃 Zephaniah 2：14。
Great was the glory of the Assyrian realm； great was its downfall。 The prophet Ezekiel； carrying farther the figure of a noble cedar tree； plainly foretold the fall of Assyria because of its pride and cruelty。 He declared：
〃Thus saith the Lord God； 。 。 。 He hath shot up his top among the thick boughs； and his heart is lifted up in his height； I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen； he shall surely deal with him： I have driven him out for his wickedness。 And strangers； the terrible of the nations； have cut him off； and have left him： upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen； and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land； and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow； and have left him。 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain； and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches： to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height。 。 。 。
〃Thus saith the Lord God； In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning： 。 。 。 and all the trees of the field fainted for him。 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall。〃 Ezekiel 31：10…16。
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The pride of Assyria and its fall are to serve as an object lesson to the end of time。 Of the nations of earth today who in arrogance and pride array themselves against Him； God inquires； 〃To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden？ yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth。〃 Verse 18。
〃The Lord
