prophets and kings-第66章
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udah from the four corners of the earth。〃 Isaiah 11：10…12。
The day of deliverance is at hand。 〃The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth； to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him。〃 2 Chronicles 16：9。 Among all nations； kindreds； and tongues； He sees men and women who are praying for light and knowledge。 Their souls are unsatisfied； long have they fed on ashes。 See Isaiah 44：20。 The enemy of all righteousness has turned them aside； and they grope as blind men。 But they are honest in heart and desire to learn a better way。 Although in the depths of heathenism； with no knowledge of the written law of God nor of His Son Jesus； they have revealed in manifold ways the working of a divine power on mind and character。
At times those who have no knowledge of God aside from that which they have received under the operations of divine grace have been kind to His servants； protecting them at the risk of their own lives。 The Holy Spirit is implanting the grace of Christ in the heart of many a noble
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seeker after truth； quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature； contrary to his former education。 The 〃Light； which lighteth every man that cometh into the world〃 （John 1：9）； is shining in his soul； and this Light； if heeded； will guide his feet to the kingdom of God。 The prophet Micah said： 〃When I sit in darkness； the Lord shall be a light unto me。 。 。 。 He will bring me forth to the light； and I shall behold His righteousness。〃 Micah 7：8； 9。
Heaven's plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the whole world。 God longs to breathe into prostrate humanity the breath of life。 And He will not permit any soul to
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be disappointed who is sincere in his longing for something higher and nobler than anything the world can offer。 Constantly He is sending His angels to those who； while surrounded by circumstances the most discouraging； pray in faith for some power higher than themselves to take possession of them and bring deliverance and peace。 In various ways God will reveal Himself to them and will place them in touch with providences that will establish their confidence in the One who has given Himself a ransom for all； 〃that they might set their hope in God； and not forget the works of God； but keep His commandments。〃 Psalm 78：7。
〃Shall the prey be taken from the mighty； or the lawful captive delivered？〃 〃Thus saith the Lord； Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away； and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered。〃 Isaiah 49：24； 25。 〃They shall be greatly ashamed； that trust in graven images； that say to the molten images； Ye are our gods。〃 Isaiah 42：17。
〃Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help； whose hope is in the Lord his God！〃 Psalm 146：5。 〃Turn you to the stronghold； ye prisoners of hope！〃 Zechariah 9：12。 Unto all the honest in heart in heathen lands〃the upright〃 in the sight of Heaven〃there ariseth light in the darkness。〃 Psalm 112：4。 God hath spoken： 〃I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not； I will lead them in paths that they have not known： I will make darkness light before them； and crooked things straight。 These things will I do unto them； and not forsake them。〃 Isaiah 42：16。
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National Retribution
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〃I will correct thee in measure； and will not leave thee altogether unpunished。〃 Jeremiah 30：11
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Chapter 32
Manasseh and Josiah
The kingdom of Judah； prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah； was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh's wicked reign； when paganism was revived； and many of the people were led into idolatry。 〃Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err； and to do worse than the heathen。〃 2 Chronicles 33：9。 The glorious light of former generations was followed by the darkness of superstition and error。 Gross evils sprang up and flourishedtyranny； oppression； hatred of all that is good。 Justice was perverted； violence prevailed。
Yet those evil times were not without witnesses for God and the right。 The trying experiences through which Judah had safely passed during Hezekiah's reign had developed； in the hearts of many； a sturdiness of character that now served as a bulwark against the prevailing iniquity。 Their testimony in behalf of truth and righteousness aroused the anger of Manasseh and his associates in authority； who
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endeavored to establish themselves in evil…doing by silencing every voice of disapproval。 〃Manasseh shed innocent blood very much； till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another。〃 2 Kings 21：16。
One of the first to fall was Isaiah； who for over half a century had stood Judah as the appointed messenger of Jehovah。 〃Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings； yea； moreover of bonds and imprisonment： they were stoned； they were sawn asunder； were tempted； were slain with the sword： they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins； being destitute； afflicted； tormented； （of whom the world was not worthy：） they wandered in deserts； and in mountains； and in dens and caves of the earth。〃 Hebrews 11：36…38。
Some of those who suffered persecution during Manasseh's reign were commissioned to bear special messages of reproof and of judgment。 The king of Judah； the prophets declared； 〃hath done wickedly above all 。 。 。 which were before him。〃 Because of this wickedness； his kingdom was nearing a crisis； soon the inhabitants of the land were to be carried captive to Babylon； there to become 〃a prey and a spoil to all their enemies。〃 2 Kings 21：11；14。 But the Lord would not utterly forsake those who in a strange land should acknowledge Him as their Ruler； they might suffer great tribulation； yet He would bring deliverance to them in His appointed time and way。 Those who should put their trust wholly in Him would find a sure refuge。
Faithfully the prophets continued their warnings and their exhortations； fearlessly they spoke to Manasseh and
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to his people； but the messages were scorned； backsliding Judah would not heed。 As an earnest of what would befall the people should they continue impenitent； the Lord permitted their king to be captured by a band of Assyrian soldiers； who 〃bound him with fetters； and carried him to Babylon；〃 their temporary capital。 This affliction brought the king to his senses； 〃he besought the Lord his God； and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers； and prayed unto Him： and He was entreated of him； and heard his supplication； and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom。 Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God。〃 2 Chronicles 33：11…13。 But this repentance； remarkable though it was； came too late to save the kingdom from the corrupting influence of years of idolatrous practices。 Many had stumbled and fallen； never again to rise。
Among those whose life experience had been shaped beyond recall by the fatal apostasy of Manasseh； was his own son； who came to the throne at the age of twenty…two。 Of King Amon it is written： 〃He walked in all the way that his father walked in； and served the idols that his father served； and worshiped them： and he forsook the Lord God of his fathers〃 （2 Kings 21：21； 22）； he 〃humbled not himself before the Lord； as Manasseh his father had humbled himself； but Amon trespassed more and more。〃 The wicked king was not permitted to reign long。 In the midst of his daring impiety； only two years from the time he ascended the throne； he was slain in the palace by his own servants； and 〃the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead。〃 2 Chronicles 33：23； 25。
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With the accession of Josiah to the throne； where he was to rule for thirty…one years； those who had maintained the purity of their faith
