Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

earth."
wash."
For Your Notebook:
Imagine you were traveling
with the
children of Israel and make a list of all
the things that made you happy
the things that made you sad.
SABBATH
SCHOOL LESSON
May 29, 1955
Rev. W. J. McBurney
and all
(Lessons based on International Sunday School
Lessons ; the International Bible Lessons foz
Christian Teaching, copyrighted by International
Council of Religious Education.)
HEZEKIAH MEETS A CRISIS
2 Chronicles 31-32, Isaiah 36-39
Printed, 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, 32, 33.
Memory: Psalm 124:8: "Our help is in
the name of the Lord, who made heaven
and
We have the story of today's lesson
from two sources; we follow it as it is
recorded in the Bible. We can find it
also inscribed on Assyrian monuments.
The difference in the records is not a
difference of viewpoint, but a desire on
the part of Assyria to praise her own
valor, recording only her victories. The
inspired story does not spare the leaders
or the people by seeking to cover up
their sins, failures or defeats. The As
syrian story is almost true in what it re
lates, and it bears testimony to the truth
of the Bible record.
As we learned last week, Hezekiah,
when he had strengthened the defences
of Judah against their enemies, and ren
ovated the Temple, proceeded to organ
ize the priests for the Temple service,
and renewed the Passover that had been
neglected for many years. Today we see
some of the results of this reform.
The Quality of the Revival
2 Chron. 31:1
When the call for the Passover was
issued, there was a movement in the
hearts of the people. In the midst of
their idolatries, they
were oppressed and
disheartened. Hezekiah's work and call
to them inspired new hope and longing
for the "Old Time Religion." Many, sod
den in their rebellion and sin, scoffed.
There must have been much conversa
tion, encouragement and prayer to per
suade some of the faint hearted to un
dertake the journey. After weeks
preparation a great host gathered. It
was no longer a divided religion, but a
united worship
nations.
of
of the One God of all
When the excitement of this great
gathering was over, they did not forget.
The worship was restored and priests
appointed in every city, and the people
went to their new homes with a new
purpose. They broke down the idols.
With this renewed sense of unity, they
May 11, 1955
were better prepared to face the Assyr
ians.
The Boast of Sennacherib
The story in 2 Chron. is very brief.
It is told in much greater detail in 2
Kings 18-20, and in Isaiah 36-39. Sargon
was the King of Assyria, Sennacherib
was his general, and Sanballat his
spokesman. Sargon and his officers were
cruel, arrogant and had no mercy. When
they captured, they killed the old and
the worthless, and carried off the best
for slaves.
Sennacherib had by-passed Jerusalem
and occupied Phillistia on the west
southward. Samaria on the north was al
ready his vassal and Judah was paying
high tribute from the time of Ahaz.
Sennacherib wanted to take Jerusalem
without a struggle. So he approached
with a mighty army, and sent letters de
manding and threatening. He not only
defied the power of Judah, but belittled
and insulted the God of Israel, counting
him as but one of the many gods whose
worshipers he had conquered. When he
did not get the action that he desired
from Hezekiah, he sent loud-mouthed
Sanballat to shout his insulting mes
sage and threats to the people on the
walls, who would tell it to all in the
city. Thus he thought to frighten the
people into submission and take the city
undestroyed.
Hezekiah's Declaration of Independence
Now the Declaration of Independence
Hezekiah took the insulting letters to
Isaiah and spread them out before the
Lord. The insults were indeed against
the Lord, and the Lord took charge of
the matter as He always does. Hezekiah
did not remain idle. He took every pre
caution that was in his power. He took
council with his leaders. To deprive the
invaders of water, he stopped the foun
tains. This strategy is made clear by re
cent discoveries.
A water tunnel has
been found, cut through the solid rock
from springs just outside the city on
the north, passing into the city. An in
scription on the wall inside this tunnel
shows that it was built by Hezekiah.
They could fill these springs with stone,
cover them over so they could not be
seen, and let the water run through into
the city. Then they
strengthened the
walls and the towers, and prepared the
army for the siege.
Now the Declaration of Independance
came from the Lord to Isaiah. We are
not told that it was eventually delivered
to Sennacherib, but as it was in part
concerning him and his army, and in
answer to his insulting threats, it was
probably so delivered. The defeat that
the Lord promised was fully realized.
Sennacherib led the remnant of his de
feated army back to Damascus, and his
own sons killed him. Probably they
thought that the disgrace of such an
overwhelming defeat could be erased in
no other way. A Japanese officer would
have saved his friends the trouble.
The Death of Hezekiah. 2 Chron. 32:
32,33; Isaiah 38.
Hezekiah was sick unto death with a
(malignant) boil. He was promised life.
He asked for a sign, and it was given;
the shadow was turned back ten de
grees on the dial of Ahaz. The creator
of the universe can readjust it without
upsetting its ordinary working. We do
not need to fret ourselves about how
the Lord performed this feat, or length
ened the day for Joshua. We might
notice, however, that in this case that
it was the shadow that turned back.
Did you ever see a mirage I did. I
saw one, that while I do not suppose it
was exceptional, would easily have turn
ed back the shadow of a setting sun
perhaps nearly ten degrees.
Isaiah applied a poultice of figs to
the boil, and it was healed. We under
stand that there was an immediate, mir
aculous healing, but the ordinary means
were applied; even Christ
in almost
every case used them in the miracles of
healing. Today, we hasten to the apoth
ecary and for a large price secure a
complicated concoction that is almost as
good as the poultice that Grandmother
used to make in her own kitchen. We
have such faith in the apothecary's art,
that we feel no need to ask God to per
form tht mysterious miracle in us that
means healing.
In historic words, Hezekiah trusted
God and kept his powder dry. God
works miracles, but for some good rea
son. He gives the one who is to be bene
fited some work to do. Christ said, "Go
"Get up and "Stretch walk."
out
your hand." The great draught of fishes
did not jump into the boat.
And at last when this great man died
the fact is stated in words that might
have told of the death of king or peas
ant, rich or poor, saint or sinner. He
died and was buried. The manner of the
burial may differ, but death has no
favorites. That is the physical story of
death. With the soul, it is vastly differ
ent.
Hezekiah was followed on the throne
by his son, whose sin and repentence
we will study next week.
It is not the fact that a man has rich
es which keeps him from the kingdom
of heaven, but the fact that the riches
have him.
(David Caird)
301