prophets and kings-第51节
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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。
Hezekiah appealed directly to the priests to unite with him in bringing about the necessary reforms。 〃Be not now negligent；〃 he exhorted them； 〃for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before Him； to serve Him； and that ye should minister unto Him； and burn incense。〃 〃Sanctify now yourselves； and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers。〃 Verses 11； 5。
It was a time for quick action。 The priests began at once。 Enlisting the co…operation of others of their number who had not been present during this conference； they engaged heartily in the work of cleansing and sanctifying
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the temple。 Because of the years of desecration and neglect； this was attended with many difficulties； but the priests and the Levites labored untiringly； and within a remarkably short time they were able to report their task completed。 The temple doors had been repaired and thrown open； the sacred vessels had been assembled and put into place； and all was in readiness for the re…establishment of the sanctuary services。
In the first service held； the rulers of the city united with King Hezekiah and with the priests and Levites in seeking forgiveness for the sins of the nation。 Upon the altar were placed sin offerings 〃to make an atonement for all Israel。〃 〃And when they had made an end of offering； the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves； and worshiped。〃 Once more the temple courts resounded with words of praise and adoration。 The songs of David and of Asaph were sung with joy； as the worshipers realized that they were being delivered from the bondage of sin and apostasy。 〃Hezekiah rejoiced； and all the people； that God had prepared the people： for the thing was done suddenly。〃 Verses 24； 29； 36。
God had indeed prepared the hearts of the chief men of Judah to lead out in a decided reformatory movement； that the tide of apostasy might be stayed。 Through His prophets He had sent to His chosen people message after message of earnest entreatymessages that had been despised and rejected by the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel； now given over to the enemy。 But in Judah there remained a goodly remnant； and to these the prophets continued to appeal。 Hear Isaiah urging； 〃Turn ye unto Him from whom
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the children of Israel have deeply revolted。〃 Isaiah 31：6。 Hear Micah declaring with confidence： 〃I will look unto the Lord； I will wait for the God of my salvation： my God will hear me。 Rejoice not against me； O mine enemy； when I fall； I shall arise； when I sit in darkness； the Lord shall be a light unto me。 I will bear the indignation of the Lord； because I have sinned against Him； until He plead my cause； and execute judgment for me： He will bring me forth to the light； and I shall behold His righteousness。〃 Micah 7：7…9。
These and other like messages revealing the willingness of God to forgive and accept those who turned to Him with full purpose of heart； had brought hope to many a fainting soul in the dark years when the
