Class 6 from this series was used in GCT Episode 318.
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This is day four of the 1988
Idlewild Bible School.
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Our speaker for Class 3 is
Brother Colin Badger, and his
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subject is The Thematic Study of
Isaiah and his subtitle for
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today is The Faithful Remnant
and the Redeemed.
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Good morning, brothers and
sisters.
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I’d like to recap some of our
observations from the last class
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yesterday by approaching some of
those issues we considered at
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the end of our class yesterday
from a slightly different
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perspective and use it as an
introduction for our theme this
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morning, Second Kings Chapter
18.
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Could we turn there together,
please?
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There are a few details
presented a little more
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obviously in the King’s record
concerning the Assyrian crisis
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and Hezekiah’s relation to it.
It has an important bearing in
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our appreciation of the events
of those days and what obviously
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forms a very important section
or backdrop to the prophecy of
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Isaiah.
In verse two of Second Kings 18.
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We get one very important fact
from that verse and that is that
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Hezekiah reigned 29 years, verse
2 of Second Kings 18.
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We also know in the same
chapter, if we come down to
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verse 13, that the Assyrian
crisis was in the 14th year of
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Hezekiah’s reign.
Second Kings 18, verse 13.
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We also know that Hezekiah had
it added to his years, 15
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additional years of grace.
Now you see how the computation
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works.
He reigned 29 years.
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Fifteen of those years, the last
15, were added to his life from
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the time of his sickness.
That means then that he had been
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sick in his 14th year and had it
added on to that fifteen
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additional years of grace,
making total 29.
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But you see what that therefore
shows us, brothers and sisters,
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that the Assyrian invasion
occurred in the same year as
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Hezekiah’s sickness.
He was sick in the 14th year.
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The invasion occurred in the
14th year.
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He recovered in the same year,
and 15 additional years were
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added on total 29 years.
Now just consider if we go back
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to Isaiah, how this helps us to
capture the tensions that must
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have been going through his
court and certainly must have
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been internalized in poor King
Hezekiah, Isaiah 38.
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Here in verse one, Isaiah,
Isaiah the prophet comes to
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Hezekiah and bears bad tidings,
as if he didn’t have enough
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already on his shoulders.
For in verse one we read notice
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the wording, careful to time it
with the invasion of the
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Assyrians.
In those days was Hezekiah sick
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unto death.
And Isaiah the prophet, the son
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of Amos, came unto him, and said
unto him, Thus saith the Lord,
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Set thine house in order, for
thou shalt die and not live.
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Brothers and sisters, let’s put
the facts then together.
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In that year of crisis, look
what this man was shouldering.
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The Assyrian was on his doorstep
already.
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He had moved down the coast.
Invasion of Jerusalem was
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certain #1 Secondly, Isaiah has
come to Hezekiah and told him,
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Thou shalt die, and a man is
sick unto death.
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What’s to be done here in the
middle of the Assyrian crisis?
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The monarch, the only possible
hope for the nation, is not only
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sick, but the prophet of God has
come to him and said, thou shalt
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die.
Right in the middle of the
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crisis.
There was another source of
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tension besides that, for if you
put the facts together in Kings
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and Chronicles, it’s obvious
that Hezekiah is still
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childless.
Childless, no seed to look upon
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as the one who would carry on
his name and his throne.
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As yet, Judah has no hope beyond
Hezekiah.
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Now we know that, brothers and
sisters, because Kings and
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Chronicles tells us that
Manasseh was 12 years old when
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he began to reign, only 12 when
he began to reign.
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So we go back.
Hezekiah reign 29 years.
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Subtract those 12 years, and
Manasseh was born in the third
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year of the additional 15 tacked
on to the end of Hezekiah’s
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life.
That shows us that it wasn’t
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until then, after the Assyrian
crisis, that Manasseh was born
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in the third year of the extra
15.
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And then 12 years later,
Hezekiah has died.
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Manasseh is 12, and he begins to
reign.
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Now, when you see that picture,
more tension is added to the
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picture.
Here’s the Assyrian at the
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doorstep.
Hezekiah has been wrestling with
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some terrible sickness.
Isaiah comes in and says you
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won’t recover, you will die.
And the man in addition to that
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is childless as yet.
Consider the tensions that he
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had to face.
Indeed, by his repentance and
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God’s merciful response, the
king recovered from his illness.
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It’s before us, isn’t it?
Here in Isaiah chapter 38?
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But Hezekiah wasn’t to know
that.
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What was going on in the court
of Hezekiah when they saw that
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this man was sick nigh unto
death, and when court rumor must
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have had it that Isaiah had
visited that day and told
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Hezekiah, no recovery, you’re a
dead man.
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Consider the people in the court
as they must have murmured and
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pondered.
Panic must have swept through
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the court.
What are we going to do here?
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Are the Assyrians at our
doorstep?
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It’s the hour of crisis, and our
king has not only been sick, but
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now he’s going to die.
And his child?
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No heir to the throne.
It tacked the face of Hezekiah
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to its limit.
And how it must have tried the
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heart within those walls.
You see, brothers and sisters,
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it helps us to put our trials
and our crises in perspective,
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doesn’t it?
We think at times that it’s
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unfair that we should be tested
at certain moments.
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Common question.
We all ask why me?
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We often ask why now?
Why now when I’ve got umpteen
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different problems when the
children are in this kind of a
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condition, or we haven’t paid
off the mortgage or we’ve just
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had to buy a new car, why now?
It wouldn’t be a crisis and it
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wouldn’t be a test of our faith
unless it was in those
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circumstances.
Why not then?
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And why not you or why not me?
That’s the real question.
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It helps us to have a little
more understanding for the way
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God works in the lives of
disciples, to remember that
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faithful men like Hezekiah, whom
God loved and cared for, went
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through severe testing and not
just one problem to straddle a
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multitude of problems.
Every one of them looked like a
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blank wall.
And so we read in chapter 38,
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verse 2 that Hezekiah turned his
faith towards the wall and
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prayed unto the Lord.
Why didn’t he did that?
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Prayed towards the wall?
He must have stared at the wall
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near his bed chamber, and it was
like a barrier, no doubt
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figuratively speaking.
It was like the condition he was
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in facing, we often say a brick
wall, a barrier to his success,
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a barrier to the helping of this
small remnant that had gathered
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around him in Jerusalem.
But we know that in response to
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the prayers, the fervent prayers
of a righteous man, as James
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says, God responded and in his
mercy saved Hezekiah, gave him
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an additional 15 years and
finally destroyed the Assyrians.
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And moreover, within the third
year of those 15, Manasseh was
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born, a child, a son to Hezekiah
to carry on his name and more
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importantly, carry on the lane
of the line of David within the
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walls of Jerusalem.
Then, brothers and sisters,
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you’ll have all the principles
within an ecclesia, high points
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and low points, tension, a
crisis.
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Men who sometimes are being
leaned on by others, but who in
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the hour of crisis sometimes
themselves show themselves to
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have feet of clay.
Every one of them was forced to
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ultimately trust upon God, not
simply Isaiah, not just their
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faithful king.
They were all faith to forced to
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look to heaven for an answer.
Now it’s interesting when you
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consider this little group, as
it were, in the walls of
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Jerusalem in this hour of
crisis, with all these cross
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currents of tensions and
difficulties.
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Trying the hearts of all that
remnant within the walls to look
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at some of the Psalms that throw
some light on the beautiful
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figure that was nevertheless
being shown by those who were in
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fellowship together during this
crisis.
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Let’s just go to Psalm 122, one
of the songs of degrees.
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We’ve mentioned earlier that
there’s good indication that
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these songs were collected and
some of them written by
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Hezekiah.
That is from Psalm 1:20 to 1:34.
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But we’re going to look at Psalm
122.
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It’s a Psalm of David, but no
doubt collected by Hezekiah as
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part of this group, as one of
the songs of degrees, with a
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possible echo there of the
degrees of the dial that went
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back during Hezekiah’s years of
experience.
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No doubt there was an
appropriateness to the Assyrian
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crisis from this song of David.
Now consider that crisis with
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these words in mind, verse 1,
Psalm 122.
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I was glad when they said unto
me, Let us go into the House of
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the Lord.
Our feet shall stand within thy
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gate, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded as a city
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that is compact together.
Now that word compact has the
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idea of fellowship behind it.
The Septuagint Greek renders
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verse 3 as follows.
Jerusalem is built as a city
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whose fellowship is complete.
Jerusalem is built as a city
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whose fellowship is complete.
What fellowship there was within
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those walls in the various hours
of crisis in Israel’s history.
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Now, though, David is obviously
thinking of certain
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circumstances in his own life.
How appropriate these sympathies
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are at the time of Hezekiah.
A city with the faithful remnant
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within the walls, a fellowship
in the hour of crisis.
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Whither, says the psalmist, the
tribes go up, the tribes of the
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Lord, unto the testimony of
Israel, to give thanks unto the
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name of the Lord.
Verse 6.
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How appropriate this was as a
song that would have been sung
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in Hezekiah’s day.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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Now we pray for that in our
hymns, and no doubt in our
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prayers.
But how relevant that would be
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to those within those pressured
walls.
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Like a Crucible He did from
without, and the faithful
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within, testing and trying their
faith.
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Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
how Hezekiah prayed, and how the
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people must have prayed for
peace.
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Peace be within thy walls, and
prosperity within thy palaces.
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For my brethren and companion’s
sake, I will now say, peace be
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within thee.
Look over at Psalm 124, another
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song of degrees, another of
David, no doubt collected for
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this occasion as well.
It was appropriate to the
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circumstances we’ve been
describing.
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Psalm 124, verse one.
If it had not been the Lord who
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was on our side, now may Israel
say, if it had not been the Lord
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who was on our side when men
rose up against us, then they
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had swallowed us up quick, and
their rock was kindled against
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us.
Now the language typical in
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Isaiah of the waters of
invasion.
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Then the waters had overwhelmed
us like Isaiah ate.
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The waters had overwhelmed us.
The dream had gone over our
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soul.
Now think of Rabchaka, who’s
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described as proud in the Kings
and Chronicles account, verse 5.
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Then the proud waters had gone
over our soul.
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But what had, as I ate promised,
the waters would come, they
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would overflow, they would cover
thy land, O Emmanuel, and they
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will go up to the neck.
And the psalmist is saying the
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waters have come, but they
didn’t swallow us up.
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The waters would have
overwhelmed us, would have gone
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over our soul.
The proud waters would have gone
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totally over us if it wasn’t for
God.
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Verse 6 Blessed be the Lord who
hath not given us as a prey to
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their teeth.
Look at how the enemies describe
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as a vicious monster.
Our soul is escaped as a bird.
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Now on the Taylor prism that we
showed you the other evening,
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the translation in English shows
that on one side the nacre of
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describes on the Taylor prism
the fact that he had besieged
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Jerusalem in the crisis.
And he says, and we quote from
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Sennacherib’s own pen as it
were, he says, I caged up
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Hezekiah the Jew as a bird.
That’s the language right on the
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Taylor prism.
I caged him up as a bird, and
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thus those in this crisis with
David and likewise it’s
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00:16:03,120 –> 00:16:05,120
application to the days of
Hezekiah.
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00:16:05,320 –> 00:16:09,600
So very appropriate.
Our soul is escaped as a bird
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00:16:10,040 –> 00:16:13,600
out of the snare of the fowlers.
The snare is broken and we are
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00:16:13,600 –> 00:16:16,880
escaped.
Our help is in the name of the
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00:16:16,880 –> 00:16:21,000
Lord who made heaven and earth.
You see how you can read these
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00:16:21,000 –> 00:16:26,400
songs of degrees from 1:20 to
1:34, and they will enrich our
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00:16:26,400 –> 00:16:30,680
appreciation of the sympathy of
the events as well as the
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00:16:30,680 –> 00:16:34,840
sentiments that must have been
flowing amongst those
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00:16:34,840 –> 00:16:37,760
individuals within the walls in
that hour of crisis.
225
00:16:38,440 –> 00:16:41,080
And we can take these psalms,
brothers and sisters, to
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00:16:41,080 –> 00:16:44,080
ourselves and all the
circumstances that we’ve
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00:16:44,080 –> 00:16:48,760
considered this past week.
All of us have crises at times,
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00:16:49,440 –> 00:16:53,720
events that test us and try our
hearts on a smaller scale, no
229
00:16:53,720 –> 00:16:56,320
doubt.
But when you’re tempted to say
230
00:16:56,320 –> 00:17:02,640
why me and why now think of
Hezekiah, think of all that was
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00:17:02,640 –> 00:17:06,440
on his shoulders, all the
sources of frustration and
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00:17:06,440 –> 00:17:11,280
potential despair, and think
that the answer was prayer and
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00:17:11,280 –> 00:17:14,040
trust.
It’s like the experience of the
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00:17:14,040 –> 00:17:18,319
apostle Paul who said in
Corinthians, Speaking of all the
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00:17:18,319 –> 00:17:22,040
difficulties that were upon his
shoulders, all the care of the
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00:17:22,040 –> 00:17:25,079
ecclesias.
He said, didn’t he, that there
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00:17:25,079 –> 00:17:29,520
were fears from within and
fighting without?
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00:17:30,200 –> 00:17:34,600
How appropriate, as it captures
circumstances that have repeated
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00:17:34,600 –> 00:17:39,000
themselves in ecclesial life and
the life of individuals down
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00:17:39,000 –> 00:17:41,960
through the years.
It’s not foreign to the
241
00:17:41,960 –> 00:17:44,080
experience of faithful
disciples.
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00:17:46,080 –> 00:17:51,440
Micah chapter 2.
We’ve said time and again that
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00:17:51,440 –> 00:17:55,800
Micah’s prophecy throws light on
the prophecy of Isaiah and
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00:17:55,800 –> 00:17:58,320
especially on the years of the
Assyrian crisis.
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00:18:00,040 –> 00:18:04,520
There is a lovely section here
describing this faithful little
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00:18:04,520 –> 00:18:08,120
remnant within the walls of
Jerusalem in this hour of
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00:18:08,120 –> 00:18:11,920
crisis.
May I suggest the King James
248
00:18:11,920 –> 00:18:14,720
doesn’t do complete justice to
the sentiments?
249
00:18:16,200 –> 00:18:20,680
The NIV and other modern
translations are helpful here.
250
00:18:21,360 –> 00:18:25,960
So I’m going to read Micah
chapter 2 verses 12 to the end
251
00:18:26,240 –> 00:18:30,480
from the NIVI Think it captures
the scene a little more clearly.
252
00:18:31,680 –> 00:18:35,960
Micah 2 verse 12.
Now remember Micah is
253
00:18:35,960 –> 00:18:42,600
prophesying at this time.
Verse 12 says, God, I will
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00:18:42,600 –> 00:18:48,480
surely gather all of you.
Oh, Jacob, I will surely bring
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00:18:48,480 –> 00:18:54,360
together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like
256
00:18:54,920 –> 00:18:58,800
sheep in a pen.
Now that’s the key phrase in the
257
00:18:58,800 –> 00:19:01,880
modern translations that comes
out just a little more crisp.
258
00:19:03,040 –> 00:19:05,840
I will bring them together like
sheep in a pen.
259
00:19:06,280 –> 00:19:10,880
What’s the picture?
It’s Jerusalem whose walls are
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00:19:10,880 –> 00:19:15,440
compact together, like the walls
in the bonds of fellowship
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00:19:15,440 –> 00:19:17,800
between brethren.
Here’s the picture.
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00:19:18,480 –> 00:19:23,040
I will bring them together like
sheep in a pen, like a flock in
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00:19:23,040 –> 00:19:27,120
its pasture.
The place will throng with
264
00:19:27,120 –> 00:19:28,800
people.
That’s the sense of the
265
00:19:28,800 –> 00:19:31,400
original.
The place will throng with
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00:19:31,400 –> 00:19:35,640
people.
One who breaks open the way.
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00:19:35,800 –> 00:19:40,000
This is the Angel of God.
One who breaks open the way will
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00:19:40,000 –> 00:19:42,880
go up before them.
That’s the sheep.
269
00:19:44,160 –> 00:19:49,360
They will breakthrough the gate
and go out their king.
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00:19:49,440 –> 00:19:53,320
Who’s that?
Their king will pass through
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00:19:53,320 –> 00:19:56,760
before them, the Lord at their
hand.
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00:19:57,600 –> 00:20:01,200
What a picture of the Assyrian
crisis in the encirclement
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00:20:01,200 –> 00:20:04,960
around the walls of Jerusalem
and there within.
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00:20:05,400 –> 00:20:10,640
Those walls, those people who
were standing in relationship to
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00:20:10,640 –> 00:20:16,120
Zion, of whom the psalmist, as
we read yesterday, said Psalm 87
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00:20:16,400 –> 00:20:19,320
sluts.
And such a man or woman was born
277
00:20:19,320 –> 00:20:23,080
there.
All my springs are found in
278
00:20:23,080 –> 00:20:27,360
thee, said Psalm 87.
And our attachment and their
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00:20:27,360 –> 00:20:31,880
attachment to Zion, the symbol
of God’s covenant with David and
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00:20:31,880 –> 00:20:36,760
with Abraham, the promises of
true hope, the true answers of
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00:20:36,760 –> 00:20:39,960
prayer, all our solemnities are
in thee.
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00:20:40,000 –> 00:20:45,120
Scripture says elsewhere there,
situated within those walls in
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00:20:45,120 –> 00:20:49,440
the right place, attached to the
promises of truth, was a
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00:20:49,440 –> 00:20:52,640
faithful remnant.
And they were viewed by God as
285
00:20:52,640 –> 00:20:56,800
sheep in a pen.
And the one who would break open
286
00:20:56,800 –> 00:21:01,240
the way, the Angel of God, who
would destroy the enemies before
287
00:21:01,240 –> 00:21:06,200
them, break open the gate and
allow the king, the righteous
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00:21:06,200 –> 00:21:10,640
king, to pass out, and God being
at their head.
289
00:21:11,720 –> 00:21:15,360
Now, with those kind of images
in mind, it’s helpful to read
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00:21:15,360 –> 00:21:19,880
Isaiah carefully from beginning
to end, especially the second
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00:21:19,880 –> 00:21:24,080
part, looking always brothers
and sisters, for the allusions
292
00:21:24,080 –> 00:21:28,000
to the contemporary events and
then seeing their messianic
293
00:21:28,000 –> 00:21:32,200
importance.
We gave attention yesterday to
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00:21:32,200 –> 00:21:36,120
the title Emmanuel, and we tried
to show that there were
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00:21:36,120 –> 00:21:41,680
circumstances in Hezekiah’s day
which clearly demonstrated the
296
00:21:41,680 –> 00:21:46,520
reality of Emmanuel then and
there, God with us.
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00:21:47,400 –> 00:21:50,160
We suggest, brothers and
sisters, that there was some Old
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00:21:50,160 –> 00:21:54,760
Testament background in the law,
in fact, that prepared for an
299
00:21:54,760 –> 00:22:00,320
understanding of this Emmanuel
concept, and that as we work it
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00:22:00,320 –> 00:22:06,240
through, we see that in Hezekiah
himself, in a shadowy way, there
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00:22:06,240 –> 00:22:10,720
was one who was Emmanuel in the
days of Isaiah.
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00:22:11,280 –> 00:22:15,800
In the righteous King Hezekiah,
we see so much of what he did,
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00:22:16,360 –> 00:22:19,880
the kind of leadership he
provided, the stresses and
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00:22:19,880 –> 00:22:25,000
trials that were placed upon his
shoulders for him to bear, and
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00:22:25,000 –> 00:22:27,000
his own personal righteous
example.
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00:22:27,560 –> 00:22:32,920
The fact that he was childless
like Isaiah 53, who shall
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00:22:32,920 –> 00:22:35,600
declare his generation, for He
had none.
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00:22:35,600 –> 00:22:39,360
In the crisis, it looked as
though his house would be
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00:22:39,360 –> 00:22:42,840
barren, but in the end, he saw
his seed.
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00:22:42,840 –> 00:22:47,520
Did Hezekiah as Messiah would in
a greater sense and
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00:22:47,520 –> 00:22:53,160
significantly, Isaiah 53 said
that God would prolong his days.
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00:22:53,400 –> 00:22:57,960
Messiah, whose days were
prolonged in the days of Isaiah
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00:22:57,960 –> 00:23:02,000
the prophet, none other than
Hezekiah, some extra 15 years
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00:23:02,320 –> 00:23:06,280
added to his life as a kind of
second life, as it were.
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00:23:07,200 –> 00:23:15,720
Now, Deuteronomy 31, the word
Emmanuel is made-up of one very
316
00:23:15,720 –> 00:23:21,200
significant section in the word
E man U, which means with us.
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00:23:22,440 –> 00:23:26,000
Now that’s a trigger phrase
found elsewhere in Scripture,
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00:23:26,000 –> 00:23:29,160
but I think one of the most
telling sections before we come
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00:23:29,160 –> 00:23:39,160
to Hezekiah is in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy chapter 31 in Man U
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00:23:40,080 –> 00:23:46,120
with us in relationship to God’s
promised help is found quite
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00:23:46,120 –> 00:23:53,800
tellingly in this context of
Deuteronomy 31 verse 3.
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00:23:55,560 –> 00:24:00,760
The Lord thy God, he will go
over before thee, and he will
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00:24:00,760 –> 00:24:04,320
destroy these nations from
before thee, and thou shalt
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00:24:04,320 –> 00:24:08,400
possess them.
And Joshua, he shall go over
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00:24:08,400 –> 00:24:10,600
before thee, as the Lord hath
said.
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00:24:11,040 –> 00:24:13,680
We certainly have a keener
appreciation of what that meant
327
00:24:14,360 –> 00:24:17,240
as we listen to our brother this
morning dealing with Joshua.
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00:24:17,640 –> 00:24:24,040
Now verse 6, Be strong and of
good courage, Fear not, nor be
329
00:24:24,040 –> 00:24:29,200
afraid of them, the enemy, the
Canaanites, for the Lord thy
330
00:24:29,200 –> 00:24:37,400
God, he it is that doth go with
thee, M man U.
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00:24:37,600 –> 00:24:42,680
There it is in verse 6.
In the original it’s there with
332
00:24:42,880 –> 00:24:47,640
thee, M man U.
It occurs again in verse 8.
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00:24:48,840 –> 00:24:52,200
And the Lord, he it is that doth
go before thee.
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00:24:52,600 –> 00:24:59,800
He will be with thee in man U,
He will be with thee.
335
00:25:00,640 –> 00:25:03,640
Now we haven’t time to explore
the full context of Deuteronomy
336
00:25:03,640 –> 00:25:07,080
31, but this much is clear,
bearing in mind what we’ve been
337
00:25:07,080 –> 00:25:10,960
considering in Joshua.
Before they went into the land
338
00:25:10,960 –> 00:25:15,800
under Joshua, the people were
told one fundamental lesson with
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00:25:15,800 –> 00:25:21,160
a very important trigger phrase.
You will go into the land and I
340
00:25:21,160 –> 00:25:27,240
promise Emmanuel, I promise to
be with thee.
341
00:25:28,640 –> 00:25:34,400
Thus when we come to the promise
of Emmanuel as a title and
342
00:25:34,400 –> 00:25:38,760
Isaiah 7 in the Emmanuel
prophecies, there was a former
343
00:25:38,760 –> 00:25:41,480
Old Testament foundation for
that revelation.
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00:25:42,400 –> 00:25:46,920
Emmanuel was promised in the
days of Joshua before they
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00:25:46,920 –> 00:25:51,720
confronted the enemy.
So when they confront the enemy
346
00:25:51,720 –> 00:25:56,640
in the days of Hezekiah and
they’re told by promise that God
347
00:25:56,640 –> 00:26:00,720
will be Emmanuel, they knew what
it meant.
348
00:26:01,280 –> 00:26:04,000
Those who were discerning and
knew their Old Testaments.
349
00:26:04,640 –> 00:26:09,040
God had said, I will be with you
before the Canaanites, and no
350
00:26:09,040 –> 00:26:13,280
doubt then He will be with
Hezekiah and the people.
351
00:26:14,320 –> 00:26:17,800
Now Deuteronomy, excuse me.
From there we go to Chronicles
352
00:26:18,720 –> 00:26:24,440
back to the time of Hezekiah and
Isaiah for the name, or not the
353
00:26:24,440 –> 00:26:28,600
name, but the part of the word
is employed very significantly
354
00:26:28,600 –> 00:26:35,040
in Second Chronicles chapter 32.
And it’s here that we come
355
00:26:35,040 –> 00:26:41,160
closer and closer to the hints
provided by these texts that
356
00:26:41,160 –> 00:26:45,600
Emmanuel was being worked out in
a temporary way, in a limited
357
00:26:45,600 –> 00:26:47,640
way, through the person of
Hezekiah.
358
00:26:48,960 –> 00:26:54,560
Deuteronomy chapter 32.
Here are the words of the
359
00:26:54,560 –> 00:26:58,440
faithful king, the righteous
king to the faithful remnants
360
00:26:58,440 –> 00:27:02,920
within the walls.
Verse 7, Second Chronicles 32.
361
00:27:03,360 –> 00:27:05,760
Listen to his exhortation,
brothers and sisters.
362
00:27:06,600 –> 00:27:11,040
He exhorts them in verse 7,
chapter 32.
363
00:27:12,440 –> 00:27:16,920
Be strong and courageous.
Be not afraid nor dismayed for
364
00:27:16,920 –> 00:27:20,960
the king of Assyria, nor for all
the multitude that is with Him,
365
00:27:22,400 –> 00:27:26,080
for there be more with us than
with Him.
366
00:27:26,920 –> 00:27:33,680
With him is an arm of flesh, but
Emmanuel is Yahweh.
367
00:27:34,480 –> 00:27:40,040
There it is in the original.
With us is Emmanuel.
368
00:27:40,040 –> 00:27:42,240
If you have the Hebrew text in
front of you, you can see it for
369
00:27:42,240 –> 00:27:45,160
yourselves.
With Him is an arm of flesh.
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00:27:45,760 –> 00:27:51,240
But said Hezekiah in menu is
Yahweh, our God, to help us and
371
00:27:51,240 –> 00:27:55,520
to fight our battles.
And the people rested, look at
372
00:27:55,520 –> 00:28:02,440
the margin, leaned themselves
upon the word of Hezekiah, king
373
00:28:02,440 –> 00:28:04,480
of Judah.
Now if there aren’t some
374
00:28:04,480 –> 00:28:08,320
messianic overtones in that
context, I don’t know what you
375
00:28:08,320 –> 00:28:12,560
could ever expect to find.
As a better example, here is a
376
00:28:12,560 –> 00:28:17,640
righteous king whose name meant
Yah is strength.
377
00:28:18,440 –> 00:28:22,720
He exhorts his people.
He speaks to them comfortably by
378
00:28:22,720 –> 00:28:24,760
weight of by word of
exhortation.
379
00:28:25,360 –> 00:28:31,320
He says to them, Emmanue, God is
with us, He will fight our
380
00:28:31,320 –> 00:28:34,320
battles.
And the people listening to
381
00:28:34,320 –> 00:28:40,800
Hezekiah’s words lean themselves
upon the words that come out of
382
00:28:40,800 –> 00:28:45,080
the mouth of this king, This
righteous, faithful king,
383
00:28:46,360 –> 00:28:50,480
overtones, no doubt, of the
Emmanuel prophecies.
384
00:28:50,840 –> 00:28:53,880
No wonder it said in chapter 8
that when the Assyrian came down
385
00:28:53,880 –> 00:28:59,160
like a flood and overspread the
wings and flooded the land, it
386
00:28:59,160 –> 00:29:06,440
said, Thy land, O Emmanuel, one
through whom God would show
387
00:29:06,440 –> 00:29:11,600
himself, nay, prove himself to
be with his people.
388
00:29:12,160 –> 00:29:13,360
But there’s more to it than
that.
389
00:29:13,640 –> 00:29:18,520
This little context for Hezekiah
has a play upon his own name,
390
00:29:19,200 –> 00:29:24,480
verse 7, Be strong.
It’s a word play, no doubt upon
391
00:29:24,480 –> 00:29:28,360
his own name.
For the word strong in verse 7
392
00:29:28,960 –> 00:29:35,080
is the word Hizaku, 3/4 of
Hezekiah’s name.
393
00:29:35,520 –> 00:29:39,880
His name meant, remember,
strength of Yahweh or Yahweh is
394
00:29:39,880 –> 00:29:41,480
strength.
Either way is fine.
395
00:29:42,080 –> 00:29:48,200
So he says to them, here’s the
coup, be strong and courageous.
396
00:29:48,400 –> 00:29:54,840
Then in verse 8 he reminds them
of the Emanu principle, God with
397
00:29:54,840 –> 00:29:58,240
us.
How powerful that exhortation
398
00:29:58,240 –> 00:30:01,560
was and how much it shows,
brothers and sisters, that in a
399
00:30:01,560 –> 00:30:05,840
contemporary application, there
was a sense in which Hezekiah
400
00:30:05,840 –> 00:30:12,560
demonstrated the promise, the
reality of the Emmanuel promise.
401
00:30:12,760 –> 00:30:15,840
God will be with us.
So he was.
402
00:30:17,360 –> 00:30:21,040
Let’s go back to Psalms.
It’s a little Psalm that’s worth
403
00:30:21,040 –> 00:30:24,720
looking at in this context,
Psalm 46.
404
00:30:27,480 –> 00:30:32,600
Some Jewish traditions attribute
Psalm 46 to Hezekiah.
405
00:30:33,200 –> 00:30:38,040
It can’t be proven, but there’s
no doubt as you look at Psalm
406
00:30:38,040 –> 00:30:43,280
46, that there are some very
important parallels to the
407
00:30:43,280 –> 00:30:48,200
experience of the Assyrian
crisis, the promise of Emmanuel,
408
00:30:49,200 –> 00:30:53,680
and the way it worked through
the example and faithfulness of
409
00:30:53,680 –> 00:30:56,800
Hezekiah.
Now yesterday we mentioned the
410
00:30:56,800 –> 00:31:01,800
rivers, the great rivers of
Euphrates, which were to portray
411
00:31:02,320 –> 00:31:05,560
the overflowing streams of the
Assyrian invasion.
412
00:31:06,440 –> 00:31:12,520
And yesterday, in contrast, we
noticed that God working through
413
00:31:12,520 –> 00:31:18,240
his promises, the Davidic line
ever so silently and quietly,
414
00:31:18,800 –> 00:31:23,480
and God’s offer of salvation
ultimately coming through Jesus
415
00:31:23,480 –> 00:31:28,320
Christ, out of whose belly would
flow waters that were living,
416
00:31:29,040 –> 00:31:32,600
The waters of Shiloh that came
out from underneath that temple
417
00:31:32,880 –> 00:31:39,520
ever so mysteriously but ever so
surely were parabolic of the
418
00:31:39,520 –> 00:31:42,440
waters spiritual.
And we explored that briefly
419
00:31:42,440 –> 00:31:46,480
yesterday.
Now notice in Psalm 46 how the
420
00:31:46,480 –> 00:31:52,560
language of flowing living
waters are intertwined with the
421
00:31:52,560 –> 00:31:57,840
thought of Emmanuel verse one,
and the context, as you can see
422
00:31:57,840 –> 00:32:01,560
here is the threat of an enemy
without first one.
423
00:32:01,800 –> 00:32:05,320
God is our refuge, just as He
would have been needed to have
424
00:32:05,320 –> 00:32:10,000
been in the crisis and strength.
Part of Hezekiah’s name is here,
425
00:32:10,040 –> 00:32:14,440
his Aku, once again a very
present help in trouble.
426
00:32:15,880 –> 00:32:20,680
Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed, and
427
00:32:20,680 –> 00:32:23,040
though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea?
428
00:32:23,480 –> 00:32:26,680
Now the imagery of waters in two
senses.
429
00:32:27,080 –> 00:32:30,160
Verse three.
Though the waters thereof roar
430
00:32:30,440 –> 00:32:33,600
and be troubled, though the
mountains shaped with the
431
00:32:33,600 –> 00:32:37,560
swelling thereof.
The Assyrian crisis in mind.
432
00:32:38,040 –> 00:32:41,120
Verse 4.
Despite those waters, the
433
00:32:41,120 –> 00:32:48,120
psalmist says, there is a river,
the streams whereof shall make
434
00:32:48,120 –> 00:32:54,400
glad the city of God, the holy
place of the tabernacles of the
435
00:32:54,400 –> 00:32:57,000
Most High.
Now there once again you have
436
00:32:57,000 –> 00:33:01,760
these two types of waters, the
great, mighty, troubled waters
437
00:33:01,760 –> 00:33:05,680
that are a threat.
But for the man of God, the
438
00:33:05,680 –> 00:33:10,000
faithful brother and sister,
knows and trusts that
439
00:33:10,000 –> 00:33:14,240
nevertheless, no matter how much
the waves of adversity and the
440
00:33:14,240 –> 00:33:20,680
waves of the world threaten and
beat against our walls, there is
441
00:33:20,680 –> 00:33:26,200
a river, the streams whereof
will make glad the city of God.
442
00:33:26,240 –> 00:33:29,240
What’s the city of God?
Zion, Jerusalem.
443
00:33:29,600 –> 00:33:32,080
Based on real experience are
these words.
444
00:33:32,360 –> 00:33:37,520
For from the city of God came
streams and waters mysteriously
445
00:33:37,520 –> 00:33:40,440
from under the mount.
Verse 5.
446
00:33:40,440 –> 00:33:42,680
Think again of Hezekiah’s
experience.
447
00:33:43,240 –> 00:33:48,920
God is in the midst of her.
She shall not be moved.
448
00:33:49,520 –> 00:33:53,240
God’s promise through Isaiah
when he responded to Hezekiah’s
449
00:33:53,240 –> 00:33:57,880
request.
God shall help her and that
450
00:33:58,280 –> 00:34:03,680
right early Now watch this
margin here if you have one that
451
00:34:03,680 –> 00:34:08,400
right early doesn’t seem to be
as forceful as the original God
452
00:34:08,400 –> 00:34:11,360
is in the midst of her.
It should read she shall not be
453
00:34:11,360 –> 00:34:17,639
moved now your margin.
God shall help her when the
454
00:34:17,639 –> 00:34:24,280
morning appeareth and the kings
and chronicles records tell us
455
00:34:24,600 –> 00:34:28,960
that in the morning they looked
out and the Assyrian were dead
456
00:34:28,960 –> 00:34:34,400
men in the morning.
Verse 6 past tense.
457
00:34:34,400 –> 00:34:37,080
Now looking back the heathen
rage.
458
00:34:37,080 –> 00:34:40,199
The kingdoms were moved so they
were all around Judah.
459
00:34:40,639 –> 00:34:43,199
He uttered his voice.
The earth melted.
460
00:34:43,719 –> 00:34:51,040
The Lord of hosts is Emmanuel.
There it is again, verse 7.
461
00:34:51,600 –> 00:34:54,520
The Lord of hosts is Emmanuel
with us.
462
00:34:55,000 –> 00:34:59,680
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the
463
00:34:59,680 –> 00:35:03,520
Lord as they did that day, as
they went out that morning and
464
00:35:03,520 –> 00:35:05,920
looked beyond the gates or over
the walls.
465
00:35:06,240 –> 00:35:09,520
Behold the works of the Lord.
What are they?
466
00:35:10,400 –> 00:35:15,320
What desolations He hath made in
the earth he maketh wars to
467
00:35:15,320 –> 00:35:18,040
cease, and so he did on to the
end of the earth.
468
00:35:18,640 –> 00:35:22,120
He breaketh the bowl.
Remember Micah 2.
469
00:35:22,240 –> 00:35:27,040
The breaker, right God was the
breaker through his Angel, but
470
00:35:27,040 –> 00:35:30,400
he broke the bows of the one who
thought he was the breaker.
471
00:35:30,760 –> 00:35:34,760
He breaketh the bowl and cut it
the spear in sunder.
472
00:35:35,120 –> 00:35:37,560
He burneth the chariot in the
fire.
473
00:35:38,960 –> 00:35:44,120
Be still, says the word of God,
and know that I am God.
474
00:35:44,320 –> 00:35:47,320
Be still.
That’s exactly what Hezekiah
475
00:35:47,320 –> 00:35:51,120
told them.
The King’s account tells us that
476
00:35:51,120 –> 00:35:55,520
it was upon the command of King
Hezekiah that they say not a
477
00:35:55,520 –> 00:35:59,520
word.
And be silent before the railing
478
00:35:59,520 –> 00:36:02,280
words of Rabshaka.
Be silent, said the king.
479
00:36:02,400 –> 00:36:06,440
Say not a word.
And so be still, and know that I
480
00:36:06,440 –> 00:36:09,560
am God.
I will be exalted among the
481
00:36:09,560 –> 00:36:12,960
heathen.
So it was, brothers and sisters,
482
00:36:12,960 –> 00:36:16,280
by way of Messianic portent for
kings.
483
00:36:16,280 –> 00:36:20,000
And Chronicles shows us that
once the Assyrian had been
484
00:36:20,000 –> 00:36:26,480
destroyed, as Chronicles shows,
other nations sent presents and
485
00:36:26,480 –> 00:36:31,600
tokens of tribute to Hezekiah as
a result of the destruction of
486
00:36:31,600 –> 00:36:34,360
the enemy.
I will be exalted among the
487
00:36:34,360 –> 00:36:36,520
heathen.
I will be exalted in the earth.
488
00:36:36,760 –> 00:36:41,080
The Lord of hosts is once again
Emanu.
489
00:36:42,840 –> 00:36:48,360
Go back to Chronicles now, if
you will look at how these
490
00:36:48,400 –> 00:36:54,240
messianic applications all
circle around this experience
491
00:36:54,240 –> 00:36:58,480
with Hezekiah.
Detail after detail mounts up to
492
00:36:58,480 –> 00:37:03,040
show that the Messianic
prophecies of Messiah were
493
00:37:03,040 –> 00:37:07,600
partially realized by the people
who needed them right then and
494
00:37:07,600 –> 00:37:12,240
there, not just two or three
thousand years in advance, or
495
00:37:12,240 –> 00:37:13,760
two or three hundred years in
advance.
496
00:37:14,240 –> 00:37:21,080
Second Chronicles 32 following
these events.
497
00:37:21,120 –> 00:37:26,080
Just notice what’s said here.
Second Chronicles 32 and verse
498
00:37:26,080 –> 00:37:33,000
22.
Here in Second Chronicles 32 and
499
00:37:33,000 –> 00:37:37,000
verse 22 it’s a follow up
comment from the destruction of
500
00:37:37,000 –> 00:37:40,200
the Assyrians.
But think of that Psalm as we
501
00:37:40,200 –> 00:37:42,880
read these words.
Verse 22.
502
00:37:43,360 –> 00:37:52,560
Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and
the inhabitants, and the
503
00:37:52,560 –> 00:38:01,640
inhabitants of Judah, the land,
the country, no, the inhabitants
504
00:38:01,640 –> 00:38:05,640
of Jerusalem.
Those who were in Jerusalem were
505
00:38:05,640 –> 00:38:11,160
saved from the hand of
Sennacherib the king of Assyria,
506
00:38:11,760 –> 00:38:17,600
and from the hand of all the
other, and guided them on every
507
00:38:17,600 –> 00:38:20,920
side.
Now the word guide in the Hebrew
508
00:38:20,920 –> 00:38:25,160
means to lead.
He led them on every side.
509
00:38:26,800 –> 00:38:29,680
What did that Psalm?
Excuse me, What did that passage
510
00:38:29,680 –> 00:38:34,200
in Micah two say?
Micah Two said that they were in
511
00:38:34,200 –> 00:38:40,400
a pen like sheep.
So now Micah 2 throws light on
512
00:38:40,400 –> 00:38:44,920
the force of verse 22.
He led them on every side.
513
00:38:45,320 –> 00:38:48,880
Why use that kind of language
about the remnant within the
514
00:38:48,880 –> 00:38:52,280
walls of Jerusalem?
Because as Micah 2 has shown us,
515
00:38:52,600 –> 00:38:56,760
they were like sheep in a pen,
and God was their shepherd
516
00:38:56,760 –> 00:39:00,680
working through Hezekiah.
But look at verse 23.
517
00:39:01,880 –> 00:39:05,600
The psalmist says that we just
read in Psalm 46 that many
518
00:39:05,600 –> 00:39:09,560
nations would praise God for the
greatness of this victory.
519
00:39:09,800 –> 00:39:14,680
And so, as will happen in a
greater scale in the future, to
520
00:39:14,680 –> 00:39:18,840
the Lord Jesus Christ on Mount
Zion when He sets up His temple
521
00:39:18,960 –> 00:39:24,080
and His throne.
Verse 23 And many brought gifts
522
00:39:24,160 –> 00:39:29,880
unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and
presence to Hezekiah king of
523
00:39:29,880 –> 00:39:36,840
Judah, so that he was magnified
in the sight of all nations from
524
00:39:36,840 –> 00:39:39,760
thenceforth.
Doesn’t that provide brothers
525
00:39:39,760 –> 00:39:43,920
and sisters a master key to an
understanding of those well
526
00:39:43,920 –> 00:39:46,320
known Christadelphian passages
in Isaiah?
527
00:39:47,040 –> 00:39:50,520
Where in Isaiah chapter 2 the
word of the Lord goes forth from
528
00:39:50,520 –> 00:39:54,520
Jerusalem, all nations flowing
onto Zion?
529
00:39:55,320 –> 00:40:00,320
Isaiah Chapter 11.
All those passages in Isaiah
530
00:40:00,560 –> 00:40:03,960
that describe the nation’s
coming and giving tribute to
531
00:40:03,960 –> 00:40:10,920
Messiah all had a partial
temporary application right here
532
00:40:11,200 –> 00:40:15,600
in the experience of Hezekiah
and the faithful remnant.
533
00:40:17,000 –> 00:40:21,080
What a powerful background to
consider, and how much more
534
00:40:21,280 –> 00:40:26,160
those words of Isaiah have
meaning, tangible meaning, to
535
00:40:26,160 –> 00:40:29,280
the people of his own day.
We’ve always got to ask
536
00:40:29,280 –> 00:40:31,760
ourselves, as Tekka said this
and I heard Maurice say it as
537
00:40:31,760 –> 00:40:35,760
well during this week, what did
this mean to the contemporaries?
538
00:40:36,480 –> 00:40:39,880
And perhaps the words of those
messianic passages we’re so
539
00:40:39,880 –> 00:40:44,920
familiar with, like Isaiah 2 and
Isaiah 11, are so grand and
540
00:40:44,920 –> 00:40:49,120
magnificent in their scale that
we think there’s no possibility
541
00:40:49,120 –> 00:40:52,280
that they could have had any
meaning to Isaiah and his
542
00:40:52,280 –> 00:40:54,960
contemporaries.
Perhaps now we know better.
543
00:40:55,520 –> 00:41:00,000
For as people stood back and
watched after the Assyrian
544
00:41:00,000 –> 00:41:06,320
crisis, nations all around
sending gifts, presents, tribute
545
00:41:06,480 –> 00:41:11,480
to Jerusalem to magnify
Hezekiah, king of Judah.
546
00:41:12,240 –> 00:41:16,280
There was being worked out in
those days, but a microcosm of
547
00:41:16,280 –> 00:41:20,200
something much greater.
When Jesus Christ will come to
548
00:41:20,200 –> 00:41:24,040
Jerusalem, where he will place
his throne in the midst of all
549
00:41:24,040 –> 00:41:28,680
nations, and as a result of
having shown his strength, all
550
00:41:28,680 –> 00:41:30,640
nations will bring tribute to
him.
551
00:41:33,120 –> 00:41:40,840
Now, brothers and sisters, back
to Isaiah, keeping in mind that
552
00:41:40,840 –> 00:41:47,000
beautiful background in the
events of those days, how do you
553
00:41:47,000 –> 00:41:52,800
think Hezekiah and his little
flock of sheep within that pen
554
00:41:52,800 –> 00:41:56,360
in the walls of Jerusalem?
How do you think they would have
555
00:41:56,360 –> 00:41:58,600
understood these words from
Isaiah?
556
00:41:58,600 –> 00:42:02,600
And there are many others
typical in the prophecy, but
557
00:42:02,600 –> 00:42:04,920
think of them in contemporary
events first.
558
00:42:05,680 –> 00:42:08,400
Isaiah 55.
How do you think they would have
559
00:42:08,400 –> 00:42:15,520
understood this when Isaiah
uttered these words in the ears
560
00:42:15,520 –> 00:42:19,560
of his listeners in the years of
Hezekiah, king of Judah?
561
00:42:20,520 –> 00:42:25,320
Verse one, hear Isaiah speaking
to the midst of Israel in
562
00:42:25,320 –> 00:42:29,040
Jerusalem.
Ho spoke the prophet.
563
00:42:29,720 –> 00:42:36,960
Ho everyone that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters, and he that
564
00:42:36,960 –> 00:42:39,760
hath no money, come ye buy and
eat.
565
00:42:39,960 –> 00:42:44,960
Yeah, come buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
566
00:42:46,160 –> 00:42:50,640
Verse 3.
Incline your ear, and come unto
567
00:42:50,640 –> 00:42:55,160
me hear, and your soul shall
live, and I will make an
568
00:42:55,160 –> 00:42:59,520
everlasting covenant with you,
even the sure mercies of David.
569
00:43:00,160 –> 00:43:02,520
So what was the water that was
offered?
570
00:43:03,400 –> 00:43:07,440
Verse one, What was it?
Well, verse 3 tells us the
571
00:43:07,440 –> 00:43:12,360
waters that are offered.
The spiritual drink is in verse
572
00:43:12,360 –> 00:43:18,960
3 expressed as I will make an
everlasting covenant with you.
573
00:43:20,120 –> 00:43:24,240
Even the sure mercies of David.
There it is.
574
00:43:25,400 –> 00:43:30,640
The sure mercies of David are
the waters offered by Messiah.
575
00:43:31,320 –> 00:43:36,240
But in the days of Hezekiah, no
doubt, the springs of Gahon, the
576
00:43:36,240 –> 00:43:40,600
waters that kept percolating
underneath that Temple Mount,
577
00:43:41,040 –> 00:43:44,520
the waters that sustained the
throngs of people within that
578
00:43:44,520 –> 00:43:48,200
sheepin while they were
besieged, the waters that gave
579
00:43:48,200 –> 00:43:53,000
them drink all during the time
of the siege, Surely, as God had
580
00:43:53,000 –> 00:43:56,200
said to Isaiah, I am the maker
thereof.
581
00:43:56,800 –> 00:44:01,200
They would thank God for those
waters, real waters, which had
582
00:44:01,200 –> 00:44:06,880
given really life to them during
the crisis, and how when Isaiah
583
00:44:06,880 –> 00:44:11,520
spoke those words in verse 1 and
beyond, they would see that as
584
00:44:11,520 –> 00:44:13,600
having very real meaning to
themselves.
585
00:44:14,560 –> 00:44:18,920
But of course, verse 3 speaks of
an everlasting covenant.
586
00:44:19,240 –> 00:44:23,720
These are eternal promises.
No doubt by considering the
587
00:44:23,720 –> 00:44:26,520
prophet’s words, they would
realize that this was
588
00:44:26,520 –> 00:44:29,280
nevertheless Speaking of
something much grander.
589
00:44:29,640 –> 00:44:34,520
For verse four I have given for
a witness to the people, a
590
00:44:34,520 –> 00:44:38,680
leader and a commander to the
people.
591
00:44:39,960 –> 00:44:43,520
A leader and a commander to the
people.
592
00:44:43,840 –> 00:44:46,960
You see how the Lord Jesus
Christ is pictured for us,
593
00:44:46,960 –> 00:44:52,080
brothers and sisters.
He, like Hezekiah, is a leader,
594
00:44:52,440 –> 00:44:57,520
a commander.
Now what’s interesting here is
595
00:44:58,040 –> 00:45:04,360
that word leader in Isaiah 55
and verse 4 is applied to
596
00:45:04,360 –> 00:45:12,240
Hezekiah, where Second Kings 20
back we go again Second Kings
597
00:45:12,240 –> 00:45:15,440
20.
It gives additional meaning,
598
00:45:16,240 –> 00:45:21,160
helps us to understand in our
mind’s eye how Jesus will be a
599
00:45:21,160 –> 00:45:24,160
leader.
Think of Hezekiah, Scripture is
600
00:45:24,160 –> 00:45:29,480
telling us same word.
In Second Kings chapter 20,
601
00:45:33,040 –> 00:45:36,640
Hezekiah has been told that he
is sick and nigh unto death.
602
00:45:37,600 –> 00:45:41,040
In verse one of Second Kings 20,
he’s told to set his house in
603
00:45:41,040 –> 00:45:45,160
order.
Verse two he prays to the Lord
604
00:45:45,160 –> 00:45:51,000
as we read also in Isaiah verse
three, he beseeches God, and he
605
00:45:51,000 –> 00:45:54,560
weeps sore, as we have done
often in our own pricing.
606
00:45:54,800 –> 00:46:01,480
And it came to pass afore Isaiah
was gone out into the middle
607
00:46:01,480 –> 00:46:06,320
court, that the word of the Lord
came to him, saying to Isaiah,
608
00:46:07,760 –> 00:46:15,120
Turn again and tell Hezekiah,
the captain of my people.
609
00:46:15,200 –> 00:46:18,960
And the word captain, there is
the same Hebrew word as leader
610
00:46:19,080 –> 00:46:24,320
in Isaiah 55 and verse 4.
Tell Hezekiah, the captain of my
611
00:46:24,320 –> 00:46:26,960
people.
Thus saith the Lord the God of
612
00:46:26,960 –> 00:46:30,960
David thy father.
I have seen, I have heard thy
613
00:46:30,960 –> 00:46:34,080
prayer.
I have seen thy tears.
614
00:46:35,440 –> 00:46:39,120
Behold, I will now watch this
language.
615
00:46:39,560 –> 00:46:46,800
Think of what it means.
I will heal thee, and on the
616
00:46:46,800 –> 00:46:56,560
third day, the third day thou
shalt go up into the House of
617
00:46:56,560 –> 00:46:59,640
the Lord.
You see the point, don’t you?
618
00:47:00,960 –> 00:47:06,360
As we’ve already seen in this
man Hezekiah, we see messianic
619
00:47:06,360 –> 00:47:11,160
realizations not completely
fulfilled by any means next to
620
00:47:11,160 –> 00:47:15,320
Messiah.
But here is one who was sick,
621
00:47:16,200 –> 00:47:21,200
who he says in Isaiah was nigh
unto death, who looked at the
622
00:47:21,200 –> 00:47:26,600
wall and saw no hope.
And brothers and sisters, in his
623
00:47:26,640 –> 00:47:32,600
prayer, because he was a
righteous man, God heard and he
624
00:47:32,600 –> 00:47:38,760
healed Hezekiah, the captain of
his people.
625
00:47:40,360 –> 00:47:49,160
And on the third day he was
whole and he went up to the
626
00:47:49,160 –> 00:47:54,360
House of the Lord.
Every word in Scripture is
627
00:47:54,360 –> 00:47:58,360
important.
Isn’t it incredible to see in
628
00:47:58,360 –> 00:48:02,880
this experience of Hezekiah, an
experience that foreshadows that
629
00:48:02,880 –> 00:48:07,520
of the Lord Jesus Christ?
A more righteous king for sure,
630
00:48:08,160 –> 00:48:12,840
but one who, like Isaiah 53
shows, would be pictured as
631
00:48:12,840 –> 00:48:17,760
though he was sick.
As a burden bearer who took upon
632
00:48:17,760 –> 00:48:20,560
him the griefs and the sorrows
of a sick nation.
633
00:48:20,720 –> 00:48:25,800
Of a sick people, who, like
Hezekiah, would go, as it were,
634
00:48:25,800 –> 00:48:31,480
to the gates of hell and to the
grave, but who nevertheless, on
635
00:48:31,480 –> 00:48:37,400
the third day would go up unto
the House of the Lord, for he
636
00:48:37,520 –> 00:48:43,120
would be healed.
In this small remnant, Brothers
637
00:48:43,120 –> 00:48:47,760
and sisters, within the walls of
Jerusalem, we tread in the eye
638
00:48:47,760 –> 00:48:52,520
of faith, and within those walls
come packed together in
639
00:48:52,520 –> 00:48:55,720
fellowship.
In the midst of the crisis of
640
00:48:55,720 –> 00:48:59,960
the day, the storms and the
waves beating against the walls
641
00:48:59,960 –> 00:49:04,840
of the ecclesia, hearts were
tried and made more perfect.
642
00:49:05,400 –> 00:49:09,400
Faith was tested and brought to
greater perfection.
643
00:49:10,040 –> 00:49:13,600
Let us never ask why now and why
me?
644
00:49:14,400 –> 00:49:18,040
It is God’s blessing that our
hearts are tried, and when they
645
00:49:18,040 –> 00:49:23,080
are brothers and sisters, we
walk with that small remnant of
646
00:49:23,080 –> 00:49:29,520
old within the sheep pen, and we
have nevertheless for US1 Who is
647
00:49:29,560 –> 00:49:33,160
with us to save and to lead us
out.
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