Class 4 from this series was used in GCT Episode 342.
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Before we begin our third class,
we got a couple additional items
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Before we begin our third class,
we got a couple additional items
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to bring to your attention.
It’s being asked that the
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children in the pre-K class that
they would meet at 2:00 PM this
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afternoon here at Fabiani to go
over the song that they are
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singing tonight at the
children’s program and they do
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not have to stay for the entire
rehearsal.
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And secondly, there was a
glasses case found in one of the
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rows.
There’ll be a small finder’s fee
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that I will gladly donate to the
scholarship fund.
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Brothers and sisters were ready
for our third class.
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Our speaker is brother Rodger
Lewis.
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The thing for the theme for
Brother Rodgers classes this
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week is the crisis of Hezekiah.
Today’s class is entitled The
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Angel and the Envoys for the
Rogers.
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Well, thank you, brother
chairman, and good morning, my
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dear brothers and sisters in our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Crisis of
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Hezekiah.
So in our last study, you might
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remember how wonderfully
Hezekiah was going to renew his
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commitment to God when he had
been sick and was now recovered.
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He wasn’t able to choose his
trials, but he was able to
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permit those experiences to
shape him for the better, and he
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chose to respond in that way so
that his service might be
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improved.
And you’ll recall that when God
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blessed him with the promise of
a fresh start to in effect
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repeat his reign, he made pledge
that he would use that 15 years
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and throw himself into the work
of the truth with even greater
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vigor than he’d shown before and
with a special focus, you’ll
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remember, towards the
guardianship of the truth for
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the generation that he was
guiding.
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So in the book of Psalms and in
the book of Proverbs, we’re
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going to see his hand and his
mark upon those writings.
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And As for the rest of the Old
Testament Scriptures, you’ll
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remember that there is a mark or
a seal from the king to
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authenticate the books of the
Bible that had been written up
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to the time of his reign.
In other words, he made good on
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his promise and in doing so, he
proved his thankfulness by the
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spirit of faithful service.
He really did redeem that time.
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And it must have been very soon
after his recovery that the
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startling events occurred that
led to the overthrow of the
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Assyrian host and the eventual
demise of Sennacherib himself.
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And that brings us back.
Well, it brings us on to our
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study for today, as our brother
chairman has announced, because
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here we have now the matter of
the Angel and the envoys or the
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ambassadors that were going to
come from Babylon.
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Now if you come back to Isaiah
37, then in verse 36 there were
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3 verses at the end of that
chapter that we deliberately
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omitted, not because we didn’t
want to deal with them, but
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because chronologically we’ve
already discovered that they do
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come.
Now at this moment of time after
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the sickness and recovery of the
king.
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Because you’ll remember that
chapter 38 and verse eight said
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verse six said rather that
consequent upon the healing of
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the king that God would deliver
the city out of the hand of the
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Assyrians.
So it hadn’t happened at the
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time of Hezekiah sickness.
Not until after his recovery
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does the overthrow occur.
So even though it’s written at
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the end of 37, now is the moment
for us to look at that
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overthrow.
And we we’re told there in
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Isaiah 37 verse 36, the Angel of
Yahweh went forth and smote in
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the camp of the Assyrians.
Do you know that word went forth
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does really mean that it means
in the Hebrew to go out.
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But don’t you think the
implication of that phrase is
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that if he went out, that the
Angel must have already been
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with them in the city?
In fact, don’t we have evidence
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of an Angel that was already
there who trod up and down the
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staircase in the royal palace
court?
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Oh yes, there was an Angel in
Jerusalem at that time, and he
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went out because he’d been with
them all along.
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But the companion passages give
us 2 further vital clues about
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the circumstances in which the
Angel of Yahweh did go forth to
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battle.
We shan’t turn either of them
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up, but let me just draw your
attention to them.
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In the second of Chronicles,
chapter 32, verses 20 and 21, it
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says, And for this cause
Hezekiah the king, and the
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prophet Isaiah the son of Amos,
prayed and cried to heaven, and
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Yahweh sent an Angel.
Ah, so the Angel went out in
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response to the prayer of
Hezekiah and the prayer of
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Isaiah, his friend and his
confidant.
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And the second of Kings 19 verse
35 adds another interesting
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detail that Isaiah doesn’t
record when it says in Second
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Kings 19 verse 35, it came to
pass that night the Angel of
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Yahweh went out.
The Angel went out at night
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time.
He went in the evening.
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And I think that that timing was
highly suggestive.
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So hold your hands in his car.
He’s a car.
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You can’t really do that.
Hold your hands.
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Hold your hands in Isaiah 37 and
come back, if you would, to
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Exodus chapter 12, because
you’ll remember that Exodus 12
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is the story of the Passover and
the Passover occurred why at
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night time.
And this is what it says in
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Exodus chapter 12 and recounting
the circumstances of that first
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Passover drama, it says in
Exodus 12, verse 22, it says you
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shall take a bunch of hyssop and
dip it in blood that’s in the
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basin.
Strike the lentil and the two
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side posts with the blood that’s
in the basin, and none of you
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shall go out at the door of his
house until the morning.
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So they were ordered to remain
inside their houses until the
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morning, shut inside the doors
which were marked by the blood
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of the Passover limb, while the
Angel of death patrolled
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outside.
But that language is going to be
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evoked by Isaiah in describing
the impending destruction that
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was coming from the Assyrians.
This is how Isaiah records it.
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See if you can sense the echo of
Passover times.
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So Isaiah 26, verse 20 says,
Come my people into thy
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chambers, and shut thy doors
about thee.
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Hide thyself for a little moment
until the indignity nation be
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overpassed.
Doesn’t that sound like the
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night?
That night the avenging Angel
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came through and the Israelites
were to stay inside safely under
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the lentils with the Passover
blood.
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And that’s how Isaiah speaks to
the nation in preparing for the
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coming of the destruction of
Sennacherib and his host.
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And while we’re in Exodus, you
notice what it says in verse 23,
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next verse, next verse 4, it
says Yahweh will pass through to
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smite the Egyptians, and when he
sees the blood upon the Linton
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on the two side posts, Yahweh
will pass over the door and will
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not suffer the destroyer to come
in unto your houses to smite
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them.
So what we’re told is that the
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name bearing angels swept
through the land of Egypt to
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smite the Egyptians with
terrible and fatal precision,
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but not to touch those of the
camp of Israel.
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And that’s exactly what’s going
to happen in in Hezekiah’s time
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because Isaiah 3736 says and the
Angel of Yahweh went forth and
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smote in the camp of the
Assyrians.
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The calamity came upon the
Assyrian host, but no Israelites
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house in Jerusalem was touched
on that night.
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Brothers, sisters, just the camp
of the Assyrians outside.
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And when it says, looking again
here in Exodus chapter 12 and
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verse 27, it says that when your
children ask what’s all this
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about and what does this mean?
Verse 27 you shall say it is the
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sacrifice of Yahweh’s Passover
Pisa, when He passed over Pakar
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over the House of the children
of Israel in Egypt, the day when
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He passed over the house,
sparing his own, but smiting the
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enemy.
But you know that that drama of
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passing over was going to be
seen in the overthrow of the
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Assyrian host right outside the
gates of Jerusalem, because this
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is how Isaiah again would
describe it.
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He says in Isaiah 31 verses 5
and 8, Yahweh of hosts will
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defend Jerusalem, and passing
over, He will preserve it, and
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the Assyrian shall fall with the
sword.
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And that word passing over is
the same word for passing over
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in Exodus chapter 12 verse 27.
Oh yes, I think there’s memories
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of the night of Exodus 12 that
are linked and connected to the
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story of the Assyrian overthrow.
And when, when did this
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remarkable event occur?
In Exodus 12?
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Verse 29 came to pass, that at
midnight Yahweh smote all the
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first born verse verse 30,
Pharaoh rose up in the night.
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Verse 42.
It is a night to be much
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observed unto Yahweh.
Oh yes, the whole event took
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place in the night time by the
sisters.
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And that peculiar feature of the
battle of the Angel of death in
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Exodus is going to be be
repeated in the story of the
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overthrow of the Assyrian,
because in Isaiah 30 verse 29 it
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says, And ye shall have a song
as in the night, when a holy
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solemnity is kept.
For through the voice of Yahweh
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shall the Assyrian be thrown
down.
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You know, brothers and sisters,
there was only one holy
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solemnity that Israel ever kept,
only one feast that was held at
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night time, and that was the
feast of Passover.
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So I think what we’re being told
really in the circumstances of
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Isaiah 37 here, when the Angel
went forth to Smite in the camp
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of the Assyrians, is that this
was another moment of Passover
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deliverance, which occurs in the
time and in the life of good
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king Hezekiah of Judah, a
massive, overwhelming,
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catastrophic overthrow of the
enemy and one violent cataclysm.
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So coming back to the Isaiah
record, it says this at the end
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of that 36th verse, Isaiah 37
and verse 36, the smote in the
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camp, 104 score and 5000.
And when they arose early in the
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morning, they were all dead.
In fact, they were corpses.
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And so complete was the victory,
you see that not a single
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Assyrian was alive.
And that’s an echo itself, I
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think, of Exodus 12, Exodus 12,
verse 30 says.
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And there was a great cry in
Egypt for there was not a house
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where there was not one dead.
And now in the time of Hezekiah,
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there wasn’t one person who was
not dead in the Assyrian house.
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There wasn’t even a living body
out there.
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The whole of the Assyrian camp
had a deathly stillness all over
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it, because the Angel had spread
his blast upon them, and they
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were all dead, truly dead.
So verse 37 says, so Sennacherib
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king of Assyria, departed and
went and returned and dwelt at
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Nineveh.
And those verbs indicate just
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how complete his removal was.
He departed, he went, he
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returned, he dwelt.
And I think the implication of
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that last word was that his
appetite to fight against
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Hezekiah and against the Holy
One of Israel was gone.
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He would never ever be seen in
the land of Israel again.
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And verse 38 says that just as
Isaiah had promised earlier, he
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shall hear a rumor and return to
his own land, and I’ll cause him
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to fall by the sword.
Well, here it happens.
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Verse 38 came to pass as he was
worshipping in the House of
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Nisraq as God, that Adrenalik
and Teresa his son, smote him
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with the sword, and they escaped
into the land of Armenia.
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And Esau had, and his son
reigned in his stead.
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It took 20 years, by the way, 20
years from the overthrow here in
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Jerusalem to the moment when
Sennacherib finally died.
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But Isaiah’s words were
fulfilled, and the man was slain
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by the sword in his own land,
and as it turned out, by his own
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sons.
Now what do you think the first
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implication was of the story,
the amazing story of
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Sennacherib’s defeat in the
vanquishing of his army?
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Well, it must have sent shock
waves right through the whole of
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the Middle East.
And we know that because of of
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these words and chronicles,
which again we shan’t turn up,
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but just listen to them.
Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and
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the inhabitants of Jerusalem
from the hand of Sennacherib the
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king of Assyria, and from the
hand of all other, and guided
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them on every side.
And many brought gifts unto
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Yahweh to Jerusalem, and
presents to Hezekiah king of
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Judah, so that he was magnified
in the sight of all nations from
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henceforth.
And had the story of Hezekiah
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stopped at that point, it would
have been an amazing end to an
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00:14:22,440 –> 00:14:29,880
astonishing journey from tragedy
to triumph, from despair to
213
00:14:29,880 –> 00:14:34,200
delight.
But Isaiah’s record of the
214
00:14:34,200 –> 00:14:39,800
crisis of Hezekiah also includes
Isaiah 39.
215
00:14:42,160 –> 00:14:47,000
And in those very blessings that
were brought to Hezekiah would
216
00:14:47,000 –> 00:14:50,640
be found the seeds of another
child in his life, which would
217
00:14:50,640 –> 00:14:55,120
test his character and perhaps
reveal more deeply than any
218
00:14:55,120 –> 00:14:58,400
other circumstance the true
heart and mind of this one who
219
00:14:58,400 –> 00:15:02,600
prospered in all his works.
So it’s a strange thing, you
220
00:15:02,600 –> 00:15:06,360
see.
But Isaiah 39 in the Isaiah
221
00:15:06,360 –> 00:15:08,800
record, the chronicle of his
life, is going to finish with
222
00:15:08,800 –> 00:15:10,960
this episode, the Ambassadors of
Babylon.
223
00:15:11,280 –> 00:15:13,680
And it seems at first reading
that his story will end in
224
00:15:13,680 –> 00:15:15,840
failure and disgrace, a matter
of shame.
225
00:15:16,840 –> 00:15:20,520
A shame that so fine a king
should conclude his reign on
226
00:15:20,600 –> 00:15:23,960
such a disappointing note comes
as a shock to read the account.
227
00:15:24,200 –> 00:15:28,120
We’re left feeling dismayed that
so good a man could behave so
228
00:15:28,120 –> 00:15:31,040
unwisely.
But, you know, brothers and
229
00:15:31,040 –> 00:15:34,120
sisters, perhaps his behavior
wasn’t too different to what
230
00:15:34,120 –> 00:15:37,720
ours might have been under
similar circumstances.
231
00:15:39,760 –> 00:15:45,400
And as it turned out, there was
an unexpected blessing in the
232
00:15:45,400 –> 00:15:49,720
way that his story would end.
And what that blessing might
233
00:15:49,720 –> 00:15:53,280
have been is the basis for our
study this morning.
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00:15:55,680 –> 00:16:02,920
So Isaiah 39, this one says
thus, at that time, Meredek
235
00:16:03,040 –> 00:16:07,000
Biladin, the son of Aladdin,
king of Babylon, sent letters.
236
00:16:07,520 –> 00:16:10,640
Now Babylon actually lay inside
the Assyrian Empire, of course,
237
00:16:10,640 –> 00:16:14,080
at this time, but the Assyrian
overlord Sargon and Sennacherib,
238
00:16:14,480 –> 00:16:17,080
they were seen by the
Babylonians as usurpers.
239
00:16:17,600 –> 00:16:23,120
But Meredek Biladin, or as he
was called Marduk Epla Adini the
240
00:16:23,120 –> 00:16:28,320
second, was a true born
descendant of the royal family
241
00:16:28,320 –> 00:16:30,520
of Babylon.
He was popular amongst his own
242
00:16:30,520 –> 00:16:32,680
people.
He’d been a thorn in the side of
243
00:16:32,680 –> 00:16:35,680
the Assyrians for several years,
and he was recognized as the
244
00:16:35,680 –> 00:16:38,520
king of Babylon on at least
multiple occasions.
245
00:16:38,680 –> 00:16:41,720
He was named incidentally, after
Meredek, one of the gods of
246
00:16:41,720 –> 00:16:46,080
Babylonia.
Jeremiah 50 verse 2 says Babylon
247
00:16:46,080 –> 00:16:51,120
has taken bell is confounded.
Meradec is broken in pieces, and
248
00:16:51,120 –> 00:16:54,600
the name of the king was a
reminder that the rival religion
249
00:16:54,600 –> 00:16:58,400
and temple of Jerusalem of of
Babylon from ancient times was
250
00:16:58,400 –> 00:17:01,640
still in fact in existence.
Well, this is the man who at
251
00:17:01,640 –> 00:17:05,800
that time sends letters in the
present, and that little phrase
252
00:17:05,920 –> 00:17:11,119
at that time links the events of
chapter 39 with the recovery of
253
00:17:11,119 –> 00:17:14,520
his Akai in chapter 38 and the
overthrow of Sennacherib in
254
00:17:14,520 –> 00:17:17,720
chapter 37.
It’s all about the same moment
255
00:17:17,720 –> 00:17:20,760
of time by the sisters because
Meredeck Belladin would not have
256
00:17:20,760 –> 00:17:24,440
sent to present until he’d heard
of the news of Sennacherib’s
257
00:17:24,440 –> 00:17:27,920
ignominious defeat at Jerusalem.
And he’s Akai couldn’t have
258
00:17:27,920 –> 00:17:30,400
received the present until after
he was recovered from his
259
00:17:30,400 –> 00:17:34,080
illness.
So chapter 39 is probably very
260
00:17:34,080 –> 00:17:37,960
early on in the 15 years of
additional life that was given
261
00:17:37,960 –> 00:17:41,560
to him in the Providence of God
early on enough incidentally,
262
00:17:41,560 –> 00:17:47,320
for it to be before he had
fathered Manasseh, his son, as
263
00:17:47,320 –> 00:17:51,960
we shall see by and by.
So the king of Babylon sent
264
00:17:51,960 –> 00:17:56,640
letters and a present.
He sent it to Hezekiah because
265
00:17:56,640 –> 00:17:59,240
he he heard that he’d been sick
and was recovered.
266
00:17:59,600 –> 00:18:02,560
Well, it seemed natural enough a
thing to to do, don’t you think,
267
00:18:02,560 –> 00:18:05,840
for one king to send another
king of present to celebrate his
268
00:18:05,840 –> 00:18:08,080
recovery from a a serious
illness?
269
00:18:08,480 –> 00:18:11,720
And if it had been only there,
there would have been no
270
00:18:11,720 –> 00:18:14,760
difficulty in Hezekiah accepting
the gift, just as he had from
271
00:18:14,960 –> 00:18:18,160
many other parts.
After all, that’s what Chronicle
272
00:18:18,160 –> 00:18:20,960
said.
Many brought gifts unto Yahweh
273
00:18:21,160 –> 00:18:23,600
and presents to Hezekiah king of
Judah.
274
00:18:26,040 –> 00:18:30,640
But there was something more to
this matter than letters and
275
00:18:30,640 –> 00:18:35,160
presents.
The Septuagint version reads as
276
00:18:35,160 –> 00:18:40,280
follows.
Meradec Baladdin sent letters
277
00:18:40,960 –> 00:18:46,560
and ambassadors and gifts.
The Revised Standard Version
278
00:18:46,560 –> 00:18:50,960
says he sent invoys with letters
and a present.
279
00:18:52,560 –> 00:18:54,960
Now we know they must have been
ambassadors because you see
280
00:18:54,960 –> 00:18:58,440
verse 2, Hezekiah was glad of
them.
281
00:18:59,000 –> 00:19:02,920
And verse 3, as I said, what
said these men?
282
00:19:03,080 –> 00:19:06,160
Verse 4, what have they seen in
thy house?
283
00:19:06,240 –> 00:19:08,800
So there were clearly
ambassadors on this occasion,
284
00:19:09,600 –> 00:19:14,040
but they’re also referred to in
a companion passage that sheds
285
00:19:14,040 –> 00:19:17,440
lights on the motives of
Hezekiah, perhaps at the time.
286
00:19:17,800 –> 00:19:20,920
Because if you come back to the
Second of Chronicles chapter 32,
287
00:19:21,400 –> 00:19:24,920
the companion account in
Chronicles adds a different
288
00:19:24,920 –> 00:19:27,120
reason for why the ambassadors
came.
289
00:19:28,440 –> 00:19:31,640
The book of Isaiah suggests they
came to congratulate the king on
290
00:19:31,640 –> 00:19:34,800
his recovery.
But Chronicles gives another
291
00:19:34,800 –> 00:19:37,840
reason.
And that reason is given to us
292
00:19:37,840 –> 00:19:42,240
in the Second of Chronicles
chapter 32 and verse 31, when it
293
00:19:42,240 –> 00:19:46,880
says, Howbeit, in the matter of
the ambassadors of the Princess
294
00:19:46,880 –> 00:19:52,400
of Babylon, who sent unto him
unto Hezekiah to inquire of the
295
00:19:52,400 –> 00:19:55,120
wonder that was done in the
land.
296
00:19:55,280 –> 00:19:57,480
The wonder that was done in the
land.
297
00:19:58,680 –> 00:20:05,920
Now that word wonder in verse 31
is the same word translated sign
298
00:20:06,040 –> 00:20:10,480
in verse 24.
In those days Hezekiah was sick
299
00:20:10,480 –> 00:20:12,920
to death and prayed unto Yahweh,
and he spake on him and gave him
300
00:20:12,920 –> 00:20:15,800
a sign.
Now what sign was that?
301
00:20:17,120 –> 00:20:22,360
Well, that sign was the sign of
the shadow on the sundial of
302
00:20:22,360 –> 00:20:25,160
Ahaz, which would move backwards
by 10°.
303
00:20:25,360 –> 00:20:28,600
That’s an astronomical marvel.
And that must have impressed the
304
00:20:28,600 –> 00:20:31,440
Babylonians, because the
Babylonians were masters of
305
00:20:31,440 –> 00:20:34,080
astronomy, and they must have
been astonished to hear the
306
00:20:34,080 –> 00:20:37,160
story of a shadow that went up
the staircase when it should
307
00:20:37,160 –> 00:20:40,000
have been coming down, because
the news had been spread abroad
308
00:20:40,000 –> 00:20:43,040
of this miracle.
But you notice something that
309
00:20:43,040 –> 00:20:45,280
they hadn’t seen the phenomena
in Babylon.
310
00:20:46,960 –> 00:20:48,440
It doesn’t say they saw it in
Babylon.
311
00:20:49,880 –> 00:20:52,200
In fact, it says they came to
inquire of the sign that was
312
00:20:52,200 –> 00:20:56,560
done where?
Just in edits.
313
00:20:56,840 –> 00:21:00,120
Just in the land was only seen
in Israel.
314
00:21:00,120 –> 00:21:01,560
In fact, it wasn’t just seen in
Israel.
315
00:21:01,640 –> 00:21:03,840
It was only seen in Jerusalem.
It wasn’t just seen in
316
00:21:03,840 –> 00:21:05,360
Jerusalem.
It was only seen in the royal
317
00:21:05,360 –> 00:21:07,120
palace.
It wasn’t just seen in the royal
318
00:21:07,120 –> 00:21:08,640
palace.
It was just only seen on the
319
00:21:08,640 –> 00:21:11,160
staircase.
It’s the only place where the
320
00:21:11,160 –> 00:21:14,080
sign was seen, and only those
who were there at that moment
321
00:21:14,080 –> 00:21:16,080
would have seen that sign.
They didn’t see it in Babylon.
322
00:21:16,080 –> 00:21:18,160
They’d heard about it, but
they’d never seen it.
323
00:21:18,360 –> 00:21:20,520
They came to inquire of the
wonder that was done in the
324
00:21:20,520 –> 00:21:23,000
land.
It wasn’t a global astronomical
325
00:21:23,000 –> 00:21:25,880
phenomenon.
It wasn’t the movement of the
326
00:21:25,880 –> 00:21:31,080
sun or the planets or the moon.
It was, as we believe, the
327
00:21:31,120 –> 00:21:34,920
Shekinah glory of the Angel.
But it was the news that came
328
00:21:34,920 –> 00:21:38,200
nevertheless to the ambassadors
of Babel that they came to
329
00:21:38,240 –> 00:21:40,080
inquire about.
And do you notice the ominous
330
00:21:40,080 –> 00:21:42,760
words that continue in that
verse when it says that when
331
00:21:42,760 –> 00:21:46,920
they did come, that, as it
turned out, God had left him,
332
00:21:46,920 –> 00:21:51,280
had left his a car to try him,
that he might know all that was
333
00:21:51,280 –> 00:21:55,080
in his heart.
And we’re not told in what way
334
00:21:55,280 –> 00:22:00,200
Yahweh left his a car.
But the episode became a test to
335
00:22:00,200 –> 00:22:03,520
his character because it had
been very obvious in his
336
00:22:03,680 –> 00:22:07,120
previous trials that Yahweh had
always been with them.
337
00:22:07,120 –> 00:22:11,320
But now at least there was
evidently no message from Isaiah
338
00:22:11,520 –> 00:22:15,720
on behalf of God.
The real question, you know,
339
00:22:15,720 –> 00:22:18,880
brothers and sisters, the
question was what was the real
340
00:22:18,880 –> 00:22:24,560
business of the ambassadors?
Oh, yes, they came to acquire of
341
00:22:24,560 –> 00:22:25,640
the one they’ve done on the
land.
342
00:22:25,640 –> 00:22:30,600
But what did the mysterious
letters contain which they
343
00:22:30,600 –> 00:22:32,680
brought from the Babylonian
monarch?
344
00:22:34,600 –> 00:22:37,080
There was more than just royal
greetings here.
345
00:22:39,000 –> 00:22:42,280
These documents probably
included a proposed Treaty of
346
00:22:42,280 –> 00:22:45,200
peace and cooperation.
And for this reason, because
347
00:22:45,200 –> 00:22:48,960
these two kings had been the
most effective in all the Middle
348
00:22:48,960 –> 00:22:55,520
East at resisting the advances
of the Assyrians, Hezekiah felt
349
00:22:55,520 –> 00:22:59,520
honored that the king of Babylon
would propose such an alliance.
350
00:22:59,520 –> 00:23:03,280
And I’ll show you why I think
Hezekiah might have thought
351
00:23:03,280 –> 00:23:05,880
that, even though it was a wrong
thought to have, as we know.
352
00:23:06,120 –> 00:23:08,640
But you see, Sennacherib had
been defeated, and he’d gone
353
00:23:08,640 –> 00:23:11,000
home for the present.
But who was to know when he
354
00:23:11,000 –> 00:23:14,160
might return with an army twice
the size to finish what he’d
355
00:23:14,160 –> 00:23:16,000
begun?
And if Hezekiah knew that he
356
00:23:16,000 –> 00:23:19,160
only had 15 years left, then he
knew that even if he had a son
357
00:23:19,160 –> 00:23:22,800
immediately, that that son would
be far, far too young to cope
358
00:23:22,800 –> 00:23:29,360
with such a threat.
When he, Hezekiah, died, there
359
00:23:29,360 –> 00:23:34,520
wasn’t enough time, so perhaps
the opportunity to secure some
360
00:23:34,520 –> 00:23:37,360
degree of support against so
powerful an enemy to give his
361
00:23:37,360 –> 00:23:39,560
son the chance to at least grow
to adulthood.
362
00:23:39,600 –> 00:23:42,840
He viewed the possibility of an
alliance for military and
363
00:23:43,080 –> 00:23:45,200
Economic Cooperation with
favour.
364
00:23:45,840 –> 00:23:49,840
Maybe this is a good idea.
Maybe this is the answer of God
365
00:23:49,840 –> 00:23:51,520
that these ambassadors have
come.
366
00:23:51,680 –> 00:23:55,320
So coming back to Isaiah’s
account there to Isaiah 39 and
367
00:23:55,320 –> 00:23:57,720
verse 2.
This is what the record tells us
368
00:23:57,960 –> 00:24:00,120
about the coming of these
ambassadors.
369
00:24:01,280 –> 00:24:09,520
Isaiah 39 and verse 2 says and
and his Akaya was glad of them.
370
00:24:10,920 –> 00:24:14,920
The parallel passage and 2nd
Kings 20 verse 13 says Hezekiah
371
00:24:14,920 –> 00:24:17,640
hearkened unto them, but Isaiah
is stronger.
372
00:24:18,040 –> 00:24:21,440
Isaiah says he was glad of them
and the word means to rejoice.
373
00:24:21,800 –> 00:24:24,680
Now, if he was simply pleased
with their gift, well, that’s
374
00:24:24,680 –> 00:24:28,120
one thing.
But to for him to rejoice, to
375
00:24:28,120 –> 00:24:31,880
the to, to to be so glad as to
rejoice and to promptly show him
376
00:24:31,880 –> 00:24:35,520
everything they hear, everything
he had, is well, that was an
377
00:24:35,520 –> 00:24:38,480
unusual reaction for the
ambassadors that came.
378
00:24:38,760 –> 00:24:42,640
But if the thing that made his
akaya glad was the prospect of
379
00:24:42,680 –> 00:24:47,120
an alliance, then it explains
both the depth of his reaction
380
00:24:47,560 –> 00:24:51,520
and the decision that he made to
open up the treasures of his
381
00:24:51,520 –> 00:24:54,600
Kingdom for inspection.
Because I think that’s what he’s
382
00:24:54,600 –> 00:24:58,000
really doing here.
In verse 2 it says Hezekiah was
383
00:24:58,000 –> 00:25:00,840
glad of them and showed them the
House of his precious things,
384
00:25:00,840 –> 00:25:03,800
the silver and the gold and the
spices and the precious ointment
385
00:25:03,800 –> 00:25:06,080
and all the House of his armor
and all that was found in his
386
00:25:06,080 –> 00:25:07,880
treasures.
There was nothing in his house
387
00:25:08,080 –> 00:25:12,040
nor in all his dominion that
Hezekiah showed them not you
388
00:25:12,040 –> 00:25:14,160
see, I don’t think he simply
said, oh, come and have a look
389
00:25:14,160 –> 00:25:17,440
at all my things.
I don’t think he’s a guy would
390
00:25:17,440 –> 00:25:19,960
have done that.
Actually, I think that what he
391
00:25:19,960 –> 00:25:23,520
did was it wasn’t so much a vain
show of wealth for wealth’s sake
392
00:25:23,520 –> 00:25:29,280
as formal evidence that Judah
was a worthy partner to enter
393
00:25:29,280 –> 00:25:33,320
into alliance with Bebalem.
So he gave demonstration that he
394
00:25:33,320 –> 00:25:37,200
had both the economic
prosperity, the House of his
395
00:25:37,200 –> 00:25:42,080
precious things, and military
capability, the House of his
396
00:25:42,160 –> 00:25:46,120
armor, to fulfill his
responsibilities under such a
397
00:25:46,120 –> 00:25:48,800
treaty.
I have the wherewithal, he says,
398
00:25:48,800 –> 00:25:52,040
to be a useful partner in such a
transaction.
399
00:25:52,320 –> 00:25:54,480
But he’d made the mistake,
hadn’t he, brothers and sisters,
400
00:25:54,480 –> 00:25:57,320
of imagining that all these
things belonged to him.
401
00:25:59,320 –> 00:26:03,080
And so verse 2, read that way,
highlights that thinking.
402
00:26:04,040 –> 00:26:07,400
Hezekiah was glad of them, and
showed them the House of his
403
00:26:07,440 –> 00:26:10,800
precious things, the silver and
the gold and the spices and the
404
00:26:10,800 –> 00:26:13,960
precious ointment, and all the
House of his armor, and all that
405
00:26:13,960 –> 00:26:17,160
was found in his treasures.
There was nothing in his house,
406
00:26:17,280 –> 00:26:20,040
nor in all his dominion that
Hezekiah showed them not.
407
00:26:20,120 –> 00:26:22,600
He thought it was all his
brothers, sisters flushed with
408
00:26:22,600 –> 00:26:26,280
the glory of his success,
seduced by the flattery of the
409
00:26:26,280 –> 00:26:29,320
ambassadors, he forgot, at least
for the moment, that both he and
410
00:26:29,320 –> 00:26:30,920
all that he had belonged unto
Yahweh.
411
00:26:33,520 –> 00:26:35,840
He wouldn’t be the first brother
or sister, would he?
412
00:26:37,680 –> 00:26:42,440
It was fallen in such a matter.
But you see, here’s a car was a
413
00:26:42,440 –> 00:26:46,040
man of prayer.
He prayed in Isaiah 37, verse 1.
414
00:26:46,200 –> 00:26:48,520
He prayed in Isaiah 37, verse
15.
415
00:26:48,520 –> 00:26:52,440
He prayed again in Isaiah 38,
verse 2, but but this time
416
00:26:52,880 –> 00:26:57,240
there’s no prayer.
He didn’t ask counsel of God
417
00:26:57,240 –> 00:27:00,880
before entering into this
undertaking, and it was a bad
418
00:27:00,880 –> 00:27:02,880
mistake.
Whatever good intentions he
419
00:27:02,880 –> 00:27:06,400
might have had, his behaviour on
this occasion was a
420
00:27:06,400 –> 00:27:13,720
manifestation of personal pride.
He thought that all these things
421
00:27:13,720 –> 00:27:15,960
lay within his own power to
arrange.
422
00:27:17,440 –> 00:27:20,720
His heart was lifted up by the
evident admiration of the king
423
00:27:20,720 –> 00:27:23,440
of Babylon.
And momentarily his spiritual
424
00:27:23,440 –> 00:27:28,600
perspective was effective.
Well, he was going to be held to
425
00:27:28,600 –> 00:27:31,280
account and held to account
probably in the best possible
426
00:27:31,280 –> 00:27:35,600
way by the best possible man,
because it says in verse 3.
427
00:27:35,600 –> 00:27:38,560
Then came Isaiah the prophet
under King Hezekiah and said,
428
00:27:38,760 –> 00:27:41,840
what said these men?
And from whence came they?
429
00:27:42,520 –> 00:27:46,120
Now Isaiah had always been
Hezekiah’s good friend and
430
00:27:46,120 –> 00:27:50,000
mentor, but this time Isaiah
came to rebuke the king and to
431
00:27:50,000 –> 00:27:52,240
warn him of the consequences of
his actions.
432
00:27:52,640 –> 00:27:55,720
And do you notice that he asked
2 very specific questions.
433
00:27:55,960 –> 00:28:00,640
What did these men talk about
and where did these men come
434
00:28:00,640 –> 00:28:04,200
from?
Now, if you, if you were his a
435
00:28:04,200 –> 00:28:08,560
car and you’re already starting
to think, MMM, maybe I wonder
436
00:28:08,560 –> 00:28:10,720
whether I should have.
And then you get these two
437
00:28:10,720 –> 00:28:13,240
questions.
What did these men talk about
438
00:28:13,440 –> 00:28:16,320
and where did they come from?
Which of those two questions do
439
00:28:16,320 –> 00:28:18,680
you think you’d prefer to to
speak about first?
440
00:28:19,680 –> 00:28:22,280
So he completely bypasses
question #1 because he’s not
441
00:28:22,280 –> 00:28:25,000
particularly happy to talk about
what they talked about.
442
00:28:26,040 –> 00:28:29,160
So he focuses on the second.
He should have been happy to
443
00:28:29,160 –> 00:28:31,640
share their speech if they don’t
even talk about presence and
444
00:28:31,640 –> 00:28:35,760
sundials.
But the ambassadors had been
445
00:28:35,760 –> 00:28:38,800
discussing other things and he
was reluctant to divulge that.
446
00:28:39,040 –> 00:28:42,880
And I think as soon as Isaiah
asked the question, here’s a
447
00:28:42,880 –> 00:28:45,320
car, I felt those first
stirrings of a guilty
448
00:28:45,320 –> 00:28:47,040
conscience.
And he sought to deflect the
449
00:28:47,040 –> 00:28:49,680
tension away from what that
conversation had been about.
450
00:28:49,680 –> 00:28:51,280
So he focuses on the second
question.
451
00:28:51,280 –> 00:28:52,240
He said, oh, where they come
from?
452
00:28:52,240 –> 00:28:54,760
Well, he says verse three.
He says, they come from a far
453
00:28:54,760 –> 00:28:57,920
country unto me, from Babylon.
See that little word unto me?
454
00:28:59,400 –> 00:29:02,720
Maybe that gives us the clue as
to how important Hezekiah had
455
00:29:02,720 –> 00:29:07,480
been made to feel by the
obsequious behavior of the
456
00:29:07,480 –> 00:29:09,960
ambassadors.
Imagine how good it felt for the
457
00:29:09,960 –> 00:29:13,400
little Kingdom of Judah to be
singled out for praise by the
458
00:29:13,400 –> 00:29:16,680
rising power of Babylon.
One couldn’t help but be
459
00:29:16,680 –> 00:29:23,360
gratified by such attention.
They came unto me, says, But his
460
00:29:23,360 –> 00:29:31,160
choice of words gave the story
away really, because the exact
461
00:29:31,160 –> 00:29:36,520
phrase Hezekiah used, they come
from a far country in the
462
00:29:36,520 –> 00:29:40,000
Hebrews, Eretz Lahoka from a
country far.
463
00:29:40,920 –> 00:29:45,400
But that that expression and the
very first time it was used in
464
00:29:45,400 –> 00:29:50,360
the Bible held a warning which
Hezekiah had ignored.
465
00:29:50,960 –> 00:29:54,840
Because the first time that
their expression, Eretz Lahoka
466
00:29:54,840 –> 00:29:57,560
is found, it comes in the book
of Joshua.
467
00:29:58,680 –> 00:30:01,000
And as soon as I mention the
book of Joshua, I hope your
468
00:30:01,000 –> 00:30:04,400
minds are spinning because yes,
you’re right.
469
00:30:04,400 –> 00:30:07,360
It’s not just the book of
Joshua, but it’s Joshua Chapter
470
00:30:07,360 –> 00:30:11,080
9, when a certain group of
people come stumbling into the
471
00:30:11,080 –> 00:30:14,640
encampment of Israel with old
cloves and moldy bread and
472
00:30:15,360 –> 00:30:18,080
rotten shoes.
And this is what they say,
473
00:30:18,080 –> 00:30:21,320
Joshua Chapter 9, verse six.
They went to Joshua unto the
474
00:30:21,320 –> 00:30:23,360
camp at Gilgon.
They said unto him, and to the
475
00:30:23,360 –> 00:30:27,960
men of Israel, We become from
the edits Lahalka, a far
476
00:30:27,960 –> 00:30:30,520
country.
Now therefore make a league with
477
00:30:30,920 –> 00:30:33,000
us.
Verse 8 And they said to Joshua,
478
00:30:33,200 –> 00:30:36,280
We’re thy servants.
And Joshua said unto them, Who
479
00:30:36,280 –> 00:30:39,960
are ye, and from whence come ye?
And they said, Oh, we’re come
480
00:30:39,960 –> 00:30:43,240
from the edits, Lahalka, from a
very country.
481
00:30:43,240 –> 00:30:46,800
Thy servants are come because of
the name of Yahweh, thy God.
482
00:30:47,120 –> 00:30:49,720
For we’ve heard the fame of him
and all that he did in Egypt and
483
00:30:49,720 –> 00:30:51,920
all that he did to the two kings
of the Amorites.
484
00:30:52,400 –> 00:30:55,320
So our elders, verse 11 told us
to come and see you.
485
00:30:55,520 –> 00:30:58,120
We’re your servants.
Therefore now make a league with
486
00:30:58,200 –> 00:31:01,360
us.
And verse 14 says, And the men,
487
00:31:01,440 –> 00:31:05,360
that is, the men of Israel, took
of their bittles, and asked not
488
00:31:05,560 –> 00:31:10,080
counsel at the mouth of Yahweh.
And Joshua made peace with them,
489
00:31:10,320 –> 00:31:12,440
and made a league with them to
let them live in.
490
00:31:12,440 –> 00:31:14,960
The Princess of the congregation
swore unto them.
491
00:31:15,520 –> 00:31:18,880
Isn’t that the very
circumstances of Isaiah 39,
492
00:31:18,920 –> 00:31:21,160
brothers and sisters?
Because this is the very reason
493
00:31:21,320 –> 00:31:23,480
why the ambassadors of Babylon
had come.
494
00:31:24,360 –> 00:31:27,000
We’re come from a far country.
Because we’ve heard of the fame
495
00:31:27,000 –> 00:31:29,280
of your God.
We’ve heard of the shadow on the
496
00:31:29,280 –> 00:31:31,360
sundial.
We’ve heard how He’s helped to
497
00:31:31,360 –> 00:31:34,040
defeat a mighty king.
Therefore now make a league with
498
00:31:34,040 –> 00:31:36,120
us.
And here’s a car.
499
00:31:36,120 –> 00:31:41,800
Like Joshua of old had failed to
inquire of Yahweh before
500
00:31:41,800 –> 00:31:45,160
agreeing to a Treaty of
friendship and peace with
501
00:31:45,160 –> 00:31:48,320
Babylon.
It was a mistake, and a grievous
502
00:31:48,320 –> 00:31:52,760
one at that.
This faithful king who’d been so
503
00:31:52,760 –> 00:31:58,800
staunch in resisting Assyria, so
resolute in refusing Egypt, how
504
00:31:58,800 –> 00:32:03,000
could he possibly contemplate an
alliance with Babylon?
505
00:32:03,000 –> 00:32:10,600
And by the time Isaiah even
asked the question, we know that
506
00:32:10,600 –> 00:32:13,920
Hezekiah knew because that’s the
sort of man he was.
507
00:32:15,600 –> 00:32:20,400
So verse 4 then said he that is
Isaiah.
508
00:32:21,200 –> 00:32:26,320
What have they seen in vine
house and I think he’s a car now
509
00:32:26,480 –> 00:32:29,120
is already stood to an awareness
of his folly.
510
00:32:29,200 –> 00:32:31,880
So when Isaiah asked this next
question, he answered
511
00:32:31,880 –> 00:32:35,280
immediately and he did it with
total honesty and candor.
512
00:32:35,920 –> 00:32:38,840
He knew where this was heading.
He knew there was no point
513
00:32:38,840 –> 00:32:41,240
continuing to dispute with
Yahweh’s prophet.
514
00:32:41,240 –> 00:32:44,000
And so he confessed, all without
reservation.
515
00:32:44,200 –> 00:32:47,080
So Hezekiah answered, All that
is in mine house.
516
00:32:47,080 –> 00:32:49,480
Have they seen?
There is nothing among my
517
00:32:49,480 –> 00:32:51,320
treasures that I’ve not showed
them.
518
00:32:51,480 –> 00:32:56,840
And so here then already was the
first intimation of Hezekiah’s
519
00:32:56,840 –> 00:33:00,840
true spirit when faced with the
reality of what he’d done.
520
00:33:00,960 –> 00:33:03,600
He didn’t prevaricate.
He didn’t dispute, He didn’t
521
00:33:03,600 –> 00:33:05,040
contend.
He didn’t deny.
522
00:33:05,160 –> 00:33:09,720
He told the truth.
It’s intrinsic, brothers and
523
00:33:09,720 –> 00:33:11,840
sisters, to our human nature to
deny.
524
00:33:12,000 –> 00:33:15,000
We talk about the Garden of
Eden, we talk about man’s bias
525
00:33:15,000 –> 00:33:17,400
towards sin, but we’re not just
biased towards sin.
526
00:33:17,400 –> 00:33:19,400
And brothers and sisters, the
story of the fig leaves in the
527
00:33:19,400 –> 00:33:22,760
garden tells us that we have a
bias towards the concealment of
528
00:33:22,760 –> 00:33:25,400
sin, a bias towards the denial
of sin.
529
00:33:25,640 –> 00:33:28,200
We find it very difficult to
admit to sin.
530
00:33:28,720 –> 00:33:30,760
But here’s a kind did straight
away, just like that, without
531
00:33:30,760 –> 00:33:35,200
hesitation, and as He did, the
implications of what He had done
532
00:33:35,480 –> 00:33:38,040
must have begun to dawn upon
Him.
533
00:33:38,600 –> 00:33:44,840
I have shown the inner workings
of Yahweh’s Kingdom and even the
534
00:33:44,840 –> 00:33:49,080
mysteries of Yahweh’s worship to
the enemies of the truth.
535
00:33:50,560 –> 00:33:54,760
The spices in the ointments of
verse 2 may have been a
536
00:33:54,760 –> 00:33:57,680
reference to the holy special
incense and the holy anointing
537
00:33:57,680 –> 00:34:01,240
oil of the temple service, but
those items and their
538
00:34:01,240 –> 00:34:03,520
ingredients were secrets which
should have been known only to
539
00:34:03,520 –> 00:34:06,640
the priestly family.
What was he thinking of
540
00:34:06,960 –> 00:34:11,960
revealing all this to the
ungodly ambassadors of Babylon?
541
00:34:15,000 –> 00:34:17,040
Just as well that Isaiah turned
up, don’t you think?
542
00:34:19,600 –> 00:34:22,280
And Isaiah turned up because of
who Isaiah was.
543
00:34:22,280 –> 00:34:26,159
You see, because right through
the story, Isaiah has been, has
544
00:34:26,159 –> 00:34:29,440
he not the spokesman for God
himself?
545
00:34:30,920 –> 00:34:34,920
It’s interesting just to notice
the the, the context of of how
546
00:34:34,920 –> 00:34:38,880
Isaiah appears because notice
these words in the dialogue of
547
00:34:38,880 –> 00:34:42,120
the crisis of Hezekiah in these
Isaiah chapters.
548
00:34:42,840 –> 00:34:46,600
Isaiah 37 verse 6, Isaiah said
thus saith Yahweh.
549
00:34:47,320 –> 00:34:52,320
He’s God’s spokesman.
Isaiah 37 verse 2021, Isaiah
550
00:34:52,320 –> 00:34:56,360
said thus saith Yahweh.
Isaiah 38 verses four and five
551
00:34:56,360 –> 00:35:00,480
go and say thus saith Yahweh.
And here now in chapter 39,
552
00:35:00,640 –> 00:35:02,920
Isaiah said to his guy, hear the
word of Yahweh.
553
00:35:03,000 –> 00:35:05,040
He’s God’s spokesman.
He’s always been God’s
554
00:35:05,040 –> 00:35:07,320
spokesman.
That’s Isaiah’s role in the
555
00:35:07,320 –> 00:35:10,360
story.
But do you notice that each time
556
00:35:10,360 –> 00:35:14,280
he turns up, he uses the divine
name in different ways?
557
00:35:14,720 –> 00:35:17,600
Because you see, in the first
occasion he says thus saith
558
00:35:17,600 –> 00:35:21,560
Yahweh, and in the second
episode he says thus saith
559
00:35:21,560 –> 00:35:26,240
Yahweh, Elohim of Israel, and
then the third Yahweh, the God
560
00:35:26,240 –> 00:35:31,040
of David thy father, and now
Yahweh survey off.
561
00:35:32,240 –> 00:35:35,600
So there’s a richness about
Isaiah’s work as the spokesman
562
00:35:35,760 –> 00:35:39,280
for heaven.
And on this occasion the message
563
00:35:39,280 –> 00:35:44,040
comes from Yahweh survey off God
in militant manifestation, The
564
00:35:44,040 –> 00:35:46,960
God who had defeated the
Assyrians, the God whose hosts
565
00:35:46,960 –> 00:35:50,760
were more powerful than anything
that Babylon could offer, that
566
00:35:50,760 –> 00:35:56,560
God Yahweh survey off, saith
unto thee, hear the word, says
567
00:35:56,560 –> 00:36:01,440
the prophet Isaiah.
And so he says in Isaiah 39,
568
00:36:01,680 –> 00:36:05,360
verse 6, Behold, the days come,
that all that is in thine house,
569
00:36:05,360 –> 00:36:08,320
and that which thy fathers have
laid up in store unto this day
570
00:36:08,720 –> 00:36:11,600
shall be carried to Babylon.
Nothing shall be left, saith
571
00:36:12,080 –> 00:36:15,760
Yahweh.
And the very phrases that Isaiah
572
00:36:15,760 –> 00:36:21,040
uses, he’s turned Hezekiah’s
words back on him, you see, in
573
00:36:21,040 –> 00:36:24,960
the matter of his judgment,
because the phrase all that is
574
00:36:24,960 –> 00:36:29,600
in thy house, the six comes from
Hezekiah’s own words in verse 4,
575
00:36:29,760 –> 00:36:34,160
all that is in mine house.
And Isaiah’s expression in verse
576
00:36:34,160 –> 00:36:41,080
six that says there’s, that says
there is nothing that will not
577
00:36:41,080 –> 00:36:45,600
be, nothing that should be left,
says Isaiah Verse 6 is taken
578
00:36:45,600 –> 00:36:47,760
from Hezekiah’s words in verse
4.
579
00:36:47,760 –> 00:36:51,560
There’s nothing that I’ve not
shown them that.
580
00:36:51,560 –> 00:36:55,000
What had he shown them?
All the House of his precious
581
00:36:55,000 –> 00:36:57,880
things, all that was in his
treasures.
582
00:36:58,640 –> 00:37:01,960
And what Isaiah prophesied came
to pass by the way, because the
583
00:37:01,960 –> 00:37:06,600
second of Chronicles 36 and
verses 18 and 19 says the king
584
00:37:06,600 –> 00:37:08,680
of the call.
These took all the vessels of
585
00:37:08,680 –> 00:37:11,240
the House of God, great and
small, and the treasures of the
586
00:37:11,240 –> 00:37:14,160
House of Yahweh, and the
treasures of the king, and all
587
00:37:14,160 –> 00:37:17,200
these he brought to Babylon.
And so the historian tells us
588
00:37:17,200 –> 00:37:20,240
that what Isaiah prophesied came
indeed to path.
589
00:37:20,240 –> 00:37:25,520
And what a paradox it was,
because the very proofs that
590
00:37:25,520 –> 00:37:30,520
Hezekiah gave to convince the
king, the king of Babylon, that
591
00:37:30,520 –> 00:37:35,600
they should cooperate became the
ultimate reason for Babylon’s
592
00:37:35,600 –> 00:37:41,120
plunder of Jerusalem.
When they came down to capture,
593
00:37:41,280 –> 00:37:44,640
they took those treasures which
the ambassador’s had seen so far
594
00:37:44,640 –> 00:37:47,760
from protecting his Kingdom.
Hezekiah’s action could have led
595
00:37:47,760 –> 00:37:50,840
to its downfall, and in a sense,
did so.
596
00:37:50,840 –> 00:37:52,280
There’s a lesson here, isn’t
there?
597
00:37:52,560 –> 00:37:56,280
And the lesson is this, that
when we’ve not thought through
598
00:37:56,280 –> 00:38:01,160
the implications of our
decisions properly, they can
599
00:38:01,160 –> 00:38:03,640
have negative repercussions in
the future.
600
00:38:03,680 –> 00:38:07,560
When the decisions we make are
not based on clear scriptural
601
00:38:07,560 –> 00:38:11,920
teaching, but upon human
thinking they can have, well,
602
00:38:11,920 –> 00:38:15,560
they can be unexpected and
unintended consequences.
603
00:38:16,880 –> 00:38:19,680
And what can happen is that our
actions, instead of helping to
604
00:38:19,680 –> 00:38:24,160
protect the truth, might
actually begin to weaken it.
605
00:38:24,560 –> 00:38:26,640
So here’s a car.
I didn’t intend to harm the
606
00:38:26,640 –> 00:38:29,280
Kingdom, but in his actions he
ultimately did.
607
00:38:30,960 –> 00:38:35,400
And not only would the riches of
the realm be lost, but the
608
00:38:35,400 –> 00:38:37,560
brightest hopes of the royal
line itself.
609
00:38:39,000 –> 00:38:42,480
Because verse 7 says, and of thy
sons that shall issue from thee,
610
00:38:42,480 –> 00:38:44,760
which thou shalt forget, shall
they take away, and they shall
611
00:38:44,760 –> 00:38:47,920
be eunuchs in the palace of the
king of Babylon.
612
00:38:48,360 –> 00:38:51,360
You see, what the king had done
couldn’t be left unchallenged.
613
00:38:52,200 –> 00:38:55,160
This judgment came upon the
King’s own family because
614
00:38:55,360 –> 00:38:59,640
Hezekiah otherwise would have
been held up as an example of
615
00:38:59,880 –> 00:39:02,400
rapport with the Spirit of
Babylon.
616
00:39:04,000 –> 00:39:08,200
God could not allow that.
But look at the response of
617
00:39:08,200 –> 00:39:11,560
Hezekiah when this matter of
judgment is pronounced against
618
00:39:11,560 –> 00:39:15,160
him by Isaiah in the words of
verse 8.
619
00:39:15,280 –> 00:39:19,480
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah,
good is the word of Yahweh which
620
00:39:19,480 –> 00:39:22,160
thou hast spoken.
So the first thing that Hezekiah
621
00:39:22,160 –> 00:39:24,320
acknowledged that which thou
hast spoken.
622
00:39:24,600 –> 00:39:28,720
You see, there was no doubt in
Hezekiah’s mind that Isaiah was
623
00:39:28,800 –> 00:39:31,600
Yahweh’s messenger.
He didn’t spoon his comments.
624
00:39:31,600 –> 00:39:38,760
He didn’t reject his warning.
Proverbs 27, verse 6 faithful of
625
00:39:38,760 –> 00:39:45,280
the wounds of a friend, but the
kisses of the enemy are
626
00:39:45,280 –> 00:39:49,960
deceitful.
But how could Hezekiah describe
627
00:39:49,960 –> 00:39:52,360
a word that pronounced judgement
on his household?
628
00:39:52,600 –> 00:39:57,800
How can he call that good?
Well, because faced with the
629
00:39:57,800 –> 00:40:01,400
reality of his pride, what
Hezekiah immediately sought to
630
00:40:01,400 –> 00:40:03,920
do was to vindicate God and not
justify himself.
631
00:40:05,440 –> 00:40:08,480
And those words summarize a
principle that lies at the heart
632
00:40:08,480 –> 00:40:11,680
of God manifestation as the
central doctrine of the truth.
633
00:40:11,680 –> 00:40:14,640
Because, well, this is what
Psalm 25 verse 8 says.
634
00:40:14,960 –> 00:40:20,280
Good and upright is Yahweh.
Therefore He will teach sinners
635
00:40:20,280 –> 00:40:24,480
in the way Matthew 19 verse 17
Christ said, Why call this Thou
636
00:40:24,480 –> 00:40:28,200
me good?
There is none good but one, and
637
00:40:28,200 –> 00:40:31,120
that is God.
If they would enter into life,
638
00:40:31,120 –> 00:40:34,520
keep the commandments.
So the maxim that God is good
639
00:40:34,680 –> 00:40:38,800
and Yahweh is right is a
declaration that Yahweh’s
640
00:40:38,800 –> 00:40:41,960
supreme and not man.
And that’s the very first thing
641
00:40:41,960 –> 00:40:43,560
that Hezekiah sought to
acknowledge.
642
00:40:43,720 –> 00:40:45,600
The word of Yahweh is always
good.
643
00:40:47,120 –> 00:40:48,280
So that’s the first thing he
says.
644
00:40:48,560 –> 00:40:51,280
I acknowledge the supremacy and
the righteousness of God.
645
00:40:51,840 –> 00:40:54,360
That comes first, says Hezekiah.
I accept that.
646
00:40:54,520 –> 00:40:58,080
I bow before that as a matter of
divine principle in my life.
647
00:40:58,280 –> 00:41:01,880
And then it says He said,
Moreover, for there shall be
648
00:41:01,880 –> 00:41:04,240
peace and truth in my days.
Now you see that little
649
00:41:04,240 –> 00:41:08,440
expression, he said.
Moreover, those words suggest a
650
00:41:08,440 –> 00:41:12,560
break between his first comment,
Good is the word of Yahweh.
651
00:41:13,560 –> 00:41:16,480
And now his second comment.
There shall be peace and truth
652
00:41:16,480 –> 00:41:19,680
in my days.
So his first concern was to
653
00:41:19,680 –> 00:41:21,640
vindicate the righteousness of
God.
654
00:41:21,880 –> 00:41:25,920
Then a pause to reflect and
consider before making this
655
00:41:26,000 –> 00:41:30,720
second comment.
So what then then did this
656
00:41:30,800 –> 00:41:35,840
second statement really mean?
For there shall be peace and
657
00:41:35,840 –> 00:41:41,880
truth in my days.
Well, one translation has Then
658
00:41:41,880 –> 00:41:44,560
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, This
message you’ve given me from
659
00:41:44,560 –> 00:41:46,440
Yahweh is good.
For the king was thinking, well,
660
00:41:46,440 –> 00:41:48,880
at least there’ll be peace and
security during my lifetime.
661
00:41:51,840 –> 00:41:56,080
So the implication would be,
well, pity about those after me,
662
00:41:56,080 –> 00:42:01,680
but at least I’ll be all right.
An attitude of utter selfishness
663
00:42:01,760 –> 00:42:04,320
and indifference to the plight
of others who might follow.
664
00:42:04,520 –> 00:42:07,080
But in the light of his
confession that Yahweh is good,
665
00:42:07,280 –> 00:42:10,080
could that be possibly the
meaning of Hezekiah’s words?
666
00:42:10,680 –> 00:42:14,200
A man who were told trusted God
like none other before or after
667
00:42:14,200 –> 00:42:18,040
him.
Now what he really meant was
668
00:42:18,040 –> 00:42:24,320
that in the time that remained
to him in God’s good grace, that
669
00:42:24,320 –> 00:42:28,680
his focus would now be on what
was best for the nation as he
670
00:42:28,680 –> 00:42:31,760
had already there.
The father to the children shall
671
00:42:31,760 –> 00:42:35,640
make know thy truth.
And we have scriptural testimony
672
00:42:35,840 –> 00:42:39,080
that that was exactly the spirit
of his a car.
673
00:42:39,680 –> 00:42:43,320
You see, it isn’t just Isaiah
who’d prophesied here about
674
00:42:43,320 –> 00:42:45,800
going into Babylon.
Isaiah prophesized that the
675
00:42:45,800 –> 00:42:49,440
royal family will go into
Babylon, Isaiah 39 verses 6:00
676
00:42:49,440 –> 00:42:52,360
and 7:00.
But Micah prophesied in Micah 4,
677
00:42:52,360 –> 00:42:55,320
verse 10 that the nation would
be exiled into Babylon.
678
00:42:56,040 –> 00:42:59,480
And when Micah gave his promise,
because he’s a contemporary
679
00:42:59,480 –> 00:43:04,680
prophet with Isaiah, we know
what Hezekiah’s response was to
680
00:43:04,680 –> 00:43:07,640
Micah’s promise that the nation
will be exiled to Babylon.
681
00:43:07,960 –> 00:43:11,400
Because if you come to Jeremiah
26, we’re told, we’re told that
682
00:43:11,400 –> 00:43:15,520
when Micah uttered his words
against the nation, this is what
683
00:43:15,720 –> 00:43:18,800
King Hezekiah said at that very
moment of time.
684
00:43:18,800 –> 00:43:22,880
It’s an indication and index to
the character of the man with
685
00:43:22,880 –> 00:43:25,000
whom we have to do in this
story.
686
00:43:26,240 –> 00:43:29,640
Zion for your sake shall be
plowed as a field, Micah had
687
00:43:29,640 –> 00:43:33,520
said, and this is what it says
in Jeremiah 26 and verse 17.
688
00:43:33,920 –> 00:43:36,600
Then rose up certain of the
elders of the land, and spake to
689
00:43:36,600 –> 00:43:40,040
all the assembly of the people,
saying, Mike of the Morris site
690
00:43:40,560 –> 00:43:43,600
prophesied in the days of
Hezekiah king of Judah, and
691
00:43:43,600 –> 00:43:46,560
spake to all the people of
Judah, saying, Thus saith Yahweh
692
00:43:46,560 –> 00:43:50,680
of hosts, Zion shall be plowed
like a field, and Jerusalem
693
00:43:50,680 –> 00:43:53,120
shall become heaps in the
mountains of the of the houses,
694
00:43:53,120 –> 00:43:57,440
the high places of a forest.
Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and
695
00:43:57,440 –> 00:43:59,160
all Judah put him at all to
death?
696
00:43:59,920 –> 00:44:05,040
Did not he, Hezekiah, fear
Yahweh, and besought Yahweh, and
697
00:44:05,040 –> 00:44:08,080
Yahweh repented him of the evil
which he pronounced against
698
00:44:08,080 –> 00:44:12,680
them?
So notice those the connections
699
00:44:12,680 –> 00:44:14,960
of the of the singular and the
plural.
700
00:44:15,120 –> 00:44:18,200
The obvious implication of
Jeremiah’s words was that the
701
00:44:18,200 –> 00:44:22,160
humility of the king who
besought Yahweh rescued the
702
00:44:22,160 –> 00:44:26,800
nation from their doom.
He besought they were saved.
703
00:44:26,880 –> 00:44:29,200
Did you notice that and see what
the margin says?
704
00:44:29,400 –> 00:44:33,360
The margin says in Jeremiah 26
and verse 18, verse 19.
705
00:44:33,480 –> 00:44:37,640
See Second Chronicles chapter
32, verse 26.
706
00:44:37,800 –> 00:44:40,720
To which, brothers and sisters,
we shall now to, because in the
707
00:44:40,720 –> 00:44:45,000
Second of Chronicles chapter 32,
we have the divine comment on
708
00:44:45,000 –> 00:44:49,840
this matter and how Hezekiah did
react, how he didn’t respond.
709
00:44:50,160 –> 00:44:53,200
And he did so in a manner that
was utterly consistent with his
710
00:44:53,440 –> 00:44:57,000
true character, even when under
crisis.
711
00:44:57,200 –> 00:45:01,400
So this is what it says
concerning this same episode in
712
00:45:01,400 –> 00:45:06,760
the Second Chronicles 32 record.
It says, verse 26,
713
00:45:07,160 –> 00:45:13,360
notwithstanding after his
mistake, verse 25 after his
714
00:45:13,360 –> 00:45:20,600
error, notwithstanding verse 26,
he humbled himself for the pride
715
00:45:20,640 –> 00:45:27,240
of his heart, both he and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so
716
00:45:27,240 –> 00:45:31,000
that the wrath of Yahweh came
not upon them in the days of
717
00:45:31,000 –> 00:45:32,840
Hezekiah.
So he was the test.
718
00:45:33,080 –> 00:45:37,080
And Hezekiah, despite his
momentary lapse, now reveals
719
00:45:37,080 –> 00:45:40,840
again the Spirit in his life
that so delighted his God.
720
00:45:41,080 –> 00:45:43,360
And it’s the lesson by the
sisters from our study today
721
00:45:43,360 –> 00:45:47,280
about what to do and how to
respond when in times of crisis.
722
00:45:47,640 –> 00:45:49,840
And the lesson is, well, we all
you know it.
723
00:45:50,040 –> 00:45:52,880
It’s the practice of it that’s
difficult, not the knowing of
724
00:45:52,880 –> 00:45:59,280
it.
Learning to show humility, to
725
00:45:59,320 –> 00:46:04,280
confess fault.
Now just have a look at these
726
00:46:04,520 –> 00:46:09,120
wonderful examples in the Second
of Chronicles, chapter 12 and
727
00:46:09,120 –> 00:46:11,680
verse 12.
When Ribo humbled himself, the
728
00:46:11,680 –> 00:46:14,840
wrath of Yahweh turned from him
that he would not destroy him
729
00:46:15,360 –> 00:46:18,840
altogether.
Humility brought that.
730
00:46:21,040 –> 00:46:24,640
And in the first of Kings 21
verses 28 and 29, it says, the
731
00:46:24,640 –> 00:46:28,680
word of Yahweh came and said,
Seest thou how Ahab humbleth
732
00:46:28,680 –> 00:46:31,360
himself before me?
I will not bring the evil in his
733
00:46:31,360 –> 00:46:35,880
days.
And now here’s a car in the
734
00:46:35,880 –> 00:46:38,200
second of Chronicles 32 and
verse 26.
735
00:46:38,200 –> 00:46:41,120
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled
himself for the pride of his
736
00:46:41,120 –> 00:46:43,880
heart, so that the wrath of
Yahweh came not upon them.
737
00:46:45,920 –> 00:46:48,160
The wrath of Yahweh came not
upon them.
738
00:46:50,320 –> 00:46:52,800
And Second Chronicles 33 verses
12 to 13.
739
00:46:52,800 –> 00:46:56,080
He Manasseh humbled himself
greatly before the God of his
740
00:46:56,080 –> 00:46:58,680
fathers, and he wasn’t treated
of him, and heard his
741
00:46:58,680 –> 00:47:00,880
supplications.
So I think that here’s the
742
00:47:00,880 –> 00:47:04,200
meaning of Hezekiah’s words,
quoting from the King’s version.
743
00:47:04,520 –> 00:47:10,360
Is it not good if peace and
truth be in my days?
744
00:47:11,040 –> 00:47:14,560
So far from those words being an
indication of His indifference
745
00:47:14,560 –> 00:47:19,120
to the nation’s future, it was
His his expression of hope that
746
00:47:19,120 –> 00:47:22,640
He had been granted time to
bring His people to the same
747
00:47:22,640 –> 00:47:26,400
spirit of humility which He
Himself had already shown, And
748
00:47:26,400 –> 00:47:28,360
His labours were blessed with
success.
749
00:47:28,520 –> 00:47:31,360
Because verse 26 says the wrath
did not come.
750
00:47:31,440 –> 00:47:37,160
When in His days there shall be
peace and truth in my days.
751
00:47:37,360 –> 00:47:39,720
And He averted the wrath in His
days.
752
00:47:42,280 –> 00:47:45,880
So here then were two opposite
attributes played out in the
753
00:47:45,880 –> 00:47:50,840
life of the king.
His pride brought the nation
754
00:47:50,840 –> 00:47:59,160
into danger, but thankfully his
his humility saved the nation
755
00:47:59,400 –> 00:48:03,200
from disaster.
Now we can see the story of
756
00:48:03,200 –> 00:48:04,720
Hezekiah and agree with the
lesson.
757
00:48:04,720 –> 00:48:08,440
But learning how to apply it is
not always so easy.
758
00:48:09,760 –> 00:48:15,160
You see, human pride can be
manifested in many ways, but one
759
00:48:15,160 –> 00:48:19,200
of its worst aspects is an
unwillingness to receive rebuke
760
00:48:20,800 –> 00:48:26,160
and inability to admit fault, a
reluctance to accept counsel.
761
00:48:28,040 –> 00:48:31,280
Faced with such a threat, the
thinking of the flesh tends to
762
00:48:31,280 –> 00:48:33,920
react adversely.
It engages in self
763
00:48:33,920 –> 00:48:36,960
justification.
It indulges in self-righteous
764
00:48:36,960 –> 00:48:40,560
indignation.
It casts aspersions on the other
765
00:48:40,560 –> 00:48:45,400
party, revealing a spirit that’s
clearly resentful of anyone who
766
00:48:45,400 –> 00:48:48,520
might have the temerity just to
suggest that they’re wrong.
767
00:48:48,520 –> 00:48:51,600
Prides about self, brothers and
sisters, and we ought not to
768
00:48:51,600 –> 00:48:56,200
imagine that this is a problem
uniquely faced by others but not
769
00:48:56,200 –> 00:49:00,880
ourselves.
We all suffer from a condition
770
00:49:00,880 –> 00:49:04,280
first seen in the Garden of
Eden, when one man and one woman
771
00:49:04,280 –> 00:49:07,880
were both unwilling to admit
fault and both too quick to
772
00:49:07,880 –> 00:49:10,600
blame someone else.
It’s ever been so.
773
00:49:11,640 –> 00:49:17,840
So if pride is about the
aggrandisement of man, then what
774
00:49:17,840 –> 00:49:22,320
do you think humility is?
Well, I think the world would
775
00:49:22,320 –> 00:49:25,080
probably teach that humility is
the opposite of pride.
776
00:49:25,080 –> 00:49:26,880
Must be about the abasement of
man.
777
00:49:29,160 –> 00:49:32,040
But the scriptural passages that
we’ve examined, which suggests
778
00:49:32,040 –> 00:49:36,480
that if pride is seen in the
exaltation of man, humility is
779
00:49:36,480 –> 00:49:44,080
seen in the exaltation of God.
Biblical humility relates to the
780
00:49:44,080 –> 00:49:48,720
man or the woman who’s so
centered on God and His purpose
781
00:49:48,880 –> 00:49:51,760
that, when faced with the
evidence that they have let the
782
00:49:51,760 –> 00:49:55,240
truth down, will prefer to
surrender to the vindication of
783
00:49:55,240 –> 00:49:58,320
God rather than to the
justification of self.
784
00:50:00,760 –> 00:50:03,720
Pride is intrinsic to the
thinking of the flesh.
785
00:50:05,560 –> 00:50:09,480
Humility stands related to the
thinking of the Spirit.
786
00:50:09,480 –> 00:50:16,400
And because it does, whereas
pride comes naturally, humility
787
00:50:16,400 –> 00:50:21,520
must be learned.
That humility is an attribute
788
00:50:21,520 –> 00:50:27,760
that Yahweh delights in and we
all need more of that spirit of
789
00:50:27,760 –> 00:50:31,840
humility in an age which is
filled with self focused,
790
00:50:31,840 –> 00:50:35,360
self-centered, self absorbed,
self opinionated, self
791
00:50:35,360 –> 00:50:42,400
justifying humanism.
That’s Micah 6 verse 8 isn’t it?
792
00:50:42,480 –> 00:50:47,160
What doth Yahweh, thy God,
requireth thee but to do justly,
793
00:50:47,680 –> 00:50:53,840
to love mercy and to humble
thyself, to walk with thy God
794
00:50:55,320 –> 00:50:59,280
Now how encouraging that
Hezekiah is example even in this
795
00:50:59,280 –> 00:51:02,640
moment of his momentary lapse
when he lost perspective but
796
00:51:02,640 –> 00:51:05,360
then regained it.
How wonderful at that crucial
797
00:51:05,360 –> 00:51:08,680
moment he shows that spirit of
humility that in the end saved
798
00:51:08,680 –> 00:51:13,560
his nation, saved his people and
those 15 years of added time,
799
00:51:13,560 –> 00:51:17,600
his wise use of them prospered
the nation so that the broth was
800
00:51:17,600 –> 00:51:20,480
averted in his day.
Let’s be thankful for that
801
00:51:20,480 –> 00:51:25,320
spirit and that lesson by the
sisters out of the life of King
802
00:51:25,320 –> 00:51:29,600
Hezekiah, as it says in one of
our hymns.
803
00:51:30,840 –> 00:51:38,920
O God, unseen yet ever near, we
come to seek Thy face, our
804
00:51:38,920 –> 00:51:47,880
hearts made wiser by thy fear,
and humbler by Thy grace.
805
00:52:09,160 –> 00:52:13,040
On behalf of all of us, we would
like to thank our brethren for
806
00:52:13,040 –> 00:52:15,640
their administrations on our
behalf this morning.
807
00:52:16,920 –> 00:52:21,080
And while we stand, let us close
our session and give thanks for
808
00:52:21,080 –> 00:52:32,390
our meal, our greats, and our
eternal.
809
00:52:33,630 –> 00:52:38,630
Our loving Lord God, our
Heavenly Father, we thank you
810
00:52:38,630 –> 00:52:47,080
for the blessing of the morning
pages of Scripture opened in the
811
00:52:47,080 –> 00:52:50,720
lives of those that are written
therein.
812
00:52:52,800 –> 00:52:59,200
We’re thankful for the lessons,
for the Enlightenment, and for
813
00:52:59,200 –> 00:53:03,280
the encouragement and the
strength that Your Word
814
00:53:03,280 –> 00:53:10,320
provides.
We continue our Thanksgiving for
815
00:53:10,320 –> 00:53:15,440
the food that has been prepared
for us and the wonderful
816
00:53:15,440 –> 00:53:22,400
opportunity to share these good
things together in the spirit of
817
00:53:22,400 –> 00:53:27,240
fellowship and friendship.
Praise you for your goodness.
818
00:53:28,760 –> 00:53:34,680
Thank you for all things.
In the name of our exalted Lord
819
00:53:34,680 –> 00:53:38,040
and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
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