The events which took place in the ApostoUc age, when the Apostles and others went forth to pviblish the glad tidings of salvation, precisely corresponded with this prophecy : they went from Jerusalem, and diffused the knowledge of a crucified Sa- viour throughout the earth.]
Let us attend to, II. The instruction to be derived from it — We may particularly learn from hence,
1. The interest which God takes in his Church and people —
[Not only from the time that these words were spoken, but even before the foundation of the world, God had an eye to his chosen people, to deliver them from their spiritual ene- mies, that they might "walk in holiness and righteousness be- fore him all the days of their Hfe." On his Jewish Church he yet looks, in order to " engraff them yet again on their own olive-tree," when the appointed period for their restoration shall arrive. And on the least and meanest of his people at this day does he still cast an eye of love and pity: he " has thoughts of love and peace towards them," and " is not wdlling that one of his little ones should perish." If enemies assault them, he considers himself as struck through them*^: he feels as if the apple of his eye were touched®: he regards them as " his first-fruits," which if any dared to alienate and consume, he did it at the peril of his own soul^.]
2. The efficacy of believing prayer —
[Low indeed was the state of the nation at that time : it seemed as if there was no possibility of escape for them from their conquering enemies. But behold, how speedily and effec- tually prayer prevailed! Isaiah lifted up his voice to God in prayer S; Hezekiah also spread before the Lord the letter that Rabshakeh had sent him^; and scarcely had the pious monarch finished his prayer, before the prophet was sent to him from the Lord, vnth assurances of immediate and complete deliverance*: and that very night was an angel sent from heaven to destroy a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian army. Thus shall all God's enemies, and ours, perish, if only we cry unto God for help. We may even now adopt the exulting language which God ordered Hezekiah to use in reference to the Assy- rian monarch, " The virgin, the daughter of Israel, hath shaken her head at thee." Only spread all your wants and difficulties before the Lord, and there is no lust, no enemy, that shall
<i Acts ix. 4. e Zech. ii. 8. f Jer. ii. 3.
g ver. 4. ^ ver. 14 — 19. i ver. 20.
378. J hezekiah's appeal to god. 547
stand before you; but " Satan himself shall be bruised under yovu" feet shortly."
" The zeal of the Lord of Hosts is pledged to perform this" for all his believing people. You may therefore go to him and plead, " Where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me'' ? " And his answer to you shall speedily arrive, " I will rejoice over you to do you good, and I will plant you in the heavenly land ivith my ivJiole heart and with my whole soulK" Only believe in him; and " according to your faith it shall be unto you."]
'^ Isai, Ixiii. 15. i Jer. xxxii. 41.