Isai. xxxiii. 6. Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation : the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
THIS is spoken respecting Hezekiah,king of Judah. His country had been invaded by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, by whom all the fenced cities of Judah had been taken. To arrest his course, and to save Jerusalem itself, Hezekiah sent to implore forgiveness for having rebelled against Sennacherib (to whom King Ahaz had made the kingdom tributary), and to declare his readiness to submit to any terms which the conqueror should impose. A very heavy contribution in silver and gold, amounting to above 266,000/., was exacted of him ; and he was constrained to send " all the silver that was found in the House of the Lord and in the king's house, and to cut off the gold from
the doors of the Temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which he himself had overlaid," in order to satisfy the demand a. Having thus paid the tribute, he hoped for peace. But Sennacherib soon violated his engagement ; and, setting aside the treaty, sent his servant against Jerusalem, with an immense army, to besiege itb. No hope now remained to Hezekiah, but from God himself ; to whom he applied in fervent prayer0. And, on that occasion, the Prophet Isaiah, who had joined with him in crying unto God, was inspired to denounce against Sennacherib this judg- ment: " Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee ! When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled ; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with theed." This was speedily and literally fulfilled : for a hundred and eighty-five thou- sand of Sennacherib's army being slain by an angel in one night, the remainder of them broke up the siege and retreated, leaving a great quantity of spoil behind them : and Sennacherib himself, on his return home, was " murdered by his own sons, whilst he was wor- shiping in the house of Nisroch his gode." Thus did prayer effect what all the wealth of Hezekiah was unable to accomplish : and the reformation made amongst his subjects procured for him what all his armies had in vain endeavoured to effect — a complete deliverance from his powerful and victorious enemies : " Wisdom and knowledge, accompanied with real piety, became to him the stability of his times, and the strength of salvation : and the fear of the Lord was his best and most effectual treasure."
Now, from this passage I will take occasion to shew the influence of true wisdom : First, As promoting the stability of an empire : and, Secondly, As advancing the prosperity of the soul.
I. Consider wisdom as promoting the stability of an empire —
a 2 Kings xviii. 13, 10. l) ver. 17. c 2 Chron. xxxii. 2
(1 ver. 1. e Isai. xxxvii. 36 — 38.