31. Wisdom’s Warning

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Hymns: RHC 315 Walk in the Light 320 ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus 323 Trust and Obey

Isaiah 7:17-25

17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. 20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; 22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. 23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. 24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. 25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

Wisdom’s Warning

OUTLINE

(1) Rejection and Calamity (v17-25)

INTRODUCTION

In January 2018, we started a series in our Sunday sermons on the study of the book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs teaches us the life of godliness. It does so oftentimes by contrast and comparison showing us the ungodly ways, pointing to us the godly ways and teaching us to choose wisely the way of blessing. Proverbs are written in what we call biblical poetry. The Hebrew writers use what is called parallelisms to convey their thoughts – similar thoughts or contrasting thoughts. These are very powerful ways to convey a message. Oftentimes, a verse can stand alone by itself compactly conveying a teaching of practical living. 

Solomon is the writer of the Proverbs – He has often been called “the Great Preacher who failed to practice”. There is the fool in us that the book of Proverbs exposes and we may say “Poor Solomon” for he sets for us an example of what not to follow and yet if you read his last writing in his old age – the Book of Ecclesiastes, you will realise how he has repented of his foolishness and sought a right relationship with His Creator God for one day we will have to see Him as Judge. The book of Proverbs is what is called wisdom literature. It teaches us the way of wisdom. And our text from Proverbs 1:20-33 sets for us the tone to approach this book. 

“Forsake Not Wisdom’s Safety” – This is in fact “Wisdom’s warning” – 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 

We want to divide our text into three portions – the first from v20-23 the Call to embrace God’s Wisdom, the second, from v24-32, the Calamity of Rejecting God’s Wisdom and the final portion in v33, the Comfort/Confidence or Complete Protection of embracing God’s Wisdom. 

  • Call to Embrace God’s Wisdom (v20-23)
    • It’s Call
    • It’s Cry

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Wisdom is personified as a lady who summons people boldly and loudly in the most public places of a city “wisdom crieth without” – the word without means “outside” – in the street, the market, the chief place of the concourse – at the beginning of the busiest of streets “ perhaps like Orchard Road or in “Shenton Way”, and at the city gates (at the Istana), in the most important of public places where man and woman would congregate, wisdom calls out to these to give a listening ear, to man and woman walking headlong to destruction, wisdom cries out to them.[1]

Hear now the response of wisdom.

Verse 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge?

The simple ones, the scorners and the fools are apt descriptions of those walking on the broad way who, scorn and mock at the truth, enticed by the sinner, consenting to his persuasion. Why do you hate knowledge? Why do you hate the truth? Why should it be so? It is for our good and yet we reject God’s call.

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Indeed, without the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to our hearts, the truth cannot have a foothold in our hearts but when the Holy Spirit brings conviction to the sinner’s heart, it can give no rest until the sinner surrenders. Then there are those whose heart the Lord hardens and who rejects the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. These the bible says will receive no salvation. We can be listening to God’s Word, day in day out, month in month out but ear in, ear out. The message is urgent because these simple ones, these scorners and fools need a change of heart. We often share the truth with our loved ones but they reject it. Often we come to our wit’s end. We don’t know what to do anymore except to kneel before the throne of grace to plead for God’s mercy to come upon them to open their hearts to the truth. 

The call to embrace God’s Wisdom (v20-23) if not heeded, a stronger dosage of warning must be given, v24-32, the Calamity of Rejecting God’s Wisdom.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 

God’s longsuffering and patience for the sinner has an end point. If we spurn the grace of God and convict work of the Holy Spirit and keep on sinning, judgement will ultimately come and then it’s too late. When their iniquity is full, judgement will come swiftly. 

Just as the believer who sins wilfully, the Bible says to grieve not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is pure and holy. By our evil thoughts, conversation and conduct we quench the Holy Spirit. Quench has the idea of putting out a fire. We are not to extinguish the influences of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It gives to us doctrines, principles derived from God’s revelation to help us, teach us what to do in all facets of our lives, reproof – to show as a warning – here the word repeated in our text is reproof, counsel. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Remember the rich man who fared sumptuously and dressed in purple died and found himself tormented by the fires of hell, it was too late. On the other hand, Lazarus, who did not have many things in his life, had the most important, he believed in Jesus Christ. When he died, he was transported to heaven. 

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

They did not have any regard for wisdom’s warnings. No regard for their well-being. There was no fear of the LORD in their hearts. They bear the brunt of their own folly. Notice the most important word in verse 29, the word “choose”.

They choose not to walk with God. They choose to fulfil the lust that is in their own hearts. Truly, the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of God in the heart will cause us to want to take heed to God’s Word and cause us to choose the step of obedience, just as Noah did. He has not seen a flood. There was no rain upon the earth before that time. He had to take God at His Word. What is saving faith? We need not just knowledge of the truth, and not just to agree with the truth but to form a conviction in the heart to trust in the truth, this is seen in a change in our conversation and conduct. What we used to do in the old man, we no longer will do. We have put to death the old man and put on the new man in Christ.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 

They look at their company on the broad way and say, they are all doing this and still nothing happen to them, they are still prospering. That is the trap.

The call to embrace God’s Wisdom (v20-23) if not heeded, a stronger dosage of warning must be given, v24-32, the Calamity of Rejecting God’s Wisdom, verse 33, the Comfort/Confidence or Complete Protection of embracing God’s Wisdom. 

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

The blessing of the obedient is not only safety but also a peaceful heart. 

The call to embrace God’s Wisdom (v20-23) if not heeded, a stronger dosage of warning must be given, v24-32, the Calamity of Rejecting God’s Wisdom, verse 33, the Comfort/Confidence or Complete Protection of embracing God’s Wisdom. 

This is the sad story of king Ahaz who defied and denied wisdom call!

During Ahaz’s reign (735-715B.C.), religious and political conditions in Judah deteriorated. Children were made to pass through the fire, Baals were made and worshipped, and pagan rites at the high places revived (2 Kings 16:2-4; 2 Chronicles 28:1-4).[2]

2 Kings 16:2-4 (KJV) Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28:1-4 (KJV) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

We begin chapter 7 with the threat of Israel and Syria which the Lord through Isaiah allayed the fears of king Ahaz. But he refused to turn back to the LORD and perisisted in his idolatrous wayd, plunging the nation into deeper bondage. 

Isaiah 7:1 (KJV) And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, thatRezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

 2 Kings 16:5-6 (KJV) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

We understood that it was not in the will of God that Judah would be overtaken.

Isaiah 7:2-9 (KJV) And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field; And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

(1) Rejection and Calamity

But we saw how king Ahaz dismissed the counsel of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 7:10-13 (KJV) Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

These religious setbacks were paralleled by political and geographical reversals: 

(1) 120,000 Judeans were killed during the Israelites/Aramean invasion (2 Chronicles 28:6).

2 Chronicles 28:6 (KJV) For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.  

(2) Edom revolted and even invaded Judah (2 Kings 16:17).

2 Chronicles 28:17 (KJV) For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

(3) The Philistines invaded the Shephelah and Negev, capturing Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, Timnah, Gimzo, and nearby villages (2 Chronicles 28:18-19).

2 Chronicles 28:18-19 (KJV) The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

The conquest of Damascus and the North Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians brought the Judean kingdom temporary relief from military pressures between 735 B.C. and 722 B.C., but Ahaz’s importation and promotion of pagan religious practices almost ensured that the south would also fall under God’s judgment. During the days of Ahaz (735B.C. – 715B.C.) the Edomites successfully invaded Judah and took captives (2 Chronicles 28:17), while on the west the Philistines captured the cities of Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, Timnah, Gimzo, and nearby villages (2 Chronicles 28:18-19). 

Judean living in these border areas probably fled into the Hill Country of Judah and Jerusalem to avoid the Assyrian onslaught of Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, and Sargon II. The growth of Jerusalem from a city of 37 acres to 150 acres and the increase in the number of settlements in the Hill Country of Judah during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah (735 B.C.-686 B.C.) are clear indicators of this influx of population.

With the death of wicked Ahaz in 715 B.C., Hezekiah’s sole rule began.[3]

Ahaz asked for the king of Assyria; he shall have the king of Assyria. Sometimes the greatest punishment that can come to us is to have our own desire and prayers granted. Isaiah turns to the king, “You, Ahaz,” he says in effect, “have refused to choose a sign. The Lord therefore will give a sign, and this sign is to be found in the birth of Messiah Himself, who will bring salvation to His people. Upon thee, however, the Lord will bring the king of Assyria, for whom thou have been seeking.

To state the matter in a slightly differently fashion, v14 presents the sign which the Lord will give. Verses 15 and 16 constitute the conclusion of the prophecy and verse 17 the announcement of the punishment which is to overtake Ahaz and his house.

17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

Will bring – For emphasis’ sake, the verb is placed first. The threat is directed against Ahaz, but also his people and the house of his father. It is to be fulfilled, then, so it ould seem, not in the coming of one particular king alone, but in the coming of a period of depression and affliction caused by Assyrian kings generally. Days are to come, days which these kings will introduce. These days would culminate in the exile which would bring the theocracy to an end. Since the time when the ten northern tribes apostatized from Judah no calamity had come upon the nation wuch as that which the Lord would bring with the coming of the Assyrian king.

The king of Assyria – The verse concludes in a tremendous climax. What Ahaz had desired, that he was to receive. 

As Delitzsch well remarks, “It is with piercing force that the words of “the king of Assyria’ are introduced at the close of the two verses.” The presence of the evil days to come is to be found in the presence of the king of Assyria. Sometimes of grandeur pertains to the manner in which the verse works up to this climax.

There are two great coming figures. To the people of God Immanuel will bring salvation; to Ahaz and those who followed him the king would bring destruction. With the coming of the Assyrian king an entire new order of things is introduced. 

With Tiglath-pileser III the destruction of the theocracy began and a new period is introduced. What set in motion the train of events leadning up to the exile and the abolishing of the theocracy was the coming of this particular Assyrian king. From that time on, nothing would be as it had been before. The end of the theocracy was now in sight. By his refusing to obey the Lord, Ahaz was responsible for the introduction of this entirely new order of things. [4]

As we shall see now, v18-25 form somewhat of an excursus to the present verse, singling out and developing one particular aspect of the promised threat.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

As in Isaiah 2:2, Isaiah in this text, points to the future. 

Isaiah 2:2 (KJV) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

The whole picture is set in the future. The day mentioned is that in which the dangers just threatened will become a reality, the time characterized by the presence of the king of Assyria. At that time, when the threatened danger has become a reality, the Lord will hiss for the enemy. By means of hissing, bees and flies were called. Earlier, Isaiah has stated that the Lord would hiss for faraway nations; now he identifies those nations.

The fly which is in the end of the rivers of Egypt – Egypt is a land filled with flies, and the Egyptian enemy is thought of as being as multudinous as flies. From the ends of the stream and rivers (lit., “the Niles”), that is, from even the most remote parts of the nations the Lord will hiss for the armies of Egypt.

Ancient testimonies speak of Assyria as a country of beekeeping. The bees are a picture of cruelty and danger.

Deuteronomy 1:44 (KJV) And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.

Mighty in number will be the coming of the enemy; mighty, but also cruel and harmful. The Lord need but hiss, and this powerful and mighty army could come from Egypt and Assyria. To arouse these great countries was no more difficult for the Lord than to hiss for flies and bees. A mere hiss, a whistle, and mighty Assyria and Egypt obey.

Ahaz had sought for an ally in the Assyrian. By his actions he wanted to rule the movements of nations. As a matter of fact, however, since it was subject to the Lord’s control, Assyria could not have come to Palestine apart from the Lord’s permission. Even the mighty Tiglath-pileser could not act upon his own. The exile, brought about by the Lord, was the punishment of Judah inflicted by Assyria and Egypt, and these two powers were simply the instruments of the Lord’s working.[5]

19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

Bees and flies will swarm into the land and devastate it completely. The Lord’s hissing will be successful. The bees and flies will come and they will settle in the land. It is no temporary invasion. Judah is a land of dry watercourses, wadies and gullies, and these are precipitate and steep. On such high-walled wadies flies and bees might most naturally settle. Even such supposedly inaccessible places will not be free from the insects. Not only the deep valleys but also the high crags, the wild places and pastures will be taken by the insects. From this enemy these is no escape. The coming Assyrians cannot be eluded.

20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

Egypt is now left out of the picture, and Assyria alone is mentioned, for she was the leading foe with whom the people of God had to do. At the time when the flies and bees come in and settle down upon the land, then the Lord will shave the entire body, hand and feet, for the devastation to come over Judah rests ultimately in His hands. Judah is a human body in which there is no soundness (Isaiah 1:6).

Isaiah 1:6 (KJV) From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

With a razor that is hired, the Lord will shave the body. This hired razor of Assyria is to do His bidding. Ahaz had paid tribute and, in that sense had hired the Assyrians, in order that they might shave Syria and Israel. This hired razor now serves as an agent of God to shave Judah herself. From beyond the Euphrates, this razor was brought. From a great distance, it was to come and at a great distance, it had its origin. The river, however, was no obstacle to those who intended to come and to despoil Judah. To them, it would be no hindrance to prevent them from shaving their entire body. Complete would be the devastation, and its height of insult and disgrace appears when the beard is shaven away. No insult could be greater than this. A shorn, disgraced, devastated theocracy: a hired razor, Assyria; a sovereign God who is no respecter of persons or of nations.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;

How often the prophet speaks of “that day” (v18, 20 and 23)! It will be a day of complete devastation and it will be a day in which one will keep or preserve alive his sheep, protecting them from invaders. A great change, wrought by the invaders, will be introduced. No longer will the land be agricultural, but rather pastoral. Life will be simple, and men so few that uncultivated grounds will abound. The few remaining animals will be sufficient for the few remaining men.[6]

22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

The future is determined. The punishment will come. For the second time in a series of three Isaiah utters, “and it shall be.” Only a few men remain in the land, and with respect to them there will be an abundance of making milk. Because there is an abundance of making milk, men will eat the products of milk, namely, curds. In this can be seen the change from the agricultural to the pastoral mode of life. Natural was this abundance and not one which man’s toil had brought about. Of tilling the soil there was none; it was a time of poverty. The great majority of Judah had gone into exile, and only few were left.

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. 

A new phase of the devastation is introduced. Wherever there could be a thousand vines the price would be a thousand silverlings. Growing of grapes had been one of the most, if not the most, important of Judah’s industries. A good-sized vineyard possibly contained a thousand vines, and the vineyards were valued according to the individual vine. How much were these silverlings?  Probably not much, for the vine, is not very valuable. Instead of a vineyard, the land will become briers and thorns.[7]

24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. 

Arrows and bows! Into a desolate land, men come. They come to hunt but they come also to protect themselves from wild animals. Briers and thorns again. We have been told how the vineyards would become briers and thorns. Now the land itself is briers and thorns. Men will enter the land, if they enter it at all, with arrows and bows. To keep themselves alive they come to hunt. No longer is it a cultivated land, and they must be armed. It is a wilderness: briers and thorns.

25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

The mountains, the glory of Palestine, were inaccessible to the plow, but were dug with the hoe. The hills are terraced and even they were places of cultivation. But into the hills, out of fear of the briers and thorns, men are not to go. Into these once carefully and tenderly cultivated places, mankind will not enter. A complete change has been made. Places once assiduously cultivated by man are now the trampling spots of oxen and sheep. The invading foe had done his work well. The hired razor has shaved clean. The land is desolate. Men are gone, and we are left with the oxen and the grazing sheep in full possession of what had once been man’s. The dwelling place of the theocracy is briers and thorns. 

Zondervan Atlas of the Bible – Carl G. Rasmussen (151)

Zondervan Atlas of the Bible – Carl G. Rasmussen (165)

Zondervan Atlas of the Bible – Carl G. Rasmussen (165)

[1] In Jesus Christ is true wisdom. Just as Jesus said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13-14 urging the multitude sitting there to make a choice when he said “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

There is that way that leads to life. It is called the narrow way and it is through the strait gate, that narrow gate. This narrow gate does not look that promising and convincing but that’s the right way, Jesus calls out to the people, this is the way that leads to eternal life. If you are walking on the broad way through the wide gate it’s the way of destruction, please pull yourself out of it quickly and come and take this strait gate and walk the narrow way that leads to life. And you will probably hear the response, you sure? What makes you so sure? This way is so broad and attractive, you see, I have so much company, why would I want to be lonely walking on the narrow way. 

[2] 2 Kings 16:1-20 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. 10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. 11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. 12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. 13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. 14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. 15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. 16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. 18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. 19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. (2 Ki. 16:1-20 KJV)

2 Chronicles 28:1-27 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. 12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, 13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. 16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. 20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

[3] Carl G. Rasmussen, Zondervan Atlas of the Bible, Zondervan, 2010, 151-161.

[4] Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah Volume 1 Chapters 1-18, Eerdmans, 1965, 294-295.

[5] Ibid., 297.

[6] Ibid., 298.

[7] Ibid., 299.