“I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron,” by Louis A. Dole

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“I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.” – Isaiah 45:2

Readings

Isaiah 45:1-2, 13-19 · John 17:1-15 · Psalm 48

Sermon

The children of Israel have been carried away captive to Babylon, and are represented as being hidden away behind gates of brass and bars of iron in the land of their exile. Now the days of captivity are drawing to a close, and through the instrumentality of Cyrus, a just and gentle prince, they are to be set free to return to their native land. Cyrus was raised up for a special mission, namely, to subdue the Chaldean oppressor and to let the oppressed go free. So Cyrus is told that the Lord will be with him and give him might. Let him not fear.

The Lord came into the world to redeem men from the power of evil. The prisons cannot be locked up so fast, the doors and bars cannot be so strong but that the work of this redemption will succeed. “I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.”

“Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant,” by Louis A. Dole

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“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord… Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.” – 2 Kings 17:1-3

Readings

2 Kings 17:1-18 · Matthew 7:13-29 · Psalm 26

Sermon

Hoshea was the last king of Israel. He had reigned three years when Shalmaneser king of Assyria came against him and put him under tribute. For only a few years the tribute was paid, for Hoshea entered into a league with the king of Egypt and then ceased paying the tribute. This brought the Assyrian army into the country and the land was laid waste and Samaria besieged. For three years the city withstood the siege. It fell at last, and Hoshea was put in prison. Nothing more is said of him. Hoshea had conspired against his predecessor and slain him, but his conspiracy against Assyria led to his own downfall and destruction. Then Israel was led into captivity, scattered through various places in Assyria, and the kingdom of Israel was brought to its end. Thus was fulfilled the warning given centuries before that if the law of the Lord was not observed, their cities would be laid waste, the land would be desolated, and the people scattered among the heathen (Leviticus 26:31-34). Later Judah was to suffer for similar reasons.

Today in many colleges and universities the Bible is studied merely from the historical standpoint and judged accordingly. But – differently from other histories – the history of the Jews was so ordered that it might portray spiritual truths.