What after the doors were open, the Holy Spirit owned in His true place: the infinite value of the blood of Jesus: the worship and the gladness: the Lord’s supper in its true place: testimony against all evil: abounding fruits of the Spirit: the porters vast range of trust and responsibilities: hearts fully awake to distribute the precious things of the Lord: sanctified, separated to the Lord in holiness: serving the Lord with purpose of heart. Is not this the end? No, indeed, now Satan comes with all his power; “Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself” (2 Chron. 32:11After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. (2 Chronicles 32:1)), or, as in the margin, to break them up. Such is the fact, and it is well to know it; wherever God has gathered a little company to Christ, it is Satan’s object to break it up. In Isaiah 36 we learn that be took the cities of Judah — sad havoc, and at such a time! But was it more terrible than the havoc Satan has made in the professing church of God? So early as the third stage of its history, we find, even in Pergamos, Satan’s seat was there; yea, where Satan dwelleth (Rev. 2:1313I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:13)). In Thyatira, or Rome, we find the depths of Satan spoken of. And at this moment, the Lord says, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie: behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Rev. 3:99Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9)). “That I have loved thee” — not that thou hast loved me. But this is very solemn. My reader may be of the synagogue of Satan, or loved of Jesus: which is it? What a question!
Now, as Hezekiah was delivered, we shall do well to study carefully how he meets the power of the adversary. The first thing he did, when he saw the purpose of the enemy, was this: “He took counsel with his princes to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him” (2 Chron. 32:33He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. (2 Chronicles 32:3)). Then, also, they stopped the brook that ran through the midst of the land. It is very easy to see the wisdom of this on the part of Hezekiah; but not so easy always to see our path in this matter — our safety is in dependence on the Holy Spirit— lowly dependence. The moment we act in independence we are exposed to Satan — nay, we give him a handle. He succeeded with the first Adam, he did not with the Second.
But it may be said, Surely it is right for the water of life to ran through the land. Surely it is right for the fountains to gush out anywhere, even without the city. In the unity of the Spirit, and in dependence, perfectly right. But would not that be wrong, however right in itself, if done at the bidding of Satan, or in independence of will, without the guidance of the Spirit? Let us look at the holy dependent One, He who was of quick understanding in the fear of Jehovah. “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (Matt. 4:33And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matthew 4:3)). Now, if the Father had commanded Him to turn all the stones on the rocky shores of Gennesaret into bread, would that have been wrong? Did the Holy One listen to the tempter to do that which was right in itself? Did He act independently of His Father’s will? Impossible! He answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)). We do not find this quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, even in the beloved Paul — well of living water as he was. “After they were come to Mysia, they essayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not (Acts 16:77After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. (Acts 16:7)). Jesus never essayed to do anything that the Spirit suffered Him not. On another occasion, when Paul and other servants of the Lord, were together in the assembly (?), the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:22As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)). And so they were sent forth on a special mission of service by the Holy Spirit. Says Satan, Are you not sons of God, porters of Christ? Then open a fountain of blessing, or form a gathering here or there, outside the unity of the Spirit. Send forth a running brook through the land — turn the stones into bread. You are wonderful folks, cannot you do as you like? My brethren, is there not special danger here? That which would be most blessed, if done in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit, in lowly dependence, may it not become pride and self-will? The Lord lead us in His own lowly steps, in unfeigned dependence, lest the very truth be used for Satan, like the water for the kings of Assyria. I see great danger in this independence of action. We cannot too much seek the guidance of His eye.
Separation to the Lord is a sacred and special thing. Human reason cannot understand it; and it must be maintained. The next thing was the building of the wall that was broken down, “and raised it up to the towers” (2 Chron. 32:55Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. (2 Chronicles 32:5)). Ah, those towers! “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved” (Hab. 2:11I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. (Habakkuk 2:1)). Man would say, Come down from the watch-tower, use your own judgment; break down the wall of exclusiveness, and be one with all the false doctrine of the land. Satan hates that wall, and hates to see you sit watching before the Lord, to know His mind, and only do His will. Oh, how much depends on this! — waiting on the Lord in the watch-tower, or doing our own will. But not only must the wall, the hated wall, be built up, but we must put on the whole armor of God. Oh, soldiers of the Lord, you young men, chosen to stand before Him in these last days, study the word. Take the whole armor. Be well equipped with the Word of God, spiritual weapons, and shields, in abundance. It is the last conflict, before we rise to meet our Lord. It is well to be informed of the enemy’s intention. Satan, is specially occupied with, and determined to destroy, the assemblies gathered to the Person of Christ. Such was the object of Sennacherib to take the cities of Judah. Give all diligence, in dependence on the Spirit, not to help the enemy in his work in any one thing.
Hezekiah spake comfortably to the people, saying, “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles” (2 Chron. 32:7-87Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:7‑8)). At such a moment, how important to know with certainty that we are with the Lord, and He with us. No doubt, to some, all this will be utterly unintelligible. But we are meditating on the position of those who desire to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord, in the midst of all that is wrong: wrestling, not with flesh and blood, but with wicked spirits in the heavenlies (Eph. 6).
Now we will sit down in our watch-tower, and wait before the Lord. See there the hosts of the foes encamped around, even in the heavenlies. Now, if we look within the enclosed walls of separation to the Lord, what a feeble few! But is the Lord there — is the Holy Spirit there? Yes, He who has conquered the adversary is there. The Holy Spirit sent down is there. All is well, more than all against us... Take courage, be strong in the might of the Lord. It is a remarkable sight, this look from the watch-tower. You see that city enclosed in the walls of separation to Christ. That feeble company has been besieged for nearly forty years; and, sad to tell it, Satan and his hosts have so deceived Christendom, that nearly all Christendom has besieged that little city. Yea, professing Christians have been notable captains in the attack. Captain C., Captain R. — yea, noble ladies, through ignorance, have taken service — and not a few runaways have heated the balls red hot. Yea, some of these have become the veriest Rabshakehs Now what is all this rage against? A feeble little company, who desire to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord, and, while answering not a word, place their entire confidence in the Lord. And thus, through His loving care, they abide in the siege. Now, as we sit in the watch-tower, is not this little city a study? “Thus saith Sennacherib, king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?” (2 Chron. 32:1010Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? (2 Chronicles 32:10)). Yes! whereon do ye trust? Dreadful have been the destruction of many nations; their gods have not been able to deliver them.
In like manner Satan can point to the churches of Asia. Where is the church which was at Antioch, at Ephesus, and all the assemblies in Greece? Rome also? And all the churches of the Reformation? What is their condition now? And are you the feeblest of all; are you stronger or better than they? Wherein do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege? Solemn questions. But did any of the assemblies of Palestine, Greece, or Europe — or have any of the churches of the Reformation continued in lowly dependence on the guardian care of God the Holy Spirit? No; an arm of flesh, poor puny man, took the place of the Holy Spirit in every one of these -and hence the overthrow. Be it episcopacy, or the popular will, all was of man, and the Holy Spirit set aside. Now, as we look from our watch-tower on that little besieged city, all depends on unfeigned dependence on the Lordship of Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Mind, all the wall that was broken down must be builded up. Is it not wondrous grace to gather the weakest saints to the Person of Christ, separated to Him by that wall, and kept in peace, amidst the rage of Satan, and hosts of deadly, and some, perhaps, only mistaken, foes? So useful to us is the study of this siege, that the Spirit has given us a long account of it in Isaiah 36-37.
As we have noticed here, many cities of Judah were taken. This is humbling. We have known it. Many gatherings were gathered years ago, which had not built the wall of separation up to the watch-towers. A most determined attack was made — first, to displace the Holy Spirit, and set up clericalism; afterward to introduce and allow, to refuse to judge, heretical doctrine. Being a young soldier during that early war, I just remember how many gatherings were taken. I believe every one, where clericalism had got the least footing. I believe every gathering that really trusted the Holy Spirit stood the siege, and Rabshakeh could not deny it.
Yes, what baffled the Assyrians was this trust in the Lord. And now they cry, and lie, and threaten, and blaspheme. “But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (Isa. 36:2121But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. (Isaiah 36:21)). What dignity in quiet faith! No spirit of defiance and boasting. No, no: rent clothes and sackcloth; deep humility. And though not noticed (recorded) by Isaiah, yet that little prayer-meeting: “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven” (2 Chron. 32:2020And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. (2 Chronicles 32:20)). Do not forget this: our safety is in prayer in every time of conflict. Some in the siege might not know what to do, when another furious pamphlet cannonade is fired. “Why,” say you, “this is full of the grossest falsehoods.” What did Hezekiah? “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord” (Isa. 37:1414And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. (Isaiah 37:14)). And how he pleads with the Lord that dwelleth between the cherubim! It is written, they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb Yes, the mercy-seat between the cherubim is our place of victory. The enemy, with all his power, was entirely defeated. And while we plead there, let us never forget to plead for our dear mistaken brethren, who have been, and are, so sadly deceived by the enemy. Should these lines reach any such, let me beg of you to search the scriptures, and ask the Lord, by the Spirit using that word, to lead you into the path that is right, in the midst of so much that is wrong. Ah, if even that path leads to the little besieged city within the re-builded walls. The doom of the Assyrian army only illustrates, or foreshadows, the certain doom of Babylon the great (Rev. 17; 18). Thus, step by step, how remarkably this history finds its answer in the events of these last days! This now leads us to the unsettled question.