In Judah kings of the house of David always reigned; many of them were
wicked and served strange gods; but a few were pious and served the
Lord, and thus idolatry did not come to such power as in the kingdom of
Israel.
The most pious of the kings was Hezekiah. Sennacherib, the king of
Assyria, came against Jerusalem and used great words, saying: Believe
not that your God can deliver you, for the gods of the heathens were not
able to deliver their countries from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah went
up to the house of the Lord and prayed for deliverance. The prophet
Isaiah sent this message to him: The Lord has heard your prayer. The
angel of the Lord passed through the camp of the Assyrians and smote in
one night 185,000, and Sennacherib was compelled to return home in
disgrace.--Shortly after this Hezekiah became sick. Isaiah promised to
prolong his life fifteen years. The king of Babylon sent messengers with
gifts and greetings to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick.
Hezekiah was glad, and showed the messengers all his treasures. Then
Isaiah came and said: These treasures shall all be carried away to
Babylon, and thy sons shall be servants in the palace of the king of
Babylon. (2 Kings 10-20.)
Isaiah has written many prophecies. Of our Savior Jesus Christ he wrote:
Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; He was wounded
for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are
healed. He was oppressed, yet when He was afflicted He opened not His
mouth, as a lamb that is led to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53.)