The Sin of Presumption | Tim Rumsey

It was the middle of the 8th century BC and both Israel and Judah were experiencing an age of military strength and prosperity. Under Jerobom II, Israel was at the zenith of its power. Jeroboam had overcome the Syrians and had enlarged the territory of the northern kingdom to in go all the way to the

northern boundary of the original United Kingdom other under Saul and David and Solomon. As for Judah, Isaiah, its king, had subdued the and the Philistines. They had put the Ammonites under subjection, and the king now had encouraged agriculture and the domestic arts of peace. He had raised a large, powerful army that was fortifying Jerusalem. It

was a time of economic prosperity, greater than that of any other ruler since the time of Solomon, nearly two centuries before. The riches of the nations were flowing into Jerusalem. And the Bible tells us that Isaiah's name had spread far abroad, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. That's 2 Chronicles 26:15.

Apparently safe from foreign enemies and strong internally, Israel was not in the least looking for danger or destruction. Now, it was true the nation of Assyria was a growing power, but it seemed improbable that it would attack Israel at least any time in the near future. That was the economic and political outlook in the mid 8th century before

the time of Christ there in Palestine. There was just one problem. All of this outward security and wealth and all these other blessings, they were not being mirrored by a corresponding internal revival of true spirituality and godliness. There was an unseen cancer that was eating away at both the northern tribes and the southern tribe of Judah. And