The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1905-07-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 9.


by Rev. ID. N. stearns.
copyright, 1905, by American Press Association
This sickness ana recovery of HeZe-
kiah in answer to prayer, which is Civ
en- in one verse in III Chron. xxi, p,
is recorded more fully IN our lesson
and with even more fullness of detail
in II Kings XS. But, as in last weeks
lesson, the fact of its being three times
recorded indicates its special impor-
lance and asks our special attention
to ii. The testimony to Iiezeliiah In
II Chron. XXxi, 20, 81, could scarce
ly be improved upon, but in the rec
ord now before us there are many
sad things, the manifestations of tho
lleceitful heart that is in every one.
What Il contrast between the people
| whom the Lord now uses In His serv-
fee, unreliable in soul and body, sinful,
well today, sick tomorrow ana dead
the next day, and the same people in
their glorifed bodies. without sin, nev-
err sick, requiring 10 time for eating
or sleeping, serving Him day and night
unwearily and whole heurtedly and
perfectly! Those who understand it
| cannot but gr0an within themselves
waiting forthe redemption OF IT, body
Rom. viii, 23).
How would you take it? Try to
put yourself in Iezelliah's place and
consider if you are ready for such Il
message. Would you say, 9Th" lk God,
glory dawns; to die IS gain; to be with
Christ is very far better" or would you
do rs IIezekiah did-turn your face to
the wall ana weep sorcly! Inasmuch
as our stay in these mortal bodies IS
uncertain ana health is no assurance
that we shall stay, 1t is certainly wise
to have our house in order always, all
our affairs as far as possible in salts
factory condition, and, then, our sins
being washed in His precious blood,
we can say always, ANY time you
want me- Lord, l am ready" Oh Tim.
/ iv, O..
We must remember that Iezekiah
had not the light that we have. There
was no crucifed and risen ana ascend
ell Christ in his day, yet Moses when
! he was called in full health made no
complaint Deut. xxi, 10, 80; XXxlv,
/ 90. Isaiah, the prophet, brought the
message TO HcZekiah, and he ut once
gave himself to prayer, and before the
prophet had left the middle court the
word of the Lord came to him, saying,
"Turn again and tell Hezekiah, the cap
| tain of My people, thus saith the Lord,
/ 20 ]
heard thy prayer, l have seen thy
/ tears; behold, will heal thee
| How rapid the communication be
! tween earth and heaven, how beautiful
to have an anointed ear like Isaiah's,
! in tune with God; to hear His wireless
| messages even as we walk the street!
! How great the privilege and power of
| prayer which can take hold of Cod
even for the prolongation of our So
! journ in II mortal body if it seems best
/ to Him! That a man who was about
! to die should be UP and about in three
DAYS was nothing short Of Il miracle,
and yet, while it was direct answer
| TO prayer, some means were used by
! the prophets orders III Kings Xxx, ..
| It does seem strange that some be-
levers should deem the use OF means
/ inconsistent with the prayer of faith.
| The king did not seem satisfied with
tie simple word of God by the prophet
| and so asked for n sign that the Lord
would do as He had said. The Lord
| graciously gave him n sign and even
gave him his choice of two signs. How
| gracious and wonderful is our God SO
to indulge His unworthy and unbeliev-
! ing children! But let us not forget
| BLESSED are they that have not seen,
yet have believed" and blessed is she
! that believed, for there shall be a per-
! Torrance of those things which were
| told her from the Lord" Let our mot
| to be, Il believe God that il shall be
even rs it was told me" John Xxx, %;
Luke T. 40; Acts xvii, 30.
The writing of Hezekiah after his re-
| covery from his illness as given In our
lesson chapter contains many most sug-
gestive sayings, such as verses 15-17:
"He hath both spoken unto me, and
| Himself hath done it. 1 shall go softly
all my years." The bitter in soul de-
| livered and all sins put away. But
how easy it is to say and how difficult
| to do! If all our good resolutions were
kept and all our vows performed, what
n good testimony for God there would
be- But, alas. how sad TO read, "Heze-
| kiah rendered not again according to
the benefit done unto him, for his heart
was lifted up; therefore was wrath up
on him" Oh Chron. xxi, %.
When the king of Babylon sent let
ters and present TO Hezei1iah after
his recovery from his illness HezekiGh
proudly and boastfully magnifed him
self instead Of jehovah, ana displayed
all his treasures in his house and In his
| kingdom. AS consequence of this
the prophet was sent 20 the king with
n message from the Lord, under which
HezclIiah again humbled himself and
thus avcrted wrath i'm his days. Let
us lay TO heart that when visitors come
to us there is nothing we say to them
and nothing we show them that is not