The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-07-05

PS. XVI, 1-(OmmSntary I-TepoFeo
by Rev. ID. VI. Stenrns.
ICopyrisht, 1905, by American Press AssociatiOn-]
This sickness and recovery Of HeZe-
kiah in answer to prayer, which is Civ
en- in one verse In II Chron. xxi, "a,
is recorded more fully in our lesson
ana with even more fullness Of detail
in II Kings Xxx. But, as in last week
lesson, the fact Of its being three times
recorded indicates its special impcr-
tancc and asks our special attention
to il. The testimony to HeZeklah III
II Chron. Xxi. 20, 81, could scarce
ly be improved upon. but i'll the rec
ord now before US there are many
sad things, the manifestations OF the
lcceitful heart that is in every one.
What a contrast between the people
whom the Lord now uses in His serV-
ice. unreliable in soul and body. sinful
well today, sick tomorrow and dead
the next day. and the same people in
their glorlfed bodies, without sin, new
or sick, requiring no time for eating
or sleeping, serving Him day and night
and whole heartedly and
perfectly. Those WHO understand 1t
cannot but groan within themselves
waiting for the redemption Of the body
pom. viii, 23l.
How would you take it: Try to
put yourself in HcZckiah's place and
consider if you are ready for such a
message. Would you say, Thank God
glory dawns; to die is gain; to be with
Christ is very far better" or would you
do as Hezekiah did-turn your face to
the wall and weep sorely? lnasmuch
as our stay in these mortal bodies IS
and health is no assurance
that we shall stay, it is certainly wise
20 have our house in order always, all
our affairs as far as possible in 4 salts
factory condition, and, then, our SINS
being washed in IIiS precious blood,
we can say always, "Any time you
want me, Lord, an ready" Oh Lin.
", 81.
We must remember that Hezekiah
had not the light that we have. Iherc
was no crucifel and risen and ascend
ed Christ in his day. yet Moses wnen
he Was called in full health made no
complaint Deut. xxi, 40, so; xxxiv,
90. Isaiah. the prophet, brought the
message to ueZeliah, and he at 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, tie cap
tain Of My people, thus saith the Lord,
the God Of David, thy father, l have
heard thy prayer. I have seen thy
tears: behold, will heal thee
How rapid the communication Dc
tween earth and heaven, how beautiful
70 have an anointed ear like 1saiah,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 Goa
even for the prolongation OF our So
iourn in mortal body if it seems best
TO Him. That man who was about
to die should be up and about in three
DAYS was nothing short Of a miracle
and yet, while it was q direct answer
to prayer, some means We're used by
the prophets orders on Kings Xxx, y.
It does seem strange that some be-
levers should deem the use Of means
inconsistent with the prayer OF falth.
The king did not seem satisfied with
the simple word Of God by the prophet
and so asked for a sign that the LORD
would do as He had said. The LORD
graciously gave him O. 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'
vet have believed" and Blessed IS she
that believed, for there shall be a per-
formance Of those things which were
told her from the Lord" Let our mot
to be, II believe God that it shall be
even as it was told me- (John xx, %;
Luke I, 45; Acts xvii, 25).
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 1911:
He hath both spoken unto me, and
Himself hath done it. I shall go softly
all my years" The bitter in soul de-
livercd 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
a 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" III Chron. xXxii, 25).
When the king OF Babylon sent let
ters and present to Hezekiah after
his recovery from his illness Hezcaiah
proudly and boastfully magnifed him
self instead Of Jehovah, and displayed
all his treasures in his house and In his
kingdom. AS consequence Of this
the prophet was sent to the king with
a message from the Lord, under which
Hezekiah again humbled himself and
thus ayerted wrath IN 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
noticed and heard III heaven. 1t GER
tainly does become us to go softly, to
humble ourselves to walk with God, re-
Wondering Rom xiv, -; Eccl. XII, Il.
It IS evident from II Chron. xxXlH, ],
that during the prolonged years OF
Eezekiah'S life ManasSclI was born.
and We're it not for his repentance aft
er a most wicked life We might ques-
ton whether these added years were a
real blessing or not and whether 1t
might not have been said Of Nanassen
as Of Judas Iscariot. Good had 1t been
!. I,