Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-09

the spiritual leaders were outside the Of
fetal body?
THE INVITATION AND THE ASSEM-
BLY,.
The restoration of the worship of Je-
hovah had brought great JOY into the
life of the king and his people, and
Hezekiah was unwilling to enjoy It
alone. His heart yearned for the thou
sands all over Israel who were under
the grievous yoke of idolatry and yet
who had the capacity of enjoying the
worship of Jehovah as much as he. Ac-
cordingly he sent letters all through
Israel from Beersheba to Dan, from
the extreme south of Judah to the ex-
IRENE north of Israel, inviting them to
Jerusalem to keep the great feast of the
Passover with them in the second month
They had to postpone 1t that year at the
regularly appointed time, for the people
had not gathered at Jerusalem, nor
(Which was more importantly had the
priests sanctified themselves sufficiently.
While the preparations were being made
therefore, the cordial invitation was eD-
tended. 1t was not merely an invita-
ton from Heekiah which they might
have declined on the ground that 1t was
a selfish effort on his part to extend
his kingdom and power; but it was
can to repentance, a call to forsake their
sins of idolatry and dependence upon
Assyria for help and to return to Je-
hovah who is gracious and merciful, ana
who would deliver them from Assyria
and turn His face toward them II they
would repent.
But everywhere the hosts met Win
the same recepnon-the people laughed
them to scorn, mocking them' ana treae-
ing n as a huge Joke. There were, now
ever. some in the tribes of Asher, Man
asseh and Zebulon and a goodly number
from the cities of Judah who heard the
call to repentance and gathered with the
king at Jerusalem to celebrate the great
feast.
The assembly was a notable one. They
were determined to remove every yes
tige of idolatrous worship, so they cast
the affairs into the brook Kdron, ana
gathered in the temple for the worship
of Jehovah The priests finally became
ashamed of themselves for their lack OF
real their inhdelfty, and their sin, and
sanctffled themselves, bringing in the
burnt offerings to typify their entire con-
secration to the service Of God Tney
followed carefully the instructions given
bv Moses. the man of God. 1t is signin-
cant that he is spoken of here In TINS
way.
There were so many who had not been
able for lack of time to comply with all
the demands of the law that Hezekian
felt constrained to pray for them, asking
cod to pardon all those whose hearts
were right even though they had not
literally fulfilled all the demands of the
law. God heard this prayer and healed
the people.
II was a great revival that had begun;
the song of the Lord was in their hearts
and therefore on their lips as well; and
for seven days they Toasted and were
glad. Hezekiah spoke to the Levites en-
gagged in teaching the people the law
and when the seven days were over
they. all decided after consultation 10
continue another seven days, which they
did with gladness.
The king himself made a present OF
/ 600 young bullocks and 1000 sheep, which
were sacrificed and the meat used In
Teasing as prescribed by Moses. The
people grew gladder and gladder, and
reioiced all the while, so that there was
great Joy in Jerusalem. such as had not
existed since the days OF David and Sol
ONION. The sanctified priests now blessed
the people and their voice was heard In
the habitation of his holiness; that is,
God heard their microscopy prayer and
answered 1t.
Please note the cause of this great re-
ioicing. It was not commemorative OF
a great victory over some invading or
opposing army; it was not because OF
some gracious act of the king. But 1t
was because they had realized and for
saken their sin. they had confessed and
atoned for 1t, they had gotten back the
God of the fathers and had begun to
obey him, and there was peace within.
Would God that we might have such
national rejoicing now. We have much
for which to thank God; but as ma
ton we should be satisfied with nothing
less than to be conformed to coos plan
for us. Then will our hearts overflow
with Joy.
1t is equally true of the individual.
You will find your greatest happiness by
walking in the way of Gods Will.