The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-07-13
LESSON FOR JULY IS.
AEzEKIAA, TAE FAIrAFyL KINo
LESSON TEXT-lI chron. 3O:l.

The reformation under Hezekah Is
one Of the bright and attractive spots
IN the latter history Of the kingdom Of
Israel. II was a most thorough refor-
nation and God set his seal upon It
IN many wonderful ways. Teachers
ought to give their classes a compre-
henslve view Of all that Hezekiah did.
as recorded in Il Chron., chapters
1889.
!. Hezeklah's Proclamation. wv.
1,s). The proper Introduction to this
lesson would be to return to chapter
twenty-nlne and note the restoration
81 the worship Of Jehovah. How It
began in one mans heart, Hezehah;
how he called the people to be clean
/ (29:15), then called upon cleansing
Of the house Of God and It's restoration
CIV. IS, 19). How he called them to
renewed sacrifice and worship wv.
90 Ply. The restoration Of the sin
Offering and Of the burnt-ohering, and
the result Of these offerings in the Lee
yltieal music and In the worship Of the
great congregation go, 2s). The Sc
quel Of song always follows and ac-
companies a true revival of religion.
Having consecrated themselves unto
the Lord, Hezeklah sends out this
PROCLAMATION. The conservation Of the
people; as referred in chapter 20, was
very complete. tsre w. 1850 Heze-
klah was man Of deep discernment
as well rs Of true piety. BE saw the
meaning Of the sacrifice Of redemption
and put the passover forward as the
very heart-center Of the worship Of
Jehovah. (See w. !, 2.) Whoever IN.
derstands the passover, understands
Gods way of salvation. (See Exodus
12:1323; ] Cor. ~ 8; Rom. 8 ;25, 20;
John / :29.) Hezeklah did not confne
his call to those Of Israel alone, but
extended it beyond It's borders to those
Of Ephraim, thus manIfesting the true
missionary spirit. Hezekiah had am
pie Scriptural warrant keeping this
passover ont of Its regular order wv.
e-13). God is not God of time or
place. Wherever obedience is possible,
whether it be a matter Of time or not,
God approves. Hezekiah. however,
did not act upon his own initiative,
but sought counsel. tSee v. ~ The
man who is the most clearly led Of
God is the man who is most eager and
anxious to know how God is leading
other men and will listen most patient.
" to their counsel. The fact that the
people had not gathered themselves
together at Jerusalem" for a long
time, might have warranted a fur
ther delay. Not so with this enthusl-
astic young king. BE was not bound
by precedent, but was anxious to
please God.
II. Hezeklah's ExhortatIon wv. z
is), Hezekiah began his exhortation
Sy calling attention to the trespasses
Of their fathers ", ". At the same
time he reminds them that If God gave
them over to desolation. because they
themselves were stift-necked ". 81
and yielded not themselves unto the
Lord to enter his sanctuary, which he
had sanctifed unto them, they would
come, under the herceness of Gods
wrath, for they had turned from the
Lord they had "trespassed against the
Lord God of their fathers" Because
Of that trespass God had "giyen them
up to desolation." Literally he had
made them ian establishment" %his
establishment and desolation was well
known, ''as ye see" ". y. Anyone
With eyes open can see today the desc
(. atlon Of individuals, Of families, COM
munitIes and nations who trespasS
against God. For a generation we
have had the deity Of Christ and the
Inspiration Of his Word called into
question and that the individual man
Is the dictator Of his own conscience
and life, and 1t is because men have
departed from their faithful allegiance
to Jesus Christ, and fail to obey his
command, that we see the strife and
desOlation of today,
The first departure caused people to
be 'stiff-necked" and Jehovah is call
Ing them to repentance, but they would
not hear (see Oh, 36:19; Elk. 32:9;
Rom. 1o:21). In place of this "stiff.
neckness" of their hearts Hezekiah
entreats them to turn again to the
Lord and not to be stiff.necked as were
their fathers ". 81, that If they will
turn again unto the Lord ". 81 they
win find compassion SO that they shall
again enter his gracious and merciful
dealings. Having yielded themselves
they were to enter into communion
With him and "enter into his sanctu.
lry, which he had sancdfed forever"
They were also to serve him. Most
blessed results wereto follow for them
and for their brethren and their chill
iren, but all Of this bright prospect is
conditioned upon repentance, surren.
der, communion and service, which is
based upon the fact that Jehovah "is
gracious and mercltul" (Ex. 34:6, z;
Ps. 1886; Jonah Az; Mark 7:1s).
Then, even as now there were those
who would not yield themselves to
Gods gracious invitation. AS the
priests passed through the country Of
Ephralm and Manasseh, even unto ze.
bulun they were Nlaughed to scorl
Ind some nnockedn n. 10Y,