McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-07-13

The reformation under Hezekiah is
one of the bright and attractive spots
In the latter history of the kingdom Of
Israel. 1t was most thorough refor-
nation and God set his seal upon 1t
In many wonderful ways. Teachers
ought to give their classes a compre-
hensive view of all that Hezekiah did,
as recorded In II Chron., chapters
29-32.
!. Hezeklah's Proclamation. wv.
1-6). The proper introduction to this
lesson would be to return to chapter
twenty-nlne and note the restoration,
of the worship of Jehovah. How 1t
began in one mans heart, Hezekiah;
how he called the people to be clean
go :15), then called upon q cleansing
Of the house of God and its restoration
wv. Is, 19). How he called them to
renewed sacrifice and worship wv.
20, 21). The restoration Of the sin
offering and of the burnt-offering, and
the result of these offerings in the Le-
vitical music and in the worship of the
great congregation GO, 49, The Sc
quel of song always follows and ac-
companies trte revival Of religion.
Having consecrated themselves unto
the Lord, Hezekiah sends out this
proclamation. The conservation Of the
people. as referred In chapter 20, was
very complete. (See Wv. 31-36.) Heze-
kiah was a man of deep dlscernment
as well as of true piety. He saw the
meaning of the sacrifice Of redemption
and put the passover forward as the
very heart-center of the worship OF
Jehovah. tSee Wv. /, 2.l Whoever I'M
derstands the passover understands
Gods way Of salvation. (See Exodus
u 1923; Cor. 5 Z, 8; Rom. 8 ;25, 20;
John ! :29.) Hezekiah did not conflne
his call to those of Israel alone, but
extended 1t beyond Its borders to those
of Ephraim, thus manifesting the true
missionary spirit. Hezekiah had am
pie Scripturai warrant keeping this
passover out of it's regular order wv.
9-13). God is not a God of time or
place. Wherever obedience is possible,
whether 1t be a matter Of time or not,
God approves. Hezekiah, however,
did not act upon his own initiative,
but sought counsel. (See v. 2.) 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
ly to their counsel The fact that the
people had not gathered themselves
| together at Jerusalem" for long
| time, might have warranted q fur:
| Their delay. Not so with this enthusl-
astic young king. He was not bound
| by precedent. but was anxious to
| please God.
| n. HexekIah's Exhortation wv. Z.
13). Hezekiah began his exhortation
by calling attention to the trespasses
Of their fathers ". y. AT the same
time he reminds them that If God gave
them over to desolation because they
themselves were stiff-necked ". 81
and yielded not themselves unto the
Lord to enter His sanctuary, which he
had sanctifed unto them, they would
come under the fierceness 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 "given them
| up to desolation." Literally he had
made them ian establishment" This
establishment and desolation was well
known, ''as ye see" ". y. Anyone
with eyes open can see today the DESC
lation of individuals, Of families. COM
munities and nations who trespass
against God. For q generation we
have had the deity Of Christ aud 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
desolntion OF today.
Tie first departure caused people to
be astiR-necked" and Jehovah is cali
ing them 20 repentance, but they would
| not hear (see Oh. 38:13; Elk. 80 % !:
Rom i0:2D. 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 II they will
turn again unto the Lord ". 81 they
viii find compassion so that they shnl.
again enter his gracious and merciful
dealings. Having yielded themselves
they were to enter into communion
with him and "enter into his sanctu-
airy, which he had sanctified forever"
They were also to serve him. Most
blessed results were to follow for them
and for their brethren and their chill
dren, but all Of this bright prospect is
conditioned upon repentance. surren-
der, communion and service. which Is
based upon the fact that Jehovah sis
gracious and merciful" eek. 34:8. z;
Ps. SO 80; 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
Ephrnim and Manasseh, even unto Ze-
bulun. they were ''laughed 10 scorn
and some Knocked" ". 10), Alas that
they did so, a. we read their subse-
quent history! Yet even in these
places there were some who hum
bled themselves and came TO Jerusa-
lem." and 10 Judah the hand Of God
was to give them one heart to do the
commandments of the king and Of
the princes ". 12). II we are faithful
ambassadors Of Jehovah, he nili bless
our efforts, but we must expect 20 be
laughed Mt and TO be mocketi. This