Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-13
Sunday School Lesson

tion-the more apparent because the
more immediate instruments of que
cess-and neglect, as did Gods peo-
pile Of old. the deeper and more power
Hezekiah surprised both parties by
refusing to follow The advice of either
one because he had learned that the
secure foundation for the nation and
society depended upon religion. The
young king at the commencement Of
lot with the small minority who
placed their dependence upon the
presence and power of Jehovah and
stood for independence from all for
eign alliances, because of their ten
dency to corrupt the religious life OF
the people.
Having aligned himself with the re-
ligious reformers Of his day. Heze-
kiah commenced to carry out his ref
ormation plans by. opening the tenn
pie. One can trace the spiritual in
fiuence of his mother. as they see the
king embark upon such a radical
task. 1t is evident that he recognized
the outward dangers to which his
kingdom was exposed. but he knew
that the nations trouble was rooted
in ungodliness. Reverence for God
lies at the basis Of all that is trust
worthy in private character and OF
all that is enduring in public order.
The king secured the assistance of the
Levites in repairing the defects. rem
ovating the courts and the temple it
self, removing the dirt, which had ac-
oumulated during sixteen years idle
house of the Lord for worship. Ref
ormations under Asa and Jehosha-
phat failed because. of the insidious
hostility of Athaliah, while Joash de-
feated his own efforts by his personal
apostacy. Hezekiah faced more diff
cuJt conditions than hia
but he conquered through his faith
in what his name signifed, "the
strength Of the Lord" When the
king, assisted by the Levites, had
cleansed the temple. they celebrated
the completion Of the publication
with a service of sacrifice. song and
spiritual worship that stirred the peo-
pie to consecrate themselves with
gifts of gratitude.
Religion is contagious. They could
not be satisfied with their blessings
and forget those who ought to share
in the worship of the temple with
them. This caused Hezekiah to in
vite all the tribes to a great pass
over, which would be the greatest
held In Jerusalem since the days of
Solomon. He sent special messen-
gers to invite the people in Israel
over to be held on the second month,
according to the laws of Moses,
which provided for its observance
upon the second month when one was
prevented from observing the great
patriotic feast upon the first month
The period. after his assuming the
kingship was so short that it was
impossible for them to keep the feast.
which marked the commencement of
their national life, at the regular
time. SO the special spiritual service
was appointed.
Probably up to this time the pass
over had been kept privately in each
household Hezekiah revealed cour-
age and initiative of a high order
when he started his reformation and
EFFORT to win the people back to God
with a popular feast that would in
clude all the citizens of Judah and
Israel. The people. who had been
separated and divided in their ale
glance to God. were the ones he
sought to bring together at the feast.
Every revival starts with just such
an effort on behalf of those who
love the Lord. The decay of religion
perhaps may be the reason why no
mention is made Of the kings secur-
ing the approval Of the priests of his
program. Possibly some legalistic
critic may have raised the objection
as to the time. although the law
made certain exceptions for holding
1T at the time specified. In extend
ing this broad invitation to partici-
pate in a great passover the king
was supported by the princes and
popular assembly 1t was sent out
by special messengers to all parts Of
Palestine.
Hezekiah's invitation. that reminded
the people of Gods compassion and
called upon them to repent, received
ligion in the northern kingdom
caused it to be rejected by the
masses. who had turned to the wor-
ship OF other gods. but many a spir-
itual soul answered favorably the
request for the Hebrew nation to re-
turn to Jerusalem to worship with
joy. A great multitude responded,
even when they knew that they were
legally disqualified from participat-
ing. Their presence was full of peril,
so that Hezekiah prayed for them.
God answered his petition because
He looked not on the outward ap-
pearance, but on the heart of each
individual worshiper. The ritual OBJ
| servances were made for man, not
man for the ritual. The emergency
| and need of men was a sufficient ex-
cuse for violation of the rules. Jesus
has taught us that the true wor-
| shipper is one who worships in spirit
and in truth. God is spirit, and He
| looks for spiritual service from
| those who would worship Him,
Nothing is more fatal to religious
devotion than a castiron insistence
| upon the conformity to some ex-
ternal ceremony"
Tho plans of Hezekiah for a through
religious reformation struck a popu-
lar chord. The great congregation ex-
tended the time for geek. They re-
| vealed their hearty approval Of the
kings program to win the nation
back to God by a popular movement.
| which sought to destroy, as the IPuri-
tans did in later times. everything
/ nistic to spiritual worship. They
| broke down the rude stone monu-
ments that had been used in their de-
votions to Jehovah. Every dolman. or
single stone erected to God. and men
hir (two or more stones with fiat
| cred may have been their associa-
| tions-they were all destroyed.
The greatness Of the Hebrews faith
! is due to their conception of the Su-
preme Being. Their religion has been
called that "of the imp unport dag;nae
as G9o' that 0' which stops with a
idol worshiper Us apt to be
| found reverencing what was once
| a symbol Of some religious truth: He
| makes the symbol the end OF faith.
| WneH IL WAS lhIouuSu Ohty 90 GA
strument that would help visualize
| the truth. It was because men had
come to worship the serpent that
| Moses had lifted up in the wilderness.
and not God, that they destroyed this
! ancient relic of their fathers journey
through the wilderness wilderness me SHo g3nns
| worship in the temple along the lines
Of David was proven not only by their
entering wholeheartedly into the
| services, but by their generous gifts
| for the glory of Jehovah: