Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-09
LESSOR FOR MAY ID
HEZEKiAH LEADS HIS PEOPLE
BACK TO GOD

ESNN ~ 1ND
LESSON TENTH Ch--n. S0:1-27.
GOLDEN TEXT-God lie gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away His face
from you, II ys return unto Him
II Chron. 90:s.
REFERENCE aiATERIAL-II Chron-
2S:Sl. Oh. 50: &:2s-33; Amos s:7-15.
PRIMARY TOPIC.-A King VINO Wor-
SHIPPED God
JUNIOR TOPIC. go Hezekiahs Great
Passover
AND SENIOR TOPIC.
Putting Religion First.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
Wise Methods of Reform.
/. Hszekiah ProcIalms a Passover
wv. 1879.
The way fo- a SHINING and divided
people to get back 10 God and be
united, is around the crucifed Lord.
l. The Invitation Was Representa-
tive of the Nation ". 2a) The king
took counsel with the princes and the
congregation to show that the proc
lamation was the expression of the
nations desire.
2 The Time Was Unusual (vy. 2b-4).
There was uot sufficient time to
sanctify the people, nor TO gather them
together at the regular time, SO they
resolved instead of postponing it for
year to hold 1t on the fourteenth day
of the second month This liberty
had. been granted before in an ext
gency (Num. :613). This fexibiity
with reference 70 the holding of the
passover shows that Gods ordinances
were made for man and not man for
the ordinances.
8, The Scope of the Invitation wv.
5-9). 1t included all of both nations
who would come TO keep the passover
to the Lord God of Israel. Israel is
now used to include both kingdoms.
The effort was TO win back the nation
which had seeded. The posts who
were sent with the message were au-
thorized to supplement the proclama-
ton with urgent exhortation to join
as united nation. This urgent inyi-
tation was tactfully put as follows:
% 1t touched ancestral memories
Turn again unto the Lord God of
Abraham, Isaac and Israel ". -.
Both Kingdoms had a common ances-
try. (2) Recent bitter experience
BE not like your fathers, and breth-
rem, who trespassed against the Lord
God, and were given up to desolation,
as We see" ". y. mis- was a deli
cate subject, but tll.s guin was so
marked that sue. truth could be
kinsfolk-"Your brethren and children
shall find compassion before their
captors" ". 81. "a The instinct Of
Representatives. that they shall
come again into this land" w. 81. (5)
The forgiving mercy of God ". 81.
God will not turn any sincere seeker
away from Him. Him that cOmeth
unto Me I will in no wise cast out"
(JOhn 6:30.
4. Jsraers Reception of the Invita-
ton wv. l0-12). This invitation in
Israel met mingled reception. O)
Some Knocked. The urgent and sin
cere invitation only excited opposition
and ridicule. CO. Some with humble
hearts came 10 Jerusalem This is
ever the case The gospel is a SAVIOR
Of life unto life and death unto death.
II. The Passover Kept wv. 1920.
l. Affairs Removed Wv. 10, 14). In
the time Of Ahaz (ch. IS 24), these
heather affairs were erected in Jer1l-
salem. Before there could be worship
Of the true God all these traces of
fry 70 ar
of the people was voluntary, and shows
that right spirit actuated them.
2. The Passover Killed ". 49,.
8. The Priests and Levites Ashamed
wv. 1920. The zeal of the people
put to shame the priests and Levites.
They were stimulated to perform their
duties according to the law of God
as given by Moses. They even took
charge of the killing of the passover.
since many of the officers were not
sanctified so as to render this service
for themselves. Though unprepared
ceremonially, yet they took part in
this most sacred service and were &C
cepted as worshipers through the in
tercession Of HeZekiah. God accepted
the purpose of heart rather than the
letter of the law.
f. The Praise of Glad Hearts wv.
q, 22). They continued seven days
with gladnesS: "a The Levites and
priests sang Gods praise daily on loud
instruments ". 2D. (2) Hezekiah's
comforting words to the Levites ".
22). He commended them and their
teaching of the knowledge Of God.
go They made confession Of their
sins TO God ". 22).
s. The Passover Prolonged Seven
Days wv. 1920. The kings object
ia prolonging the feast was to make
as lasting an impression as possible.
so as TO result in the thorough con
version Of their souls to God.