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

beCh ~ GOI
LESSON TEXT Chron. 55.l-27.
GOLDEN TEXT cod is gracious and
mercitul, ana VII not turn away HIS face
from you, Z - return unto Him
REFERENCE NATERLAL.-II Chron-
< 81. ch 8. 81 es-ss. Aracs SIS
PRIMART TOPEC.-A King VINO Wor-
SHIPPED God
JUNIOR TOPIC. - Hezeklah's Great
Passover
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC.
Putting Rzliefon FIRST
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
Wise Methods Of Reform.
/. Hezekiah Proolaims = Passover
wv. l-18).
The way for shining and divided
people 10 get back to God and be
united. is around the crucifed Lord.
l. The Invite ion Was Representa-
tive Of The Nation tv. Pa. The king
took counsel with the princes and the
congregation /, show that the proc
lamation was the expression Of the
nations desire.
?. The Time Was Unusual wv. 2b-4).
There vas not sufficient time 10
sanctify the people, nor to gather them
together AZ the regular time. 50 they
resolved instead OF pOstponing il for
q year TO hold 1t on the fourteenth day
of the second month. This liberty
had been granted before in an ext
gency -(Num 9:6-l3). This fexibility
with reference 10 the holding Of the
passover shows that Gods ordinances
We're made FOR man and not man for
the ordinances.
3. The Scope Of the Invitation wv.
5-e). II included all Of both nations
who would -oua 10 keep the passover
u the Lord Goa f Israel. Israel is
now useu TO include both kingdoms
The effort was u win back the nation
which had seeded. he posts who
were sent with the message were au-
thorized 10 supplement the pr0cIama-
ton with urgent exhortstiOn 10 join
as united nation. This urgent inyi-
taton was tactfuIly put as follows:
~ Ii touched ancestral memories
Turn again unto the Lord God Of
Abraham, Isaac and Israel" ". 81.
Bdrfr Kingdoms had a common ances-
try ~ Recent bitter experience
BE not Ike your fathers, and breth-
rem, 'syho-trespassed against the Lord
GOD, and we're given up to desolation,
assye See ". .. This was a deli
cate subject but their ruin was so
marked that such truth could be
pressed. 80 Yearning for captive
kinsfolk- "Your brethren and children
shall find compassion before their
caktors~ g. -. ll The instinct Of
preservation mat they shall
come again into his land" (v. 81. l0
The forgiving mercy OF God ". -.
God wiz no. tIr1 any sincere seeker
away from Him. Him that cometh
unto Me I will in no wise cast out"
(Jofa 6 80.
4 IsraeIs Reception of the Invita-
ticn wv. 1912. This invitation in
IsEael met a mingled reception. "a
SoAs Knocked The urgent and sin
cere invitation only excited opposition
and ridlcule ~ Some with humble
hearts came t. Jerusalem. This is
ever ghe case. The gospel is q SAVIOR
of@nte unto life and death unto death.
II. The Passover Kept wv. 1920.
/. Affairs Removed wv. 10, 14). In
the time Of Ahaz (ch. 2S :24), these
heather affairs were erected in Jeru-
co 49,, De-. +L.-a Gould ~. ,,-y.,~,g,;r
Of Sthe true God all these traces Of
idoiatry must be removed. This act
of the people was voluntary, and shows
thai a right spirit actuated them.
e The Passover Killed (v. 49,.
& The Priests and Le~ites Ashamed
(vE 1920, The zeal Of the people
put 10 Shame the priests and Levites.
Tray were stimulated TO perform their
duties according to the law of God
ass-gfyen by Moses. They even took
charge Of the killing of the passover,
SINCE many of the officers were not
saHetiEed so as TO render this service
fors themselves. Though unprepared
cerFnoniaily, yet they took part in
this most sacred service and were ac-
cepied as worShipers through the In
terression OF Hezekiah. God accepted
thes purpose of heart rather than the
letter of the law.
4. The Praise OF Glad Hearts wv.
2l.T 22). They continued seven days
with gladness: % 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.
(3)' They MADE confession of their
sins TO God ". 22).
g. The Passover Prolonged Seven
Dass tEv.- 23-27). The kings object
in prolOnging the feast was to make
as blasting y impression as possible,
sd.s4s to result n the thorough con
version Of their souls TO God.
Holy Communion.
- 80,