Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-11

to do suddenly an act that from its
nature and suddenness would arouse
the best that was in the whole ma
ton.
The sudden move inspired the ma
ton so that Hezekiah called for the
celebration of a great feast and what
one was more appropriate than the
Passover. Invitations were broadcast
over the whole territory of Judah
and as far north as Dan, urging the
| people to come to Jerusalem and
keep the feast. The message was va
riously received. Some humbled
themselves to come to Jerusalem; the
majority laughed the messengers to
scorn, and Knocked them. But, never
'theless, the messengers had done
| their duty, and the feast was kept.
So many came and so many offered
that they had to extend the time an
other week. The number of animals
offered seems almost incredible. But
there was great rejoicing, for there
| had not been the like since Solo,
mons time.
And why should there not be re-
joicing, for Hezekiah had led his
people back to God in whose pres
ence there is fullness of joy.
The revival, however, did not end
there. If it had it would have re-
sembled too many Of the modern
kind. 1t made the people realize the
evils about them and determine to
put them away. Ahaz had built an
heather altar on every corner in
Jerusalem. The high places and the
groves were given up to the most
sensual practices in the name of re.
ligion. All of these the people now
demolished.
For nearly 800 years the brazen
serpent which Moses had lifted up
in the wilderness had been an object
made an object of worship. The peo-
pie had fallen into ophiolatry, or SER
pent worship, one of the basest and
most degrading religious cults.
That Hezekiah should have had
the courage to break in pieces the
most ancient and valuable relic of
the people shows the genuineness of
that great revival. In the church of
st. Ambrose in Milan we have seen
what is said to be this self-same
brazen serpent. The Ronish tradt-
ton says that the fragments were
collected and made into the brazen
serpent which is now regarded by
Romanists with veneration. This is
highly improbable, of course, since
the very zeal which caused it to be
broken in pieces would not have
stopped until these were totally de-
stroyed.
Let us look back a moment and
see how Hezekiah brought the ma
ton back to God, for truly our own
nation is in need of just such a
service. He cleaned up the temple;
he had offered sin offering for HIM
self and the people; the burnt offer
ing-representing the complete dedi-
cation of the offerer-followed and
the song of the Lord began then.
A thank offering followed; and then
the invitation went out broadcast
and the great feast followed.
Are not these just the steps we
need today? Cleansing must begin
at the house of God-in your own
body as the temple of the Holy
Spirit; ah! how it has been defiled!
To accept Jesus Christ, who was Of
fered once for all as the sin offer
ing. Then a complete dedication of
the life to Him-and the song of re-
joicing begins. Thanksgiving neces-
sarily follows. Too often it stops
here, but the next step must be
taken-a worldwide invitation to
come back to God What matters it
if some mock the messengers? Some
will come; and there will be great
rejoicing.