Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-13
Sunday School Lesson
BY
DR.. Hugh T. Stevenson.

God with their sacrifices, songs and
spiritual service.
Religious life Is contagious. The king
and his advisers sent invitations to the
IL tribes, for they recognized that the
Passover was established to remind
both Judah and Israel of Jehovah's
special interest in His chosen people.
In summoning the whole nation to at
tend the greatest Passover since the
days Of Solomon, Hezekiah made an eff
fort to win all the members of the Hebrew
faith back to God. He sought to pre-
serve the nations spiritual life and per-
petuate their characteristics as people.
The decay Of religion in the northern
kingdom had resulted in the masses
turning to the worship Of pagan gods.
The invitation found response in many
a spiritual soul who heard the call to
return to Jerusalem and worship Je-
hovah, the God of their fathers.
The great Passover was celebrated
by q great multitude. Its observance
was. not in accordance with the re-
quirements OF the ritual. 1t was not
held at the proper time and was OBJ
served for two weeks instead of one.
Many of those present were unfit to
worship because they had not complied
with the law. Their presence in the
Temple was full of peril. Uzziah had
been punished for his disregard of its
requirements. Jehovah heard the pray
ers of the king because He looked not
on the outward appearance, but upon
the heart. The ritualistic obServances
were made for man, not man for the
ritualistic obServances. The emergency
and needs of men were considered a
sufficient excuse for their violation of
| the rules for the Passover. AS long as
men worship God in spirit, their wor-
ship Is acceptable to Him.
Popular Response.
Hezekiah's program was popular
one, for the people responded in great
numbers to keep the passover in
Jerusalem. They showed the influence
Of the kings action by destroying the
dolmans and various places that they
had erected throughout the land for
the worship Of heather gods. Like the
| Puritans under Cromwell, they destroyed
| antagonistic to the spiritual worship OF
Jehovah. Rude stone monuments that
they had used even in the worship OF
Jehovah we're destroyed The single
stones, or dolmans, and those composed
| Of several stones, with the single Slat
for the offering of sacrifices, no matter
how sacred were their associations, were
destroyed. They destroyed the serpent
that Moses used in healing the multi
tude during their journey through the
wilderness. They feared men would
worship the serpent and forget Jehovah
There was another side to the annual
assembling of the people at Jerusalem
for the Passover. 1t gave Hezekiah an
opportunity to learn the attitude of the
nation toward Assyria. The mighty
monarch passed through their land
every year in making his annual ex-
cursions into the various Mediterranean
countries, seeking to impose and collect
tribute from them. 1t was serious
problem and called for political wisdom
| of the highest order. The nation hac
to feel its unity before any refusal Of
their demands could be made. Egyptian
politicians sought their allegiance with
q view of making Palestine a buffer
state for them. Assyria insisted upor
their continuing their old alliance
Finally, upon the advice Of Isaiah
Hezekiah refused to adopt the policie!