The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-09-07
HEZEKIAH: A KING WHO
REMEMBERED GOD

LESSON TEXT-II Chronicles 3O:13-22.
GOLDEN TEXT-Turn US again. o God,
and cause thy face to shine; and we shall
be saved.-Psalm 1913.
The way out-that seems to be the
chief object of the search of men.
The world is in what seems like
hopeless confusion with the immi-
nent danger of a devastating explo-
sion which may in the judgment of
some destroy civilization. Politics,
economics, education, yes, even re-
ligion, have tried their hands at
solving the problem and we seem to
be worse off than ever. Conditions
are much as they were when Heze-
kiah came to the throne after the
death of his wicked father Ahab,
who had brought Judah into moral,
spiritual, and national declension
and disgrace.
The young king brought the ma
ton back within a few years to
peace and prosperity. How did he
do it? He did not do it. God did it,
and He did it because Hezekiah re-
membered Him and led His people
in a return to God, in recognition
of His Word, and to restored wor-
ship. God therefore prospered them.
1t is significant that while our les
son is about King Hezekiah, his per-
son quickly recedes into the back
ground of our thinking and God is
given our attention and our praise.
Truly great men do not magnify
themselves or their own names, but
point by their very greatness to the
eternal God to whom they give the
glory. Let us consider how God
worked through Hezekiah.
l. A Cleansed Temple.
Our lesson calls for attention to
the context. Read chapter 90 and
learn how the priests and Levites
first were directed by the king to
cleanse the temple which had suf-
fered degradation and disgrace un-
der King Ahab. Sixteen days we're
devoted to a thorough cleanup.
That's good place to start.
America, how about cleaning up our
churches? Some of them need atten-
ton to their physical property,
cleaning and rehabilitation. Others
are beautifully kept up as far as
the building is concerned, but the
rubbish is in the teaching and in the
manner of worship. Let's clean that
up too.
ii. A Prepared Priesthood.
Hezekiah gathered the scattered
priests and Levites, but he did not
permit them to serve in the temple
until they had been sanctified and
prepared for their work. The men
who stand in the sanctuary to direct
the worship of God must not only be
men of Gods own choosing, but they
must be cleansed by the blood. AS
the sacrifices were offered in Heze-
kiah's day, so for us has One been
given in holy sacrifice, and unless
those who profess to be His min
listers have been cleansed by His
blood they have no proper place in
His service or in the sanctuary.
III. A Purified People.
The people of the nation were not
ready for Gods blessing. Some of
those in the northern kingdom, to
whom the royal invitation had gra-
ciously been extended to come to
the Passover, scorned the invitation
(30:l0). There was nothing thai
could be done for them. But Others
humbled themselves and came ".
1D, and those in Judah came out in
a great assembly wv. u, 49,.
Observe carefully that this was
more than great Homecoming or
jubilee event. The people were here
to worship God and they needed to
be prepared by being "healed'' of
their sins wv. Is, 20). They too
needed the cleansing blood. 1t is the
only way even now, for without the
shedding of blood there is no re-
mission of sin" (Heb. 9:22). Sin is
what we must be cleansed from and
healed of if God is to bless our land.
Nv. A Feast of Joy and Blessing.
The nation and its leaders kept the
feast not only for seven days, for
they were not satisfied with this. but
they kept it for seven more days.
Think of many of us who can hardly
sit through an hour of service on
Sunday morning, and if we also go
to Sunday school we are quite worn
out. 1t is just impossible" for us
to get to the Sunday evening serv-
ice or to the midweek prayer meet
ing. Evidently we do not have the
spirit of the people of Hezekiah's
day or the JOY that they found in
their hearts as they worshiped God.
If we did, we would seek His house
and give ourselves gladly to His
worship. The result would be that
we would receive some of the great
blessings which came to the people
of Judah.
The reading of II Chronicles 81
and 80 will reveal how God respond.
ed to the cry of His people and how
He blessed and prospered them.
He is the same God today and He
can and will do wondrous things for
those who trust and honor Him.