people of God. They sank to utter depths of rebellion toward heaven. So horrible was the situation that the sons of Eli the priest refused to give God the glory in the presentation of the gifts of the people (I Sam. 2:12-17). Heaven shut up itself against the people so that it is written that the “word of the Lord was precious in those days . . .” (I Sam. 3:1). The tide of spirituality had moved out. Personal and. individual intervention. Man’s ex tremity was God’s opportunity. With the ark gone, the lamp of Israel was burning low. With Ichabod written in large letters across the nation, God moved in to do something for the people. He had His man and his name was Samuel. Raised up through a woman who prayed for him, his was a birth and existence bom in tears. A man of prayer himself, for 20 years he went up and down the land, using Ramah as a base, and preached for God (I Sam. 7:2). It seemed that his efforts were all in vain when suddenly there was a movement amongst the people and we read, “ and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord” (I Sam. 7:2). What a blessed thought! • National restoration. Who can read this account with a dry eye? (I Sam. 7:3-8). With the people gathered together at Mizpeh, they prayed, fasted, and confessed their sins to God. It was a day of blessed restoration to the Lord (I Sam. 7:6). In the light of these events, the historian notes that a stone was erected as a monument on the very battlefield where 20 years before Israel had been put to flight by the Philistines. It was called the “ Stone of Help” (Ebenezer). How precious! III. The Revival under Hezekiah. Spiritual and moral declension. The story of the kings in both Israel and Judah is one of terrible dis- appointment. Like unto the priesthood, the royalty of the people of God had turned their backs, for the most on the Lord and His "Word. It was a dark hour. The northern tnbes had been carried away into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The record of the South was little better. Unceasing conflict within and constant danger from without made the little kingdom susceptible to assimilation by the great world powers of the day. What was said of Israel was true, really, of the whole nation — they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but “ transgressed His covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them” (II Kings 18:12). It was a sad day indeed. Personal and individual intervention. God laid His hand on seyeral men. There were Elijah, Elisha, and Hosea in the north. These prophets of the Lord broke their hearts over a dissident people. In the southern kingdom, Ahaz had all but wiped out the formal wor ship of the Lord. The temple courts were dark, the light on the golden candlestick had been put out. For four teen years the gates had been shut. There were no sacri fices on the brazen altar, no incense on the golden altar, and no songs of praise from the Levitical choir. God com missioned Isaiah and Micah to thunder forth His Word, but it was a king who cooperated with those whom God used to bring a revival and refreshment from heaven unto Israel. Hezekiah was the man of God for the hour (II Kings 18:13). National restoration. What an awakening they had in the land! The full story is told in U Chron. 29:32. Part of that account gives the key to the glorious experi ence in the land in those days. Read it with faith yourself: So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of JA N U A R Y , 1964
Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven (II Chron. 30:26, 27). Such a thrill had not been experienced in Israel for about 250 years, and glorious indeed was the revival under Hezekiah. IV. The Revival under Josiah. Spiritual and moral declension. The forces of reaction against the godly Hezekiah were manifested with tremen dous vengeance just as-soon as he died. Manasseh, who was bom during, the additional 15 years granted to Hezekiah, set about to undo everything which his right eous father had established (II Chron. 33:1-10). The tale of this sinful man is degrading indeed. There was need for a breath from heaven. • Personal and individual intervention. Once again God determined to call a halt to the downward trend in the nation He had chosen. Jeremiah, the prophet from Anathoth, was called upon to preach to the nation. How he preached! Out of a life of sorrow and unusual testing, he ministered to the nation with tears, “ the weeping prophet” indeed. But no other prophet spoke with greater tenderness, along with such severe and strong denuncia tions, as did Jeremiah. His life was one long martyrdom. It was this man who prepared the path for the revival, but the instrument God used was a young neophyte, the boy-king Josiah. This lad sought the Lord, purged the land, restored the temple, and through these efforts brought to light the Word of the Lord which had been hidden in dust upon some shelf in the unused house of God. It is a thrilling account of the work of God. The full story should be read for one’s own soul’s good (II Chron. 34ff.). National restoration. So thorough was the movement of God in the midst of the nation that the people were called upon 'by Josiah to renew their covenant with the Lord. This they did in a momentous ceremony in Jeru- salem. (II Chron. 34:29-32). Once again a genuine godly optimism ran as a current of blessing throughout the people of God, for we read that, “ all his days they de parted not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers” (II Chron. 34:33). V. The Revival under Zerubbabel. Spiritual and moral declension. The movement of God under the young king Josiah was not lengthy, but in its brief span, it accomplished God’s eternal purpose f°r it- The ’Word of the Lord had been uncovered. Josiah’s untimely death opened the way to the spoiling of the nation once again. The last king of Judah, Zede- kiah, was carried away into captivity; the city was ransacked and burned. The terrible state of affairs is given in bold detail in the Word of the Lord (II Chron. 36.11-14). Because of its sin the nation was buried again for a time. Personal and individual intervention. The condes cending majesty of our blessed God is written forcefully in the "Word. Consider this testimony to His unerring compassion for His people, “And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place” (II Chron. 36:15). This is typical of the grace of God in all that He doe? for His own. It is no surprise, therefore, that after 70 years of captivity God moved upon His people again. He touched the hearts of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua (continued on next page) 29
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