THE KING’S : BUSINESS Hezekiah, The Faithful King
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JULY 15, 1917. LESSON III. 2 Chron. 30:1-13. (Read 1-27. Memorize vs. 11, 12)'. G olden T ext : “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”—Heb. .11:6. DAILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., July 9 —2 Chron. 30:1-9. (The Lesson).
Tues., July 10—2 Chron. 30:10-19. Wed., July 11—2 Chron. 30:20-27. Thurs., July 12—2 Kings 18:1-8. Fri., July 13—Romans 13 :l-7. Sat.,' July 14 —Psalm 72. Sun., ‘July 15—Isaiah 9 :l-7.
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
V. 1. “And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Eph raim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God (, the God ) of Israel." Step by step Heze kiah seeks to bring the people back to Jeho vah and complete obedience to His. word. He began by reopening the house of Jeho vah, then he cleansed the house, then he dedicated it with offerings and sacrifices and praise- (ch. 29), now he reinstitutes Israel’s great memorial feast wherein God’s redemption through blood is set forth (cf. Ex. 12). It revealed a deep discernment on the part of Hezekiah of the meaning of the Mosaic system and of redemption, that he put the passover forward as the very heart and center of the true worship pf Jehovah. Whoever understands the passover, understands God’s way of salva tion. (cf. Ex. 12:13-23; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8 ; Rom. 3:25, 26; John 1:25). When at a later day, Josiah undertook the reformation of the people of God he also emphasized the passover (2 Chron. 35:1-19). In every true reformation the doctrine of atonement by blood comes to the front. There is a great need in the churches today that there be a reformation that gives to the blood of our Passover its proper place. Heze kiah sought to give his reformation the widest possible scope. He did not limit his efforts to his own people, Judah, but
sent to Ephraim and Manassah a s . well, indeed “to all Israel.” Hezekiah had the true missionary spirit. It has been said that “Hezekiah had no right to invite Hoshea’s subjects to repair to Jerusalem to his Passover.” But it was not “his pass- over,” it was the “Passover unto the LORD ' God of Israel." There are always narrow minded people who object if a man who has the true missionary spirit tries to do good outside his own parish, but we need not pay any attention to these pitifuj fault finders. They would be amusing if the whole thing were not so sad. Let us send out our call as far as there is any possibility of its being heard, for man to return to the Lord and to keep His Passover. vs. 2, 3. “For the king had taken counself and his princes, and all the congregation ■in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the ’second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently . (in suf ficient' number), neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.” Hezekiah was unable to keep the very let ter of the law. They were not in a posi tion to keep the passover properly in the first month, so he concludes that they •will come as near to it as they can, and keep it in the second month. This was satis factory to Him who looketh upon the heart and its intention and judges the outward performances in the light of that (cf. vS.
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