按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
seh even unto Zebulun。〃 The bearers of the gracious invitation were
337
usually repulsed。 The impenitent turned lightly aside； nevertheless some； eager to seek God for a clearer knowledge of His will； 〃humbled themselves； and came to Jerusalem。〃 2 Chronicles 30：10； 11。
In the land of Judah the response was very general； for upon them was 〃the hand of God；〃 〃to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes〃 a command in accord with the will of God as revealed through His prophets。 Verses 22； 21。
The occasion was one of the greatest profit to the multitudes assembled。 The desecrated streets of the city were cleared of the idolatrous shrines placed there during the reign of Ahaz。 On the appointed day the Passover was observed； and the week was spent by the people in offering peace offerings and in learning what God would have them do。 Daily the Levites 〃taught the good knowledge of the Lord；〃 and those who had prepared their hearts to seek God； found pardon。 A great gladness took possession of the worshiping multitude； 〃the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day； singing with loud instruments；〃 all were united in their desire to praise Him who had proved so gracious and merciful。 Verse 12。
The seven days usually allotted to the Passover feast passed all too quickly； and the worshipers determined to spend another seven days in learning more fully the way of the Lord。 The teaching priests continued their work of instruction from the book of the law； daily the people assembled at the temple to offer their tribute of praise and thanksgiving； and as the great meeting drew to a close；
338
it was evident that God had wrought marvelously in the conversion of backsliding Judah and in stemming the tide of idolatry which threatened to sweep all before it。 The solemn warnings of the prophets had not been uttered in vain。 〃There was great joy in Jerusalem： for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem。〃 Verse 26。
The time had come for the return of the worshipers to their homes。 〃The priests 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。〃 Verse 27。 God had accepted those who with broken hearts had confessed their sins and with resolute purpose had turned to Him for forgiveness and help。
There now remained an important work in which those who were returning to their homes must take an active part； and the accomplishment of this work bore evidence to the genuineness of the reformation wrought。 The record reads： 〃All Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah； and brake the images in pieces； and cut down the groves； and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin； in Ephraim also and Manasseh； until they had utterly destroyed them all。 Then all the children of Israel returned； every man to his possession； into their own cities。〃 2 Chronicles 31：1。
Hezekiah and his associates instituted various reforms for the upbuilding of the spiritual and temporal interests of the kingdom。 〃Throughout all Judah〃 the king 〃wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord
339
his God。 And in every work that he began； 。 。 。 he did it with all his heart； and prospered。〃 〃He trusted in the Lord God of Israel； 。 。 。 and departed not from following Him； but kept His commandments； which the Lord commanded Moses。 And the Lord was with him； and he prospered。〃 Verses 20； 21； 2 Kings 18：5…7。
The reign of Hezekiah was characterized by a series of remarkable providences which revealed to the surrounding nations that the God of Israel was with His people。 The success of the Assyrians in capturing Samaria and in scattering the shattered remnant of the ten tribes among the nations； during the earlier portion of his reign； was leading many to question the power of the God of the Hebrews。 Emboldened by their successes； the Ninevites had long since set aside the message of Jonah and had become defiant in their opposition to the purposes of Heaven。 A few years after the fall of Samaria the victorious armies reappeared in Palestine； this time directing their forces against the fenced cities of Judah； with some measure of success； but they withdrew for a season because of difficulties arising in other portions of their realm。 Not until some years later； toward the close of Hezekiah's reign； was it to be demonstrated before the nations of the world whether the gods of the heathen were finally to prevail。
（340）
Chapter 29
The Ambassadors From Babylon
In the midst of his prosperous reign King Hezekiah was suddenly stricken with a fatal malady。 〃Sick unto death；〃 his case was beyond the power of man to help。 And the last vestige of hope seemed removed when the prophet Isaiah appeared before him with the message； 〃Thus saith the Lord； Set thine house in order： for thou shalt die； and not live。〃 Isaiah 38：1。
The outlook seemed utterly dark； yet the king could still pray to the One who had hitherto been his 〃refuge and strength； a very present help in trouble。〃 Psalm 46：1。 And so 〃he turned his face to the wall； and prayed unto the Lord； saying； I beseech Thee； O Lord； remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart； and have done that which is good in Thy sight。 And Hezekiah wept sore。〃 2 Kings 20：2； 3。
Since the days of David there had reigned no king who had wrought so mightily for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God in a time of apostasy and discouragement as had
341
Hezekiah。 The dying ruler had served his God faithfully； and had strengthened the confidence of the people in Jehovah as their Supreme Ruler。 And； like David； he could now plead： 〃Let my prayer come before Thee： Incline Thine ear unto my cry； For my soul is full of troubles： And my life draweth nigh unto the grave。〃 Psalm 88：2； 3。 〃Thou art my hope； O Lord God： Thou art my trust from my youth。 By Thee have I been holden up。〃 〃Forsake me not when my strength faileth。〃 〃O God； be not far from me： O my God； make haste for my help。〃 〃O God； forsake me not； Until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation； And Thy power to everyone that is to come。〃 Psalm 71：5； 6； 9； 12； 18。
He whose 〃compassions fail not；〃 heard the prayer of His servant。 Lamentations 3：22。 〃It came to pass； afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court； that the word of the Lord came to him； saying； Turn again； and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people； Thus saith the Lord； the God of David thy father； I have heard thy prayer； I have seen thy tears： behold； I will heal thee： on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord。 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years； and I will deliver thee and