Hezekiah
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exhorted them; “for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before Him, to
serve Him, and that ye should minister unto Him, and burn incense.”
“Sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of
your fathers.”
Verses 11, 5
.
It was a time for quick action. The priests began at once. Enlisting
the co-operation of others of their number who had not been present
during this conference, they engaged heartily in the work of cleansing
and sanctifying the temple. Because of the years of desecration and
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neglect, this was attended with many difficulties; but the priests and
the Levites labored untiringly, and within a remarkably short time they
were able to report their task completed. The temple doors had been
repaired and thrown open; the sacred vessels had been assembled and
put into place; and all was in readiness for the re-establishment of the
sanctuary services.
In the first service held, the rulers of the city united with King
Hezekiah and with the priests and Levites in seeking forgiveness for
the sins of the nation. Upon the altar were placed sin offerings “to
make an atonement for all Israel.” “And when they had made an end of
offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves,
and worshiped.” Once more the temple courts resounded with words
of praise and adoration. The songs of David and of Asaph were sung
with joy, as the worshipers realized that they were being delivered
from the bondage of sin and apostasy. “Hezekiah rejoiced, and all
the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done
suddenly.”
Verses 24, 29, 36
.
God had indeed prepared the hearts of the chief men of Judah to
lead out in a decided reformatory movement, that the tide of apostasy
might be stayed. Through His prophets He had sent to His chosen
people message after message of earnest entreaty—messages that had
been despised and rejected by the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel,
now given over to the enemy. But in Judah there remained a goodly
remnant, and to these the prophets continued to appeal. Hear Isaiah
urging, “Turn ye unto Him from whom the children of Israel have
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deeply revolted.”
Isaiah 31:6
. Hear Micah declaring with confidence:
“I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my
God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall,
I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against