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Prophets and Kings
Him, until He plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: He
will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness.”
Micah 7:7-9
.
These and other like messages revealing the willingness of God
to forgive and accept those who turned to Him with full purpose of
heart, had brought hope to many a fainting soul in the dark years when
the temple doors remained closed; and now, as the leaders began to
institute a reform, a multitude of the people, weary of the thralldom of
sin, were ready to respond.
Those who entered the temple courts to seek forgiveness and to
renew their vows of allegiance to Jehovah, had wonderful encourage-
ment offered them in the prophetic portions of Scripture. The solemn
warnings against idolatry, spoken through Moses in the hearing of all
Israel, had been accompanied by prophecies of God’s willingness to
hear and forgive those who in times of apostasy should seek Him with
all the heart. “If thou turn to the Lord thy God,” Moses had said, “and
shalt be obedient unto His voice; (for the Lord thy God is a merciful
God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the
covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.”
Deuteronomy
4:30, 31
.
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And in the prophetic prayer offered at the dedication of the tem-
ple whose services Hezekiah and his associates were now restoring,
Solomon had prayed, “When Thy people Israel be smitten down before
the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again
to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto
Thee in this house: then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of
Thy people Israel.”
1 Kings 8:33, 34
. The seal of divine approval
had been placed upon this prayer; for at its close fire had come down
from heaven to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the
glory of the Lord had filled the temple. See
2 Chronicles 7:1
. And by
night the Lord had appeared to Solomon to tell him that his prayer had
been heard, and that mercy would be shown those who should worship
there. The gracious assurance was given: “If My people, which are
called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Verse 14
.
These promises met abundant fulfillment during the reformation
under Hezekiah.