DAY 192 Read 2 Kings 17 and 18; 2 Chronicles 29.
Today's reading: Like a clean breeze that sweeps away the chilling fog, King Hezekiah's zeal for God brought revival to Judah after many years of prevailing wickedness. (The northern kingdom fell in 722 B.C.).
Memory gem: "Hezikiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly" (2 Chronicles 29:36).
Thought for today:
"Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity. No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute. He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services, so long neglected; and in this work he earnestly solicited the cooperation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling. Confident of their loyal support, he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far-reaching reforms....
"In a few well-chosen words the king reviewed the situation they were facing--the closed temple and the cessation of all services within its precincts; the flagrant idolatry practiced in the streets of the city and throughout the kingdom; the apostasy of multitudes who might have remained true to God had the leaders in Judah set before them a right example; and the decline of the kingdom and loss of prestige in the estimation of surrounding nations. The northern kingdom was rapidly crumbling to pieces; many were perishing by the sword; a multitude had already been carried away captive; soon Israel would fall completely into the hands of the Assyrians, and be utterly ruined; and this fate would surely befall Judah as well, unless God should work mightily through chosen representatives....
"It was a time for quick action. The priests began at once....They engaged heartily in the work of cleansing...the temple. Because of the years of desecration and 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."--Prophet and Kings, pp. 331-333.
Today's reading: Like a clean breeze that sweeps away the chilling fog, King Hezekiah's zeal for God brought revival to Judah after many years of prevailing wickedness. (The northern kingdom fell in 722 B.C.).
Memory gem: "Hezikiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly" (2 Chronicles 29:36).
Thought for today:
"Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity. No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute. He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services, so long neglected; and in this work he earnestly solicited the cooperation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling. Confident of their loyal support, he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far-reaching reforms....
"In a few well-chosen words the king reviewed the situation they were facing--the closed temple and the cessation of all services within its precincts; the flagrant idolatry practiced in the streets of the city and throughout the kingdom; the apostasy of multitudes who might have remained true to God had the leaders in Judah set before them a right example; and the decline of the kingdom and loss of prestige in the estimation of surrounding nations. The northern kingdom was rapidly crumbling to pieces; many were perishing by the sword; a multitude had already been carried away captive; soon Israel would fall completely into the hands of the Assyrians, and be utterly ruined; and this fate would surely befall Judah as well, unless God should work mightily through chosen representatives....
"It was a time for quick action. The priests began at once....They engaged heartily in the work of cleansing...the temple. Because of the years of desecration and 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."--Prophet and Kings, pp. 331-333.
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