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th 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 encouragement 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 temple 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。〃 I 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。
The good beginning made at the time of the purification of the temple was followed by a broader movement； in which Israel as well as Judah participated。 In his zeal to make the temple services a real blessing to the people； Hezekiah determined to revive the ancient custom of gathering the Israelites together for the celebration of the Passover feast。
For many years the Passover had not been observed as a national festival。 The division of the kingdom after the
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close of Solomon's reign had made this seem impracticable。 But the terrible judgments befalling the ten tribes were awakening in the hearts of some a desire for better things； and the stirring messages of the prophets were having their effect。 By royal couriers the invitation to the Passover at Jerusalem was heralded far and wide； 〃from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun。〃 The bearers of the gracious invitation were
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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；
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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
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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。
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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
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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 n