The Revival Continues
I navigated with my “Canadian” crutches at church today. That was a first for me and it went well. Several people commented and were pleased with this sign of progress. I have been checking into a “recumbent” bike for me to use during this summer to get outside with my exercise.
I helped at the Allies table at church to sign up men for our upcoming retreat in May. I will be sharing some of the life lessons that I have learned through my illness during one of the breakout sessions. I hope to do an evening workout at the fitness center today, I’ll see how that goes.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… A great number of people gathered in Jerusalem in the second month to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.…After the seven days during which they offered sacrifices in praise of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, they all decided to celebrate for another seven days. So they celebrated with joy….The priests and the Levites asked the Lord‘s blessing on the people. In his home in heaven God heard their prayers and accepted them. (2 Chronicles 30:13,22,23,27)
I recall as a teen, the church I grew up in would have special meetings with a “guest evangelist.” We referred to them as “revival meetings.” I recall one of significance where the attendance the work the Lord was doing in hearts was so great that it continued every night for six weeks.
When King Hezekiah lead God’s people in a time of “revival” or turning back to the Lord there seems to be a deep response, for the normal celebration called for in the Law of Moses was extended an additional week. Some of the details leading up to this event reveal the sad spiritual condition among God’s people.
Hezekiah’s father King Ahaz was a wicked and rebellious King. Here is how his conduct was described, “When his troubles were at their worst…Ahaz sinned against the Lord more than ever. He offered sacrifices to the gods of the Syrians…He said, “The Syrian gods helped the kings of Syria, so if I sacrifice to them, they may help me too.” This brought disaster on him and on his nation. In addition, he took all the Temple equipment and broke it in pieces. He closed the Temple and set up altars in every part of Jerusalem.” (2 Chron. 28:22-25)
The heart of Hezekiah was different, but he had a lot of work to do. He set out repairing the Temple, and then rededicated the Temple. The successful efforts caught the attention of the people. “King Hezekiah and the people were happy, because God had helped them to do all this so quickly.” (2 Chron. 29:36) Hezekiah then called on the people to celebrate the Passover. This is the first recorded celebration of the Passover (which was an annual feast), since the days of King Solomon. It was to be held on the first day of the first month of their year. The problem was no one showed up and there were no Priests qualified to perform the duties.
The Passover is postponed for one month. A call goes out throughout the land to come to Jerusalem and to obey once again the Lord God of their ancestors. That call included these words, “The Lord your God is kind and merciful, and if you return to him, he will accept you.” (2 Chron. 30:9) The result was this, “God was also at work in Judah and united the people in their determination to obey his will by following the commands of the king and his officials.” (2 Chron. 30:12)
The Passover was celebrated. The false idols were removed and destroyed. The animal were presented for sacrifice. The people obeyed the Lord and worshiped Him and celebrated in His presence. What we see is that this was not a perfect act of worship, by a “holy” people. But Hezekiah knew their hearts were right so he prayed, “O Lord, the God of our ancestors, in your goodness forgive those who are worshiping you with all their heart, even though they are not ritually clean.” (2 Chron. 30:19)
The worshiped with all of their strength, Hezekiah commended the Levites for their skills in leading the people and when the seven days were over, the people said, “let’s continue!” As a result, the celebration and sacrifices continued for another seven days. When it was over, the people returned to their homes and removed idolatry and false forms of worship from the land; and the practices called for in the Law of Moses were re-instituted.
Some important observations from this account. We see the importance of true spiritual leadership and its impact on the lives of people and a nation. Leadership is hard. Spiritual leadership has its own unique challenges. But I recall a mentor to pastors reminding them, “if people could get to where they need to go, without you, you aren’t needed.” Hezekiah had to take bold, decisive action that was against the current of the times. He sought the Lord and the Lord gave him direction and a favor.
Next I notice that, a pure heart is more important than perfect performance. Because of the condition of the Temple and the lives of people some adjustments had to be made to the rigid instructions in the Law of Moses. But as the people responded to the example and words of Hezekiah and the leaders, God honored their sincerity and did a work in their hearts and facilitated their return to Him and their worship.
When people experience the presence and provision of the Lord through obedience and a sincere heart, they want more. For years the people through their leaders had been shown that God or “gods” only existed to serve people. They believed, “If you don’t get you want, you just get a new god.” They failed to realize that their hardships were God’s way of getting their attention and calling them back to Him. When they corrected their thinking and their view of God and repented and began to seek the Lord, they found His mercy, forgiveness and blessing. When they experienced that, it was like they said, “this is what we have needed, and we want more!”
True “revival” is shown in changed lives. It is one thing to be “moved spiritually” it is another to see that impact manifest itself in action and new priorities. We see that in the lives of God’s people. As they left the celebration of the Passover the Feast of Tabernacles, they returned to their homes with a new commitment, a fresh understanding of the Lord and a determination to follow the Lord.
Do you need a fresh commitment and a new understanding of the Lord in your life? This week consider these observations and how they might apply to your life and to our nation.