2 Chronicles, chapters 29-33
The house of God had been closed by King Ahaz, who did not want the people to honor God, but it is good to know that his son, Hez-e-ki-ah loved the Lord, and as soon as he became king, he had the temple doors opened and all repaired and made ready for the people to come to sacrifice and praise God. He had the idols and false altars destroyed.
Also Hezekiah wanted to keep the feast of the Passover, which God had said these people should keep each year to remember how the children had been saved from death in Egypt (Exo. 13:3-10; Deut. 16:1-7).
He sent men with letters that the other people of Israel, who lived north of Jerusalem, should also come to this feast. But when the messengers reached them, after many miles journeying, most of the people laughed at and mocked them, as though it were foolish to remember the Passover.
But there were a few who accepted and came to Jerusalem, and were happy with all of Judah, rejoicing in obeying God’s law. During that week they ate only unleavened bread which we might not think very good, for it is made without yeast, but they were so happy to do God’s way, that they kept it seven extra days with gladness”. There had not been such a gathering of the people for very many years (Chapter. 30:26).
Once a strong enemy came near to take Jerusalem, and their king sent letters boasting that the Lord could not save the people from him, and his men called out loudly to the watchers on the wall against the Lord, as though He were but an idol like their images. But the men obeyed King Hezekiah, and did not answer their awful words. And Hezekiah and Isaiah were praying to God to save them. He did save them that night; by sending an angel to cause the death of the heathen war captains and soldiers, and the wicked king went to his land and was killed his idol temple.
At this time a great wonder was done, for King Hezekiah. He was very sick and would have died, but God granted his prayer, and Isaiah told into that in three, days he would be well and should live 15 years more. The king did not feel sure of God’s Words, and asked a sign, and God said he could choose if the shadow on the sun dial, (which was to them a clock), should move backward or forward. The king chose it should get back, and at Isaiah’s prayer, it moved back ten degrees. This meant that day was ten degrees. longer than other days. We cannot say how long a degree was, but it was their division in a day, perhaps much the same, as an hour to us. This was a great wonder of nature done by God. This seems to have been known in other lands, for after that men came from Babylon “to inquire of the wonder,” and to bring the king a present. When they came, he seemed, to have forgotten it was the Lord who had blessed him so greatly, and he showed them his great treasures with pride to himself. But all that this king did for the Lord, he did willingly, and was one of the best kings of Judah. (See also 2 Kings 20, and Isaiah 38).
What had Moses made when Israel sinned in the desert that the people had taken for an idol, and which Hezekiah was right to break up? (2 Kings 18:4).
What wise words did men of Hezekiah copy? (Prov. 25-30).
ML 09/17/1939