04/04/2018 - A GOD WHO LISTENS AND HEALS

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And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.  2 Chronicles 30:20

The rise of Hezekiah to the throne of Judah was a divine act. This man sought the Lord and served Him wholeheartedly. His father was a terrible king, who followed the pagan costumes from the nations that inhabited Canaan, as well as the wickedness of Samaria. However, Hezekiah did not follow the example of his father and imitated David, his ancestor. Therefore, he was successful.

In the first month of his kingdom, he opened the doors of the House of the Lord, which had been closed by his father. He promoted a revival, ordering the Levites to be sanctified and to take away from the sanctuary all filthiness. Then, it came to his heart the desire of celebrating the Easter of the Lord in Jerusalem. He ordered to invite not only Judah, but also all of Israel, from Beersheba to Dan. What a beautiful plan!

Israel had fallen, and Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, had Samaria in captivity. Some escaped and returned, but they were so unbelieving that they laughed from the messengers that came to invite them to participate in the celebration. The message of King Hezekiah was one of repentance, so that they all returned to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, only some went to the feast. Those in Judah were united like one person in the fear of God, and that was very important.

Many Israelites had Easter without sanctifying themselves. Yet Hezekiah prayed for them, so that the Most High, who is good, would forgive those who had prepared their hearts to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers – even if they had not cleansed themselves according to the purification of the sanctuary (v. 18,19). Hezekiah’s prayer was heard. Those who are answered in their prayers must always pray for the needy.

This teaches us the following: there are people who are not yet sanctified, though they may be willing to reach out to God. However, even so, they must not be hindered from coming to the table of the Lord, because every act of faith is counted as righteousness (Galatians 3:6). We must not show partiality, for the table is the Lord’s, and He left us this example.

After Easter,  they celebrated joyfully the Feast of Unleavened Bread,  during seven days, and the priests praised the Lord, day after day, in a loud voice (2  Chronicles 30:21). After reaching an agreement, the congregation continued the celebration for seven more days. That period of feasting was known as the most important one since the days of Solomon (v. 26). The people of Israel was filled with joy, as well as the strangers and the inhabitants of Judah. What a beautiful celebration!

These things are examples of what is available to us today. We cannot live by a dead word, but we must feel what God wants to do in our days, for, certainly, He has prepared Himself to fulfil such a wonderful work that, if it were to be told, nobody would believe. The Almighty wants to do something in our days and in our midst that is already written, though it may continue hidden to our eyes. As we understand His will, we will reign successfully.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares