4th.: Heal the People
In 2nd Chronicles 30:1-18, King Hezekiah of Judah proclaimed
to his nation, Judah to celebrate the Passover Feast in Jerusalem.
He also invited their next door neighbors, the nation of Israel to join them.
Normally, the people had to ceremoniously cleanse themselves (v18) before this feast.
But the people had gotten sloppy. They hadn't followed God's prescribed rituals.
Hezekiah therefore prayed,
“The good Lord pardon everyone that prepares his heart to seek God,
the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” (2nd Chr. 30:18d-19).
Hezekiah knew enough Scripture to know that the people were not following God's commands.
Hezekiah chose to ask the merciful God to pardon the people.
God responded,
“And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.” (2nd Chr. 30:20).
How God healed the people was not recorded, but it was a spiritual healing of some sort.
Nevertheless, Hezekiah moved God to do whatever he need to do to heal the people.
Likewise, we who are reconciled to the Lord, need to ask the Lord to heal those who cannot see their corrupted spiritual condition.
“Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.” (Ps. 41:4)