Rabu, 24 Maret 2021. Komunitas Iman.

(Yesaya 66: 21)

Waktunya telah tiba untuk kembalinya para jamaah ke rumah mereka. “Para imam Lewi bangkit dan memberkati orang-orang: dan suara mereka didengar, dan doa mereka sampai ke tempat kediaman-Nya yang kudus, bahkan sampai ke surga.” Ayat 27. Tuhan telah menerima mereka yang dengan hati yang hancur telah mengakui dosa-dosa mereka dan dengan tujuan yang teguh telah berpaling kepada-Nya untuk pengampunan dan pertolongan. {PK 338.1}

Sekarang masih ada pekerjaan penting di mana mereka yang kembali ke rumah mereka harus mengambil bagian secara aktif, dan pencapaian pekerjaan ini menjadi bukti keaslian reformasi yang dilakukan. Catatan itu berbunyi: “Seluruh Israel yang hadir pergi ke kota-kota Yehuda, dan menghancurkan patung-patung itu menjadi beberapa bagian, dan menebang kebun, dan melemparkan tempat-tempat tinggi dan mezbah dari seluruh Yehuda dan Benyamin, di Efraim juga dan Manasye, sampai mereka benar-benar menghancurkan semuanya. Kemudian semua orang Israel kembali, setiap orang ke miliknya, ke kota mereka sendiri. " 2 Tawarikh 31: 1. {PK 338.2}

Hizkia dan rekan-rekannya melembagakan berbagai reformasi untuk membangun kepentingan rohani dan duniawi kerajaan. “Di seluruh Yehuda” raja “mengerjakan apa yang baik dan benar serta kebenaran di hadapan Tuhan, Allahnya. Dan dalam setiap pekerjaan yang dia mulai, ... dia melakukannya dengan sepenuh hati, dan makmur. ” “Dia percaya kepada Tuhan Allah Israel, ... dan pergi bukan dari mengikuti-Nya, tetapi menaati perintah-perintah-Nya, yang Tuhan perintahkan kepada Musa. Dan Tuhan menyertai dia; dan dia menjadi makmur. " Ayat 20, 21; 2 Raja-raja 18: 5-7. {PK 338.3}

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. {PK 338.1}

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. {PK 338.2}

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 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. {PK 338.3}