II Chronicles 30:1 states, “And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manaseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel.”
“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” was written by Kris Kristofferson. I have only heard it sung by Johnny Cash. It pictured a broken man that stumbled out onto the Sunday morning city sidewalks. He saw a small boy kicking a can. He smelled the smell of fried chicken cooking and was reminded of his childhood and something he had lost. He then passed by a park where a daddy was swinging his little girl. Next he passed by a Sunday school and heard familiar songs. He finally heard a lonely church bell echoing down through the canyon. In the chorus the title is found: “And there’s nothin’ short a’ dyin’ that’s half as lonesome as the sound of the sleepin’ city sidewalks and Sunday mornin’ comin’ down.”
The song leaves the impression that nothing can be done about a wasted life—a life that once knew the joy of living. The answer is revival—true revival. Revival will not come if we don’t want it. My Pastor shared a powerful verse yesterday, Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Hezekiah was only 20 when he wanted to see the whole nation of Israel revived. His father, Ahaz, had brought Judah very low. The Northern Kingdom was also very wicked. After cleansing the temple, he called for the Northern and Southern Kingdoms to all come together for the Passover. This took much faith, for the kingdoms were divided.
Our nation is divided today. We are ripe for revival if we seek it with all of our hearts. How can we do that? Hezekiah took action. He established a decree—a proclamation—to be sent out over the whole nation, calling everyone to come to the Passover. I have often wondered what would happen if an executive order went out in our country that at 3:00 p.m. every Sunday everyone would be required to stop what they were doing and kneel down and pray for 15 minutes. Imagine cars parked along the freeway with doors opened and people kneeling down, not for a moment of silence, or praying to the god of your choice, but crying out to the God of Heaven.
You may think that is not the answer, but it is exactly what young Hezekiah did. He wasn’t making a suggestion, but a decree. He wasn’t asking for 15 minutes, but several weeks. He realized the need for the nation to get back to God. For him it was not just a feeling in his heart, but a determination in his soul to do all he could to see revival come.
How do we plead for a whole nation? We do not have the power to make a decree, but we can make a decree for our own soul. As men we can make a decree for ourselves and our families. Joshua challenged Israel to choose the Lord. As an example he said, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Don’t be afraid to verbalize your plead. “Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading? (“Softly and Tenderly,” by Will Thompson.) Part of revival is the PLEAD OF REVIVAL!
