FIRST PRINCIPLE: Deep moral darkness and national depression. Hezekiah – During the sixteen years of the reign of King Ahaz, Judah sank into a deep idolatry which is outlined in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28. It was from this type of environment that Hezekiah stepped into the pages of history in 715 B.C.

Josiah – His father, Amon, did not walk in the way of the Lord as described in 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon’s father, Manasseh, walked not in the Lord until his later days and the results of his earlier life were well planted in Amon and the people corrupted. At this point, Josiah, a boy of eight, stepped into history to rule a disobedient Judah in 639 B.C.

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Is your world full of idolatry? Do cars, money, savings accounts come before God in your world?

SECOND PRINCIPLE: Revival begins with one consecrated servant of God whose heart is yielded to God.

Hezekiah – There can be no doubt that Hezekiah yielded to God, for we read in 2 Chronicles 29:10, “It is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel.” This king went on to prove that these were not just words but actions from a loving heart.

Josiah – The author of 2 Kings 23:25 states with clarity the yielding of Josiah to God when he wrote: “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.”

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Have you yielded self to God’s will?

THIRD PRINCIPLE: The return to the Word of God.

Hezekiah – Wilbur M. Smith, in his pamphlet “The Glorious Revival Under King Hezekiah,” states that “Every revival worthy of the name begins in the restoration of the Word of God to the pulpit and its fearless proclamation by those anointed of God to preach the Gospel. In particular Hezekiah’s revival, we come upon such phrases as 'The word of the Lord' (2 Chron. 30:12), “The good knowledge of the Lord” (2 Chron. 30:22), 'The law of the Lord' (2 Chron. 31: 3,4,21), “The law of Moses and man of God” (2 Chron. 30:16).”2 Yes, Hezekiah returned to the Word of God as his standard.

Josiah – It is with delight that I have told the story many times of how Josiah read the 'Law of the Lord.' This is recorded in two places in the Bible, (2 Kings 22:8-20 and 2 Chron. 34:14-28). Its excitement can only be felt by reading it in its entirety. Jesus told two parables, called twin parables, one of a man who found a hidden treasure and of a man who was a pearl merchant who sold all to buy one great pearl beyond value.3 The great pearl and the hidden treasure represent the Kingdom of God. Hezekiah found the Kingdom slowly while Josiah found the kingdom in a hidden treasure.

Hey! How about you? Have you found the Kingdom of God or still looking? If you have found Kingdom, what are you doing about your discovery?

FOURTH PRINCIPLE: The return to the Worship of God.

Hezekiah – His first act was to open the doors of the house of the Lord as recorded in 2 Chronicles 29:3, “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.” By this act, there can be little doubt of Hezekiah’s desire to return to the worship of God.

Josiah – Josiah also made a firm declaration of return to worship God as recorded in 2 Chronicles 34:31-32, “And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. Then he made all who are present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God.”

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Do you go to church or do you think you are too good for it? I have met more people who say they do not need to go to church. They can worship anytime and anyplace. The only problem with that is that anytime and anyplace never comes for the cares of the world crowd the time away.

FIFTH PRINCIPLE: A cleansing of the Temple and the Nation.

Hezekiah – From 2 Chron. 29:4-5 we learn, “He (Hezekiah) brought in the priests and levites, and assembled them in the square on the east and said to them, “Hear me Levites! Now, sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the House of the Lord, the God of your fathers and carry out the filth from the holy place.”

Josiah – The Scripture is very clear on Josiah’s action (2 Chronicles 34:33), “And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel.”

Hey you! Man of 1978 – What you think about this?

SIXTH PRINCIPLE: A return to Blood Sacrifice.

Hezekiah – The accounts of this great king are very descriptive of animal blood sacrifice to God. Their length prohibits repeating them here. An excellent reference on them is 2 Chronicles 29:22-24.

Josiah – An excellent account of keeping a passover is outlined in 2 Chronicles 35:1-6. May I suggest you read it in its entirety.

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Jesus gave his blood for you. Do you encourage Holy Communion services in your church?

SEVENTH PRINCIPLE: A return to Holy living.

Hezekiah – This king insisted that all be sanctified. Second Chronicles describes how some came to the Passover unsanctified. Hezekiah prayed for their sanctification and God responded to his prayer as recorded in verse 17.

 Josiah – How the people responded with a holy life is shown in 2 Chronicles 34:33 when it is written: “All his (Josiah’s) days they (citizens) did not turn away from following the Lord the God of their fathers.”

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Do you care if your neighbor walks right?

EIGHTH PRINCIPLE: The return of Joy.

Hezekiah – Indeed, “They sang praises with gladness,” and “Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people” 2 Chronicles 29:30,36: 30:25.

Josiah – The joy they felt is shown in 2 Chronicles 35:18, “No Passover like it has been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel.”

Hey you! Man of 1978 – Do you have the joy? Want to share it?

 CONCLUSION

Time to judge your answers,  oh man of 1978. What is your verdict, Oh! Man of 1978? Good, Let us have a revival! Dr. Alexander Maclaren tells us the first step when he says, “We are crying out for a revival. Dear friends, the revival must begin with each of us by ourselves. Power for services is second. Power for holiness and character is first, and only the man who has let the Spirit of God work His will upon him, and do what He will, has a right to expect that he will be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power. Do not get on the wrong tract. Your revival, must begin on your knees in prayer.”5

BIBLIOGRAPHY Footnotes 1. Wilbur M. Smith, D.D., The Glorious Revival Under King Hezekiah; Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Raids, Mich., 1937. Page 7. 2. Same, Page 24. 3. Matthew 13:44-45 4. Same as Footnote 1, Pages 5 thru 47. 5. Same as Footnote 1, Page 42.

Other books referred to:

Josiah and Revival by W.W. Fereday, Publisher John Ritchie Limited – Kilmarnock, Great Britain, no date but estimated this hard back book is from around 1924. An excellent book and sermon provider for one desiring a deeper walk with Jesus. The book quoted in Footnote 1 is an outstanding book on revivals. This book made up for what I found lacking elsewhere. Most regular sources do not cover these two revivals in any depth.

 Article was written by Frank E. Henrich 1978