Right off the bat, Hezekiah recognized that things had to be different. He saw what happened to his forbears when they ignored and willfully violated the Lord's commands. In the first month of his reign, he threw open the doors of the temple and commanded the priests and Levites to consecrate what had once been dedicated to the Lord but had become defiled by the ever more sinful procession of kings.
Once the temple was purified, they slaughtered bulls, rams, lambs and goats for a sin offering as had been commanded in the law. Then he had the Levites stand by with cymbals, harps and lyres to usher in the burnt offering. As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. - 2 Chron. 19:27-29 NIV
Next they brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings and with that, the temple of the Lord was once more worthy of the one for whom it was built. So Hezekiah sent forth a proclamation to all of the people. "People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left.....If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him." - 2 Chron. 31:6-9
And God did not turn away. It came to pass just as Solomon had prayed when the temple was originally dedicated. "Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. " - 1 Kings 8:30 NIV
God did forgive and the people under a Godly king once again prospered. This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. - 2 Chron 31:20-21
The nature of God is forgiveness. He has never turned away from those who humble themselves and turn to him.
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