The Reformation Spreads

The time had come for the worshipers to return to their homes. God had accepted the broken-hearted who had confessed their sins and resolutely turned to Him for forgiveness and help.RR 123.3

There was still an important work in which those who were returning to their homes must take part, and its accomplishment showed that the reformation was genuine: “Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession.” 2 Chronicles 31:1.RR 123.4

“Throughout all Judah” the king “did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began ..., he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.” Verses 20, 21.RR 123.5

The Assyrians’ success in scattering the remnant of the ten tribes among the nations was leading many to question the power of the God of the Hebrews. Made bold by their successes, Nineveh’s inhabitants had long since set aside the message of Jonah and had become defiant in their opposition to Heaven. A few years after the fall of Samaria the victorious armies reappeared in Palestine, directing their forces against the walled cities of Judah. But they withdrew for a while because of difficulties in other parts of their realm. Not until near the close of Hezekiah’s reign would the world see whether the gods of the heathen would finally prevail.RR 123.6