Song of Redemption Read Free Page B

assumed that Zechariah would be willing to help in any way that he could. “But … but why not? I need you. You’ve served as palace administrator before, and you’re experienced—”
    “I’m a Levite and a teacher of the Torah. I’ll help you with your religious reforms, but I won’t serve in your government.”
    “But I need you. How can I convince you to change your mind?”
    “You can’t. I’ll never hold a government position again.”
    Hezekiah exhaled in frustration. “I don’t know anyone who’s as qualified as you are. You know more about running the kingdom than all the members of my court added together.”
    “That’s flattering, but an exaggeration, I’m sure.”
    “But you’re still going to serve in the Temple, aren’t you?”
    “I’m much too old for that. Levites retire at age fifty. I’m close to seventy.”
    “Grandpa, please—there aren’t enough Levites to do all the work, and there are even fewer priests. I’m hoping that some of the younger ones will return to service once all the reforms are complete, but the men will need to be trained and—”
    “And so you want to call a wrinkled old Levite like me back into service for a while?”
    “Yes. Would you? At least do that much to help me … please.”
    Zechariah sighed and gazed up at the Temple walls, high above them. “The last time I wore my Levitical robes was the day I stopped your father from offering his sacrifice on the Assyrian altar, the day I became a prisoner. Do you remember what I told you when you saw me dressed in my robes that day?”
    “No … I’m sorry.”
    “You begged me to come back as soon as I was finished at the Temple so I could teach you more about Yahweh. I told you that I might be a little late, but I would be back. Well, I’m much later than I ever dreamed I’d be,” he said, resting his hand on Hezekiah’s shoulder, “but I’ll keep my promise and teach you Yahweh’s laws. And I’ll assist in the Temple until some younger men can be trained to replace me.”
    “Where should we start? The Temple looked to me like it was in pretty bad condition.”
    “It is, and we’ve already begun cleansing it as you asked us to. The next step is to assign the priests and Levites to their divisions the way King David established them, then anoint a new high priest. Of course the people will have to tithe the required Temple portion in order to support us.”
    “I’ll issue the orders. And I’ll contribute whatever I can from the royal treasuries, too. But what about the Temple structures? Won’t they require restoration?”
    “Yes, and I think I know the man to help us. My friend Hilkiah has a son who’s been trained as an engineer. Hilkiah is one of the few righteous men I know, and I’m certain that he has taught his son, Eliakim, to follow God’s laws, too.”
    “Good. I’ll send for him to oversee the reconstruction. But that raises another point,” Hezekiah said, stroking his beard. “Right now the hardest part of my job is figuring out who I can trust. Uriah probably wasn’t the only one who would like to take control of my kingdom.”
    “That’s true. It’s always a very dangerous time when power suddenly changes hands. You’ll need to take a strong stand until your sovereignty is firmly established.”
    “My father’s government was very corrupt—from the highest official to the lowest clerk. It’s little wonder that the prophet Micah condemned the leaders of Judah so strongly. In any event, I’ve called for a meeting later today with all of my father’s former advisors. I’m going to announce my decision to reorganize the kingdom according to the Law of Moses.”
    Zechariah’s eyes narrowed. “In that case, you’d better prepare yourself for a bitter power struggle, son. Some people will be eager to return to the laws of God, but most of the men who’ve been in control under Ahaz will surely oppose you—behind your back, if not openly.”
    “I understand.