Take Good Care of Our Meeting Places

13. What work did Hezekiah initiate at the beginning of his reign?

¹³ In the first month of his reign, Hezekiah expressed his zeal for the worship of Jehovah by reopening and repairing the temple. He organized the priests and the Levites to cleanse God’s house. They did so in 16 days. (Read 2 Chronicles 29:16-18.) That effort reminds us of the maintenance and repair work that keeps our meeting places in a condition that reflects our zealous worship of Jehovah. Have you not heard experiences showing that people are impressed by the zeal of the brothers and sisters who share in such work? Yes, their efforts bring much praise to Jehovah.

Obey Divine Instructions

16, 17. In what special activity have God’s people eagerly shared, and with what result?

¹⁶ In addition to temple repair, Hezekiah restored the yearly Passover celebration that Jehovah had commanded. (Read 2 Chronicles 30:1, 4, 5.) Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem invited the whole nation​—even those of the northern kingdom—​to attend. Runners sped through the land carrying letters of invitation.​—2 Chron. 30:6-9.

¹⁷ In recent years, we have shared in a somewhat similar effort. We have used appealing printed invitations to invite people in our territories to gather with us in commemorating the Lord’s Evening Meal, in obedience to Jesus’ command. (Luke 22:19, 20) Receiving instructions at our Service Meetings, we have zealously shared in this work. And how Jehovah has blessed this effort! Why, last year, some seven million of us distributed invitations, and a total of 17,790,631 people attended!

18. Why is zeal for true worship so important for you?

¹⁸ It was said of Hezekiah: “In Jehovah the God of Israel he trusted; and after him there proved to be no one like him among all the kings of Judah, even those who had happened to be prior to him. And he kept sticking to Jehovah. He did not turn aside from following him, but he continued keeping his commandments that Jehovah had commanded Moses.” (2 Ki. 18:5, 6) May it be similar in our case. Our zeal for God’s house will help us ‘keep sticking to Jehovah’ with the prospect of everlasting life in view.​—Deut. 30:16.