2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 29:1-11

Hezekiah’s godly reign we may wish pleasure a second time perish. Here is, 1. His exhortation to the priests and Levites, an referring the temple-Jerusalem, ver. 1—11. 2. The case the Levites took to change the temple, ver. 12—19. 3. A falcon received of God’s neglected ordinances, ver. 20—36.

1. HEZEKIAH began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. 3. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

2. And he brought in the priests, and the Levites, and gathered them together in the east-street. 5. And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, fondify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the hithiness out of the holy place. 6. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burnt incense, nor offered burnt-offerings in the holy place, unto the God of Israel. 8. Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to his being, as ye see with your eyes. 9. For he our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, and our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for this. 10. Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11. My sons, he not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister unto him, and burn incense.

No sooner is the crown devolved to Hezekiah, than with unremitting zeal he sets himself to repair the late desolations of God’s house, and recover the people from the dreadful apostasy. His heart was right with God, as David’s, and religion his first and great concern. Happy the land that hath such a king.

1. He opens and repairs the doors of God’s house, where of late had neither been incense or offering. Probably though no public service had been maintained there, the second fire was still preserved.

2. He connotes the priests and Levites, who seem to have too much corresponded with the bad changes of the last reign, and to have resisted little zeal for a reformation: in this august assembly, he laments the evils of their fathers, their neglect of God and his service, and guilty aticities thereto all the noticers they had suffered, and under which they yet groaned. He declares his own intentions to join himself solemnly in covenant with God, and admonishes them heartily to assist him in the restoration of God’s worship, and the reformation of the people. As priests and Levites, they were especially obliged to purify their own souls, and they are not obliged for others; the honour God had put on them, should quicken them in his service; and as the father of his people, he addresses them as sons, by every endearing entreaty, engaging them to that which was so evidently their duty. Note, (1.) They who neglect God’s ordinances, declare thereby their apostasy from him. The persons, the family who neglect the lamp of God’s wood, and offer no daily incense of prayer and praise, cannot but be in a state of terrible guilt. (2.) There is no way of averting God’s fierce anger, but by a penitent return to him in his unheard way. (3.) When God stirs up our heart to desire to return, then there is hope. (4.) It is in gain to attempt redeeming others, till we have first begun with our own souls. (5.) A negligent minister is a most criminal character.

3. Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amalia, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kolumbites; and the sons of Merari; Kilb the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehaeleel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: 13. And the sons of Einaraban; Shimon, and Jeirel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: 14. And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. 15. And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16. And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleaners that they found in the temple of the LORD, into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it to carry it out abroad into the brook Kinston. 17. Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month, came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days, and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 18. They went in to Hezekiah the king, and said,

We have cleaned all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt-offerings, with all the vessels thereof, and the chew-bread table, with all the vessels thereof. 19. Moreover, all the vessels which king Ahas in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29:18-19

The first service necessary was the thorough cleaning of the house of the Lord, which had been so long neglected, and to which with diligence and care—should the principal Levites then addressed themselves, according to the commandment of the king, and agreeably to God’s will, gathering their brethren, and united in the same work: many hands and seal for the cause made great dispatch. In eight days they had thoroughly purged the house, and brightened the vessels of service; in eight more the courts were cleansed, and the filth was carried to the brook Kalam, that ran at the foot of the hill on which the temple was built. Thus began the happy year; and Hezekiah with pleasure heard that all things were ready for renewing the interrupted worship of God. Note, (1.) Much may be done in a short time, when we are truly engaged in the work. (2.) When zealous mindless lead the way, they provoke their brethren to jealously. (3.) If they were so careful to purge the temple from filth, how much more so should we be, who are consecrated priests unto God, to cleanse the temple of our hearts from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that God alone may be exalted there?

20. ¶ Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. 21. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for a fin-offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah: and he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22. So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23. And they brought forth the he-goats for the fin-offering, before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands upon them: 24. And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an anomenon for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt-offering and the fin-offering should be made for all Israel. 25. And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with plaiteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of God the king’s feet, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 26. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets: 27. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar: and when the burnt-offering began, the king of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordered by David king of Israel. 28. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt-offering was finished. 29. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him, bowed themselves and worshipped. 30. Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD, with the words of David, and of Asaph the feet: and they sing praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. 31. Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings, and as many as were of a free heart burnt-offerings. 32. And the number of the burnt-offerings which the congregation brought, was therefore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt-offering to the LORD. 33. And the consecrated things were for hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34. But the priests were too few, so that they could not stay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart, to

sanctify themselves than the priests. 35. And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. 36. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 29:20-36

No sooner is the house ready, than Hezekiah is eager to be there. Early the next morning he arose, summoned the rulers to attend him, and went up to the courts of God’s sanctuary.

1. He opened the service with sacrifices of atonement for the people in general; all raids and degrees having been greatly offenders; and king, priests and people alike culpable. One goat was only appointed, but in the view of their great transgressions, and the long neglect of sacrifices, they offered seven; the king and people solemnly confessing their iniquities, and laying their hands on the hands of their sacrifices. Note, (1.) There is no returning to God without the atoning blood of Jesus; repentance without that, could pride us noticing. (2.) They who by faith lay their hands on their redeemer, transferring all their guilt to him, shall find him a Saviour to the uttermost.

2. Burnt-offerings of thanksgiving accompanied the sacrifices of atonement. When God is reconciled, praise and thankfulness are our bounden duty.

3. Whilst the offerings were burning, the Levites were, according to the disposition of David, praising God with instruments of malice; and the king and people now embolded to draw near the throne of grace, repeatedly bowed the head, and worshipped. Note, All our praises and prayers are then acceptable when they ascend in the name of Jesus Christ, and in the virtue of his one oblation once offered.

4. As the minifications were renewed, Hezekiah exhorts the people liberally to supply God’s altar, and to draw near to him as his reconciled people: nor were they backward to receive the exhortation, but willingly, according to their abilities, brought, the more generous, burnt-offerings which were wholly consumed, and others peace-offerings in abundance, on part of which themselves fiddled. Note, (1.) They who love God’s altar, will delight to support the service. (2.) Path neglect should quicken us to more abundant diligence.

5. The priests were not sufficient to offer the sacrifices, many of them had been defiled with idols, and might be suspended from their office; others wanted zeal for the service, and neglected to sanctify themselves. The Levites in general had been more upright, and many of them were now employed in helping to stay the sacrifices, for want of more priests to whom that office properly belonged: and this, though not according to the law, was from the necessity of the case, dispensed with. Note, (1.) They who should be the first to encourage the revival of godliness, to show blame are often the laft. (2.) When the heart is upright and zealous for God, and they who do duty it is to labour in the ministry are negligent, God will not blame what men may call irregularity in the service.

6. It was matter of universal joy to see the blessed change. The king and people could not but observe the hand of God, preparing and disposing them so readily to join in the service; and the expedition and ease with which the work was done, was a farther manifestation of the Divine blessing upon them. Note, They who set about God’s work, though at first the difficulties appear arduous and infamomunable, will often find the mountain before Zerubbabel become a plain. God has men’s hearts in his hand, and can bow the most stubborn to ready compliance.