Read 2
Chronicles 29-31 & John
18:1-23
To discover:
As you read consider how the
traits of the ideal king are seen in Hezekiah.
To ponder:
Between Ahaz and Manasseh, who are
both the antithesis of the ideal king, we find Hezekiah as a model of the sort
of king God promised, not only doing “right,” but as David did.
What
Ahaz undid in terms of the temple, Hezekiah therefore restored, displaying the
concern for the temple necessary if the kingdom was to endure. He opened and
repaired the doors, and then commanded the priests and Levites to consecrate
themselves and then systematically consecrate the temple. This was because he
regarded the temple as defiled by the unfaithfulness of previous generations in
not conducting worship there as God required. For this reason, he said God’s
anger had fallen on Judah
and Jerusalem, causing them to be
conquered and led into captivity (28v5-8, 17-18). So Hezekiah declared his
commitment to covenant with God so his “fierce anger” would turn away. He
therefore encouraged the Levites and they did their work of purifying
everything, carrying what was unclean away from the place of God’s holiness.
We’re told this was done “according to the word of the LORD” which may refer to
previous instructions (1 Chr 28v11-19), the law (Deut 12v2-4), or even some
prophetic command.
Again
one considers Jesus cleansing the temple by driving out all that would make it
unclean (Jn 2v12-22). However, full cleansing would come only by destroying the
temple of stone and building a new one in him, comprised of spiritual stones he
had made atonement for by his own death (Eph 2v21-22). We should recognise that
all this was a kingly act by Christ, supremely displaying the attitude expected
of Israel’s
kings. And as those who reign in Christ, there is encouragement for us to
cleanse the temple of the church, by reforming its activity according to God’s
word.
Having
purified and set out all the articles as was right, Hezekiah immediately (the
next morning) ensured worship began. Burnt offerings were made by way of
devotion, and sin offerings for Israel’s
specific sins. During and after the offerings, songs were sung and the “whole
assembly” bowed in worship. This was specified as an act of “dedication,” after
which, with the king’s encouragement, the people then “willingly” brought
sacrifices, thank and burnt offerings, to express their own devotion. So much
was brought that because an insufficient number of priests had consecrated
themselves, Levites had to help in the priestly work. So we read the “service
of the temple” was “re-established” and the people rejoiced.
Hezekiah’s
holy ambition was not however satisfied. He, his officials and the assembly
(ie. all key people in Judah)
then decided to celebrate the Passover. And rather than wait another year, they
chose to do a month later when sufficient priests were consecrated (Num
9v9-11). Moreover, they invited the key northern tribes and everyone else in
both kingdoms to join them. Their letter assumes Israelites had been taken
captive by various “kings” of Assyria before the final
exile under Shalmaneser (2 Kgs 17). It urges the people to return to God and
not be unfaithful as these others were, so that God would return to them and,
in compassion, move the captors to let their family members return to the land
(as Judah experienced in 28v9-15). Some scorned this, showing how deserved
God’s judgement on Israel
was. Others humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem,
picturing the united kingdom
that was destined to occur through Christ and began at Pentecost. The people
then removed the items of false worship in and around Jerusalem
and celebrated the Passover, with Hezekiah interceding for those who had not
been able to purify themselves first as the law required (Num 9v12-13). This
shows that although the regulations were necessary to encourage right attitudes
and reflect God’s holiness, it was more important was that the worshipper “set
his heart on seeking God.” And when he did, there was forgiveness.
What
follows is much joy and praise, an extra seven days of celebration under
Hezekiah’s leadership and provision, and the destruction of items of false
worship not only in Judah but Ephraim and Manasseh too. Hezekiah then ensured
the ongoing work of the temple, with the people giving their tithes so the
priests could do their work. There could not be higher praise for Hezekiah that
that of 31v20-21. Throughout he is portrayed like a second Solomon. Could he be
the one to rule the kingdom forever?
Praying it home:
Praise God that through Christ that
he has cleansed us from all our unfaithfulness in worship. Pray for the ongoing
reform of all streams of the church, that they would increasingly conform to
God’s word.
Thinking further:
None today.
If you receive this post by
email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment