From 2 Chronicles 28-31
Good kings seem to pass on the baton to evil kings. The reverse is true. Evil kings occasionally pass on rule to their sons who turn out good and faithful to the LORD. Ahaz dirtied up the kingdom, Hezekiah cleans it up again. Today’s passage talks about consecration and cleaning up filth.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
29 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. (2 Ch 29:1–2)
Hezekiah had a fairly long reign. A sign of the LORD’s blessing on him. He does what is right in the LORD’s eyes and is described to be like David, the benchmark of all the faithful kings.
He lives in a fallen kingdom and there is a lot of mess to clean up.
He begins with the temple.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. (2 Ch 29:3)
The first thing he fixes is the temple doors. Its notable he has to open them. They were closed perhaps because no one was using the temple. Hezekiah was not alone.
4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs. (2 Ch 29:4-6)
In every generation people are needed to carry on the LORD’s work.
Unfortunately sometimes the work involves restoring proper worship. Cleaning up the mess of previous generations. This is what the levites were called to do. But first they had to consecrate themselves. To dedicate themselves to the LORD and his work. Then they set about the task of removing the filth.
7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. (2 Ch 29:7-9)
The Chronicler speaks about the wrath of the LORD. The main reason indicated is the way they have treated the house of the LORD. Utter disregard for proper worship or thanks. He has made them an object of horror. People looking at them gasp in astonishment, fright and revulsion. This is picture language to describe blood, death, rape and enslavement. How Judah has fallen.
Hezekiah I think is under the influence of the Spirit of the LORD. He knows the LORD and the grace he has shown him. He makes a stand.
10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” (2 Ch 29:10–11)
Hezekiah recognises the fierce anger of the LORD, his wrath at sin and wrongdoing.
He sets out to try and avert the LORD’s wrath. Sin angers the LORD.
As king he can call everyone his sons. His family. He calls them to serve the LORD. To be mindful of how they serve and to worship him. His people answer the call.
12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. (2 Ch 29:12–15)
‘They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves to cleanse the house of the LORD’. Quite the show of unity.
16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.” (2 Ch 29:16–19)
They dumped all the uncleanness in the brook Kidron.
Washed it away. Away from the temple. Away from their worship. Having removed the filth, they began the work of re-consecrating the house of the LORD.
Story of Israel
The passage is one instance among many where God’s people made a stand and cleaned up the practice of others. Not that they were anything special but the LORD put it on their hearts to do this.
Their example is one among many where Israel repeatedly dirtied themselves with sin and idolatry. As they neared the exile there were simply less and less people would would stand against the tide of sin and evil.
And so the LORD eventually had to act. In his wrath we had to punish Israel and Judah for their sin. He would have done so for all of us if it wasn’t for Jesus.
Story of Jesus
In the gospel Jesus announces the coming judgment. Hezekiah recognised the coming judgment and wrath of the LORD. He responded appropriately and set about to try and avert it. So did Jesus.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:14–15)
Jesus calls out for people to repent. Those who don’t know Jesus or put their trust in him have sins in their lives that have angered God. His wrath is coming. Just like the uncleanness and the filth in the house of the LORD during Hezekiah’s time. There is sin and filth that needs to be dealt with in those who have not turned to Jesus.
Turn to Jesus. Repent and believe his kingdom is coming.
Avert his wrath. Repent, receive forgiveness Jesus won on the cross and inherit his kingdom.
Hezekiah called the levites to ministry. So does Jesus. He calls people to himself for ministry, to follow him. Believers like you and me.
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. (Mk 1:16–20)
Jesus calls everyone to follow him. To be involved in his kingdom ministry.
Cleaning out the uncleanness and filth in this world that draws God’s holy wrath.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
