2 Chronicles 29:1-11
In the first year of his reign, the first month, Hezekiah set his heart to restore temple worship in Judah. He was determined and the work commenced suddenly (v36). Do we procrastinate and indecisive when facing a massive and challenging project?
His father Ahaz, had followed other gods and had left the temple decrepit with the cessation of temple worship. His first leadership intention was to “to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” (v10). He did it right the first time. This established the tone and texture of his twenty-nine years reign.
How do you express your intention and plans when given the leadership role? All speeches and PowerPoints with no actions and mobilisations? Intentionality is in this logical leadership sequence: vision casting, influencing with the consequence of execution and implementation. He told them, “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense (v11).”
He opened the doors of the house of God and repaired them. It was significant and showcased publicly that the work has begun. He brought in the priests and Levites to be the first movers. Sanctifications had started with the realisation and confession of sin. With sincerity and clarity on what went wrong, together with repentance and consecration, revival could happen.
The list of their sins was long (v6,7).
- Trespassed and done evil
- Forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the temple
- Turned their backs on Him
- Shut the doors of the vestibule
- Put out the lamps
- Have not burned incense and offered burnt offerings in the holy place of God
So was the retribution of God for their sins (v8,9)
- Wrath of God fell upon Jerusalem and Judah
- They were given up to trouble, desolation and jeering
- Their fathers have fallen by the sword; and their sons, their daughters, and their wives are in captivity.
But they can secure their future and by making a covenant with God to avert His wrath. They can also fulfill the call of God in their lives by standing before Him, serving Him, and ministering to Him and burning incense.
“So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly (v35,36).”
God prepared the people (v36). Hezekiah set the service of the house of God in order. Revival don’t just happen. God and his people work hand in hand. Hezekiah certainly knew how to prime the launch. One step after another. He had a plan and would stick to it till completion. Do we set things in order or known to leave things half-done? What are the important traits to possess to drive the project to a conclusion?
2 Chronicles 29:1-11
1 Hezekiah became king 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 sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
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.
4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square,
5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.
6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him.
7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, 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 fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes.
9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.
10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.
11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”
