2 Chronicles 29: Restoration
2 Chronicles 29: Restoration
- Early in the morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together and went up to the temple of the LORD.
- They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the LORD.
◇ King Hezekiah summoned the city officials. Together with them, he brought the sacrificial animals and went up to the temple. He commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these sacrifices according to proper procedure for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. He then had the people bring their offerings as well.
The temple worship that had been desecrated by Hezekiah's father Ahaz was now restored. Ahaz had made idols of Baal and erected an altar in the temple modeled after one in Damascus, where he offered sacrifices (2 Kings 1610-16). He even practiced the pagan ritual of child sacrifice by fire (2 Chronicles 282-4). Ahaz had destroyed Israel's faith in the LORD, mocking and despising temple worship, which was the foundation of their faith.
To restore this devastated faith, Hezekiah repaired the temple, reinstated the Levites who managed it, and removed all the impurities from the temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-16). Then the king and leaders led the way by first offering burnt offerings of repentance.
This is worth considering for church leaders who call for repentance and political leaders who cry out for reform. Leaders must take the lead. When the water at the source is clean, the water downstream becomes clean. If muddy water flows from above, it's impossible to purify the water below.
♧ Good and righteous God, before I call others to repentance, before I proclaim right faith and righteous living, let me first kneel in repentance and first practice true faith myself. Holy Spirit, make me strong and courageous. Amen.