Revival in Judah (2 Chronicles 29–31)

Introduction

Biblical Timeline

Exile of Israel - 722 B.C.

Prophet - Isaiah

Kings - Jotham (750-735), Ahaz (735-715), Hezekiah (715-686).

Exile of Judah - 597-586 B.C.

Prophet - Jeremiah

Kings - Josiah (640-609), Jehoahaz (609), Jehoiakim (609-598), Jehoiachin (598-597), Zedekiah (597-586)

King Hezekiah (715-686)

King Ahaz (735-715)

2 Chronicles 28:1–4 (ESV)

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, 3 and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Exile of Israel - King Hoshea (732-722), Fall of Israel (722)

King Hezekiah (715-686)

Hezekiah was born around the death of Uzziah and saw the wickedness of his father and the fall of Israel.

Now as King what is he going to do?

2 Chronicles 29:1–2 (ESV)

1 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.

Revival in Judah

Revival is sought after in the 21st century. The word revival does not appear in the Bible (although “revive” does), therefore, is difficult to define. We may have heard of revivals or people seeking revivals. What do we mean by revival?

Do we mean prolonged worship meetings/singing?

Do we mean revival of the world around us?

Do we mean experiences of closeness with God as we sing and pray together?

Do we mean seeing/experiencing miracles, signs, and wonders?

Revival

Making something alive again; renew.

“Christian revivalism is increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or society, with a local, national or global effect. This should be distinguished from the use of the term "revival" to refer to an evangelistic meeting or series of meetings (see revival meeting). Proponents view revivals as the restoration of the church itself to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline.” (wikipedia)

“The experience of revival is nothing more than a new beginning of obedience to God.” - Charles Finney (Manser, Martin, ed. Christian Quotations. Martin Manser, 2016. Print.)

King Ahaz lead the Israelites into wicked practices and following of false gods. Israelites in the Northern Kingdom of Israel were exiled out by the Assyrian army. King Hezekiah is now king of Judah and what is he going to do. He is going to lead the Israelites in Judah in a revival without that being the goal.

Temple and Sacrifices reestablished (2 Chronicles 29)

Initial actions of Hezekiah (3-4)

2 Chronicles 29:3–4 (ESV)

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 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east

Hezekiah focuses on the heart of the worship of God: the Temple and Priesthood.

Call to consecration (5-7)

Consecrate (5)

2 Chronicles 29:5 (ESV)

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.

Consecrate - to consecrate v., to render holy or set apart by means of religious rites. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Consecrate the temple with all its elements to God as a place for the worship of God through the sacrificial system. Consecrate the Priesthood as to the service of God, people, and sacrificial system.

Reason for consecration (6-7)

2 Chronicles 29:6–7 (ESV)

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. 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.

Judgment for rejection (8-9)

2 Chronicles 29:8–9 (NET 2nd ed.)

8 The Lord was angry at Judah and Jerusalem and made them an appalling object of horror at which people hiss out their scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 Look, our fathers died violently, and our sons, daughters, and wives were carried off because of this.

Not sure what Hezekiah is addressing in verse 9, an event of attack on Jerusalem or referring them to the exile of Israel.

Desire a covenant with God (10-11)

2 Chronicles 29:10–11 (ESV)

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.”

Covenant - covenant n., a contractual arrangement between God and a person, or between human beings, which required binding action from one or both parties; one party often had higher status in the arrangement. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

King Hezekiah new that the people have left their relationship with God for the worship practices of the foreigners around them. He knows that the difficulties they are experiencing is a result of God’s judgment on them. He is wanting to commit himself and the people back to God through the covenant relationship with its stipulations through the Law given them by God.

Revival starts with a realization that we are living contrary to the covenant with God and a turning back to living in accordance of His laws.

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship (31-36)

Call to Worship (31)

2 Chronicles 29:31 (ESV)

31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

Worship of the People (35-36)

2 Chronicles 29:35–36 (ESV)

35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

Celebration of Passover (2 Chronicles 30)

Call to Celebrate (1-12)

Letters sent (1)

2 Chronicles 30:1 (ESV)

1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel.

Hezekiah sent letters to Judah and the remnant of Israel. Ephraim and Manasseh - These tribes represent the northern kingdom as a whole.

Passover - Passover n., a seven day festival celebrating God’s “passing over” the houses of the Israelites because of the blood of the lamb, which culminated in the people’s exodus from Egypt. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

One of the ordained feast and festivals of God given to the Israelites as a reminder and celebration of their covenant with God. This one was a remembrance of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt by God’s mighty hand and the Passover lamb.

Passover neglected (5)

2 Chronicles 30:5 (ESV)

5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed.

Celebration of Passover (13-20)

People celebrate (13-14)

2 Chronicles 30:13–14 (ESV)

13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron.

“The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after the Passover sacrifice. During this seven-day feast, only unleavened bread (i.e., bread without yeast) is to be eaten. Leaven of any kind must be avoided.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

“As a necessary preparation for the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon (2 Ch 28:24); for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to eliminate all traces of idolatry; and it was a sign and pledge of the influence of the Spirit in the minds of the people when they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.” (Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Vol. 1. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Print.)

Priest and Levites (15b-16)

2 Chronicles 30:15b–16 (ESV)

15b And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites.

to be ashamed v., to be or become characterized by feelings of shame, guilt, embarrassment, or remorse. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Ashamed for not living out what was expected by then from the Law.

“They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses"

Pray for Grace (17-20)

People unconsecrated (17-18a)

2 Chronicles 30:17–18a (ESV)

17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. 18a For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed.

Hezekiah’s prayer (18b-19)

2 Chronicles 30:18b–19 (ESV)

18b For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.”

Pardon - to make atonement v., to cleanse from sin or the defilement of sin, most often by sacrifice. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

He is praying that God would pardon those who are seeking him even if they are ignorant to the accurate rules of observance.

Lord’s answer (20)

2 Chronicles 30:20 (ESV)

20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

Dedicated Service to the Lord (2 Chronicles 31)

Removal of false practices (1)

2 Chronicles 31:1 (ESV)

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession.

“Like other faithful kings, Hezekiah removed all the high places and Asherim (see 14:3 and note). However, this case is unique in that all the people participated in the destruction of the pagan altars. Ephraim, and Manasseh For the first time, the destruction of the high places includes the tribes of the northern kingdom.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Not only are they committing to the Lord, they are removing the worship of false gods with their temples.

Contributions to the Lord (2-8)

King contributes (3-4)

2 Chronicles 31:3–4 (ESV)

3 The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 4 And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord.

People contribute (5)

2 Chronicles 31:5 (ESV)

5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

Abundance (8)

2 Chronicles 31:8 (ESV)

8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.

Not only were they faithful to giving what was required, it seems that they gave with abundance.

Hezekiah’s dedication (20-21)

2 Chronicles 31:20–21 (ESV)

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

The author addresses the fact the King Hezekiah sought the Lord with all his heart and God prospered his work. This is what King David told his son Solomon.

1 Chronicles 22:13 (ESV)

13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.

Lessons from King Hezekiah

Revival is a renewal of believers from disobedience to obedient commitment to the Lord.

Hezekiah was not needing a revival, the people did.

If there is something we are doing that we are not to be doing, then repent. If there is something we should be doing that we are not, then start doing it.

If we are obedient and seeking the Lord, we don't need revival. We are seeking deeper, closer, and real relationship with our creator.

Revival starts with a realization that we are not obedient to the Lord and a turning towards the Lord in obedience.

The Lord is gracious to those who humble themselves towards Him.

Drawing close to the Lord will transform our lives and priorities.

The Israelites started to change how they live their lives by removing false practices and engaging in godly practices.

Benediction

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.