2Ch 29:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | After opening and repairing the doors, Hezekiah brings in the priests and the Levites and gathers them into the square on the east ( ). Opened and repaired doors include a consecrated priesthood and Levitehood. The doors of God’s house can be open, but not for the flesh or the natural man, for they cannot serve there. Only the believer in his character of priest and servant (Levite) may enter. The fact that they are on the square on the east means that they are on the side where the sun rises. It is the side that speaks of a new day, a new beginning, of hope for the future. The events that then take place in this chapter can be summarized as follows: 1. First the Levites start working ( ), 2. then the priests ( ). 3. Together they do the work, which they finish on the sixteenth day of the first month ( ). 4. They report the result to Hezekiah ( ), 5. who then arranges the festive inauguration of the temple ( ). When the priests and the Levites have gathered, Hezekiah addresses the Levites ( ). They must begin to consecrate themselves and then they must consecrate the house of the LORD. Consecration means to separate or detach from general use and to give it a special purpose. So the Levites must first become aware that their service is especially dedicated to the LORD and that this also applies to the house of the LORD. Because present uncleanness stands in the way of consecration, the uncleanness must be removed. This also applies to our lives and to the church. We cannot live holy lives if there is uncleanness in our lives. This uncleanness must first be removed from our hearts and lives by confession and self-judgment. Then we are fit to be used by the Lord in His service. Hezekiah tells how it was possible that uncleanness could have entered the sanctuary. It is due to the unfaithfulness of “our fathers” ( ). They have forsaken the LORD, so that they have had no eye for His dwelling place. They have lived with their backs to the LORD (cf. ; ). Other things have filled their field of vision. When there is no longer any contact with the Lord, the church as His dwelling place also disappears from our interest. We will no longer have an eye for that. It is not only the case that there is no longer an eye for God’s dwelling place, but their actions were aimed at rendering God’s dwelling place unusable. First, the doors of the porch are shut ( ). When doors are shut, this means that worshipers are excluded. He points out that the lamps are put out, which means that the light of the Word and the Spirit does not shine. Also they have not burned incense, that is to say that there is no prayer ( ). If no more burnt offering is offered to the God of Israel, it means that the Person and the work of Christ are forgotten as the only basis to approach God. We can make an application to our body, for the body of the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit ( ). If we “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit” ( ), then 1. the doors of the entrance to God open again, 2. the lamps of the testimony to the outside are put on again, 3. the incense of prayer rises again and 4. the burnt offerings of worship are brought again. All this is the result of a revival in our personal lives. Hezekiah is aware that because of the condition of God’s house “the wrath of the LORD was against Judah and Jerusalem” ( ). He acknowledges that the LORD had to surrender Judah and Jerusalem to be “an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing”. Does this not also apply to professing Christianity? Because of the great unfaithfulness of Christians and the frequent and far-reaching deviation from God’s Word, has not professing Christianity also become an object of hissing? Instead of attracting people, people are divested. The many quarrels, allowing sinful teachings and practices and seeking earthly and worldly things instead of God’s things are all things that have destroyed the church of God as a testimony to Him. Many have been killed by the sword ( ). Others, the weak, the vulnerable, have been in captivity ( ). All deviations from God’s Word and the forsaking of His temple cause great losses of members of God’s people. Today we see local churches disintegrated by imposing on the church innovations that find no ground in God’s Word. We must return to God’s Word. Hezekiah wants to make a covenant with the LORD ( ). Ahaz has gone so far, that every bond with God has been cut through. Hezekiah restores that bond. He does so according to a purpose of his heart. The heart of Hezekiah is directed toward this; he is fully directed toward the LORD and His will. Here he turns again to the Levites, whom he now calls “my sons” ( ). By this he emphasizes the privilege that they may serve the LORD as ‘sons of the king’. He reminds them that the LORD has chosen them “to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense” (cf. ; ). Hezekiah’s words are heard. From the three families of the Levites – Kohath, Merari and Gershon – men stand up ( ), as well as from the three families of the singers – Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun ( ). The Levites also include their brothers ( ). They come “according to the commandment of the king”, which is based on the higher authority of “the words of the LORD”, that is the Word of God. The king’s commandment is already binding; by listening to it, they also act according to the will of God. Before starting work, they first consecrate themselves. Only then do they start working with the temple. This is also the right order: first be on guard for yourselves and then for all the flock ( ; ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 29:13-14

Consecration of Levites and Priests

After opening and repairing the doors, Hezekiah brings in the priests and the Levites and gathers them into the square on the east (2Chr 29:4). Opened and repaired doors include a consecrated priesthood and Levitehood. The doors of God’s house can be open, but not for the flesh or the natural man, for they cannot serve there. Only the believer in his character of priest and servant (Levite) may enter. The fact that they are on the square on the east means that they are on the side where the sun rises. It is the side that speaks of a new day, a new beginning, of hope for the future.

The events that then take place in this chapter can be summarized as follows:

1. First the Levites start working (2Chr 29:5-15),

2. then the priests (2Chr 29:16).

3. Together they do the work, which they finish on the sixteenth day of the first month (2Chr 29:17).

4. They report the result to Hezekiah (2Chr 29:18-19),

5. who then arranges the festive inauguration of the temple (2Chr 29:20-36).

When the priests and the Levites have gathered, Hezekiah addresses the Levites (2Chr 29:5). They must begin to consecrate themselves and then they must consecrate the house of the LORD. Consecration means to separate or detach from general use and to give it a special purpose. So the Levites must first become aware that their service is especially dedicated to the LORD and that this also applies to the house of the LORD. Because present uncleanness stands in the way of consecration, the uncleanness must be removed.

This also applies to our lives and to the church. We cannot live holy lives if there is uncleanness in our lives. This uncleanness must first be removed from our hearts and lives by confession and self-judgment. Then we are fit to be used by the Lord in His service.

Hezekiah tells how it was possible that uncleanness could have entered the sanctuary. It is due to the unfaithfulness of “our fathers” (2Chr 29:6). They have forsaken the LORD, so that they have had no eye for His dwelling place. They have lived with their backs to the LORD (cf. Eze 8:16; Jer 32:33). Other things have filled their field of vision. When there is no longer any contact with the Lord, the church as His dwelling place also disappears from our interest. We will no longer have an eye for that.

It is not only the case that there is no longer an eye for God’s dwelling place, but their actions were aimed at rendering God’s dwelling place unusable. First, the doors of the porch are shut (2Chr 29:7). When doors are shut, this means that worshipers are excluded. He points out that the lamps are put out, which means that the light of the Word and the Spirit does not shine. Also they have not burned incense, that is to say that there is no prayer (Psa 141:2). If no more burnt offering is offered to the God of Israel, it means that the Person and the work of Christ are forgotten as the only basis to approach God.

We can make an application to our body, for the body of the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19). If we “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit” (2Cor 7:1), then

1. the doors of the entrance to God open again,

2. the lamps of the testimony to the outside are put on again,

3. the incense of prayer rises again and

4. the burnt offerings of worship are brought again.

All this is the result of a revival in our personal lives.

Hezekiah is aware that because of the condition of God’s house “the wrath of the LORD was against Judah and Jerusalem” (2Chr 29:8). He acknowledges that the LORD had to surrender Judah and Jerusalem to be “an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing”. Does this not also apply to professing Christianity? Because of the great unfaithfulness of Christians and the frequent and far-reaching deviation from God’s Word, has not professing Christianity also become an object of hissing? Instead of attracting people, people are divested. The many quarrels, allowing sinful teachings and practices and seeking earthly and worldly things instead of God’s things are all things that have destroyed the church of God as a testimony to Him.

Many have been killed by the sword (2Chr 29:9). Others, the weak, the vulnerable, have been in captivity (2Chr 28:8). All deviations from God’s Word and the forsaking of His temple cause great losses of members of God’s people. Today we see local churches disintegrated by imposing on the church innovations that find no ground in God’s Word. We must return to God’s Word.

Hezekiah wants to make a covenant with the LORD (2Chr 29:10). Ahaz has gone so far, that every bond with God has been cut through. Hezekiah restores that bond. He does so according to a purpose of his heart. The heart of Hezekiah is directed toward this; he is fully directed toward the LORD and His will. Here he turns again to the Levites, whom he now calls “my sons” (2Chr 29:11). By this he emphasizes the privilege that they may serve the LORD as ‘sons of the king’. He reminds them that the LORD has chosen them “to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense” (cf. Num 8:14; Deu 33:10).

Hezekiah’s words are heard. From the three families of the Levites – Kohath, Merari and Gershon – men stand up (2Chr 29:12), as well as from the three families of the singers – Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun (2Chr 29:13-14). The Levites also include their brothers (2Chr 29:15). They come “according to the commandment of the king”, which is based on the higher authority of “the words of the LORD”, that is the Word of God. The king’s commandment is already binding; by listening to it, they also act according to the will of God. Before starting work, they first consecrate themselves. Only then do they start working with the temple. This is also the right order: first be on guard for yourselves and then for all the flock (Acts 20:28; 1Tim 4:16).