2Ch 29:16-17 | KingComments | STEP | Then the temple is cleansed ( ). Anything that is contrary to what God has said is removed. All objects for the service must be cleansed and rectified. In great diligence Hezekiah continues in an explosion of zeal. He also works radically. The dirt is brought to the brook in the Kidron valley to make sure it will be gone. If it was buried in a field, there is a chance that it will be excavated again (cf. ; ). They start inside, in the house, and end in the porch ( ). God always works from inside to outside and not, as man often does, from outside to inside. God is not satisfied with a beautiful appearance. He is concerned with an appearance that is a reflection of the inner. God begins with what is closest to Him ( ; ). We also see this in the book of Revelation, where first the local churches are judged (Revelation 2-3) and then in the following chapters the world and Israel (Revelation 6-19). When the priests have cleansed the house of the LORD, they come to the king to report ( ). He gave them the assignment and they carried it out. They have cleansed the whole house of the LORD. They mention two objects in particular: the altar of burnt offering with all the accompanying utensils and the table of showbread with all the accompanying utensils. That the burnt offering altar has been cleaned means that the daily burnt offering can be brought again. The burnt offering represents the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross which is in its entirety to the glory of God. On that basis God can dwell with His people ( ). The cleansing of the table of showbread means that the people are again presented in their unity to God, a unity based on the work of His Son. For us it is the unity of the church that is connected with the Lord Jesus. That consciousness returns when the church is cleansed of uncleanness. The Levites also tell of “all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness” ( ). They “have prepared and consecrated” them and placed them “before the altar of the LORD”. They have made the old usable again and put it where it belongs. Placing it before the altar speaks of the fact that we always connect rediscovered truths about the house of God with Christ and His work on the cross. The characteristic of a revival is that the old, “what was from the beginning” ( ), is restored, and not that anything new is created. After the cleansing has been completed, the house does not remain empty (cf. ), but is filled with what is of God.

‏ 2 Chronicles 29:16-17

The Consecration of the Temple

Then the temple is cleansed (2Chr 29:16). Anything that is contrary to what God has said is removed. All objects for the service must be cleansed and rectified. In great diligence Hezekiah continues in an explosion of zeal. He also works radically. The dirt is brought to the brook in the Kidron valley to make sure it will be gone. If it was buried in a field, there is a chance that it will be excavated again (cf. 2Chr 15:16; 2Kgs 23:12).

They start inside, in the house, and end in the porch (2Chr 29:17). God always works from inside to outside and not, as man often does, from outside to inside. God is not satisfied with a beautiful appearance. He is concerned with an appearance that is a reflection of the inner. God begins with what is closest to Him (Eze 9:6; 1Pet 4:17a). We also see this in the book of Revelation, where first the local churches are judged (Revelation 2-3) and then in the following chapters the world and Israel (Revelation 6-19).

When the priests have cleansed the house of the LORD, they come to the king to report (2Chr 29:18). He gave them the assignment and they carried it out. They have cleansed the whole house of the LORD. They mention two objects in particular: the altar of burnt offering with all the accompanying utensils and the table of showbread with all the accompanying utensils.

That the burnt offering altar has been cleaned means that the daily burnt offering can be brought again. The burnt offering represents the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross which is in its entirety to the glory of God. On that basis God can dwell with His people (Exo 29:38-46). The cleansing of the table of showbread means that the people are again presented in their unity to God, a unity based on the work of His Son. For us it is the unity of the church that is connected with the Lord Jesus. That consciousness returns when the church is cleansed of uncleanness.

The Levites also tell of “all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness” (2Chr 29:19). They “have prepared and consecrated” them and placed them “before the altar of the LORD”. They have made the old usable again and put it where it belongs. Placing it before the altar speaks of the fact that we always connect rediscovered truths about the house of God with Christ and His work on the cross. The characteristic of a revival is that the old, “what was from the beginning” (1Jn 1:1), is restored, and not that anything new is created. After the cleansing has been completed, the house does not remain empty (cf. Mt 12:44), but is filled with what is of God.