2Ch 34:13 | KingComments | STEP | In these verses we see the third phase of the revival and that is the restoration of the temple. After the cleansing, what we can call negative, something is removed, now comes the restoration, what we can call positive, something is built up. We are “in the eighteenth year of his reign” ( ). Josiah is then twenty-six and no longer a new convert ( ). He can take care of the temple. Josiah has his own relationship with God, Who is called “his God”. He who knows and loves God in this way also loves His house. Such a person will listen to the instructions about his behavior in the house of God. Restoring the house of God has to do with behaving in God’s house in a way that befits Him of Whom the house is and Who has set His rules of conduct for His house ( ). Confusion in the house of God is the result of people making rules. Where that is the case, it must be corrected. This behavior in God’s house concerns all of us. Correcting what has gone wrong is the concern of all. For example, the Levites collected money from all over the land to restore the temple ( ). The house of God is not the property or the care of a small group in Judah. This also applies to us. The spiritual health of a local church depends on what the individual members contribute. If everyone provides a good contribution, the temple as the dwelling place of God will be fully dedicated to God again. Faithful people go to work to restore the house of the LORD. There are two kinds of workmen ( ). There are workmen who supervise and there are workmen who restore and repair. These two categories can be recognized in the New Testament in the overseers or shepherds and the teachers. These workmen provide the craftsmen and builders with the necessary materials ( ). The temple has fallen into decay. The kings of Judah are responsible for this ( ). For us, the temple is a picture of the church ( ) and of the body of the believer ( ). From both must be removed everything that contradicts Him Who dwells in it, that is God the Holy Spirit. After the cleansing of the land – daily life – the meeting of the believers as a church and the heart of the believers must be cleansed. The materials are quarried stones and timber. In the stones we can see a picture of the believers, who are called “living stones” ( ). They are incorporated into the temple. It indicates that believers are being taught about their place in the church. The timber is used for “couplings” or “joints”. Here we can see a picture of the growth of the believers in connection with other believers. The timber is also used ”to make beams” (for the ceiling, according to the Dutch translation) of the decayed houses. This points us to the way we think. As kings – that is what we have become by faith ( ) – we have to have an eye for the open spots in our thinking. It is about recognizing the danger that evil powers from the heavenly places influence our thinking. That is why we must put “the helmet of salvation” ( ) on our heads, on our thinking. The decay of God’s house has been caused by man’s unfaithfulness. Only faithful people can provide a valuable contribution to the restoration of God’s house ( ). The apostle Paul is such a faithful worker. He can say that the Lord “considered me faithful” ( ). Timothy is also such a faithful worker. Paul calls him his “faithful child in the Lord” ( ). The leaders are Levites “who were skillful with musical instruments”. Here we see a beautiful harmony between the service to God – honoring Him in a melodious way – and the service to the saints – leading them in their occupation with God’s house. These Levites with their melodious music are especially connected with “the burden bearers” and “all the workmen from job to job” ( ). Heavy burdens and all kinds of work become lighter when we think about Whom we are doing our work for. When the Lord Jesus stands before us in our work, we become happy and thankful that we may serve Him. We then experience the truth of His words: “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” ( ). Levites do not only give guidance. There are also those who are directly involved in the ministry as “scribes and officials and gatekeepers”. Some write down everything that happens, others supervise the building, and others guard. It is the tragedy of professing Christianity that the overseership has become a status above other believers. We see this in the church hierarchy in both protestantism and roman-catholicism. Overseers have a task in the midst of or among God’s people and not above them ( ; ; ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 34:13

Care for the House of the LORD

In these verses we see the third phase of the revival and that is the restoration of the temple. After the cleansing, what we can call negative, something is removed, now comes the restoration, what we can call positive, something is built up. We are “in the eighteenth year of his reign” (2Chr 34:8). Josiah is then twenty-six and no longer a new convert (1Tim 3:6). He can take care of the temple. Josiah has his own relationship with God, Who is called “his God”.

He who knows and loves God in this way also loves His house. Such a person will listen to the instructions about his behavior in the house of God. Restoring the house of God has to do with behaving in God’s house in a way that befits Him of Whom the house is and Who has set His rules of conduct for His house (1Tim 3:15). Confusion in the house of God is the result of people making rules. Where that is the case, it must be corrected.

This behavior in God’s house concerns all of us. Correcting what has gone wrong is the concern of all. For example, the Levites collected money from all over the land to restore the temple (2Chr 34:9). The house of God is not the property or the care of a small group in Judah.

This also applies to us. The spiritual health of a local church depends on what the individual members contribute. If everyone provides a good contribution, the temple as the dwelling place of God will be fully dedicated to God again.

Faithful people go to work to restore the house of the LORD. There are two kinds of workmen (2Chr 34:10). There are workmen who supervise and there are workmen who restore and repair. These two categories can be recognized in the New Testament in the overseers or shepherds and the teachers. These workmen provide the craftsmen and builders with the necessary materials (2Chr 34:11).

The temple has fallen into decay. The kings of Judah are responsible for this (2Chr 34:11b). For us, the temple is a picture of the church (1Cor 3:16) and of the body of the believer (1Cor 6:19). From both must be removed everything that contradicts Him Who dwells in it, that is God the Holy Spirit. After the cleansing of the land – daily life – the meeting of the believers as a church and the heart of the believers must be cleansed.

The materials are quarried stones and timber. In the stones we can see a picture of the believers, who are called “living stones” (1Pet 2:5). They are incorporated into the temple. It indicates that believers are being taught about their place in the church. The timber is used for “couplings” or “joints”. Here we can see a picture of the growth of the believers in connection with other believers.

The timber is also used ”to make beams” (for the ceiling, according to the Dutch translation) of the decayed houses. This points us to the way we think. As kings – that is what we have become by faith (Rev 1:6) – we have to have an eye for the open spots in our thinking. It is about recognizing the danger that evil powers from the heavenly places influence our thinking. That is why we must put “the helmet of salvation” (Eph 6:17) on our heads, on our thinking.

The decay of God’s house has been caused by man’s unfaithfulness. Only faithful people can provide a valuable contribution to the restoration of God’s house (2Chr 34:12). The apostle Paul is such a faithful worker. He can say that the Lord “considered me faithful” (1Tim 1:12). Timothy is also such a faithful worker. Paul calls him his “faithful child in the Lord” (1Cor 4:17).

The leaders are Levites “who were skillful with musical instruments”. Here we see a beautiful harmony between the service to God – honoring Him in a melodious way – and the service to the saints – leading them in their occupation with God’s house. These Levites with their melodious music are especially connected with “the burden bearers” and “all the workmen from job to job” (2Chr 34:13). Heavy burdens and all kinds of work become lighter when we think about Whom we are doing our work for. When the Lord Jesus stands before us in our work, we become happy and thankful that we may serve Him. We then experience the truth of His words: “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt 11:30).

Levites do not only give guidance. There are also those who are directly involved in the ministry as “scribes and officials and gatekeepers”. Some write down everything that happens, others supervise the building, and others guard. It is the tragedy of professing Christianity that the overseership has become a status above other believers. We see this in the church hierarchy in both protestantism and roman-catholicism. Overseers have a task in the midst of or among God’s people and not above them (Mt 23:9-10; Acts 20:28; 1Pet 5:2-3).