2Ch 29:20-36 | KingComments | STEP | The day after the cleansing Hezekiah arises early ( ). It will be a long day, full of activities. When the Levites and priests have done their work, it is the turn of “the princes of the city”. Hezekiah gathers them to go to the temple. They all willingly go along and bring sacrifices at the house of the LORD ( ). What is happening here is, as it were, a new dedication of the temple service, as it happened by Solomon ( ), a temple service that has been so neglected since then. Three times seven animals are offered as burnt offering, bulls, rams and lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering. The various kinds of burnt offerings speak of different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus as a burnt offering ( ), while the number seven speaks of the perfection of that work. The fact that it is three times seven indicates that the triune God is involved in this work: the Father has given the Son, the Son has given Himself and has done everything in the power of the Holy Spirit. The sin offering of seven male goat is to atone for the king and the princes (“the kingdom”), the priests (“the sanctuary”) and the people (“Judah”). The number seven indicates perfection. The sins are many and the period in which they were committed is long. The sin offering is with a view to the past, the burnt offering is with a view to the future. They are sacrifices for the whole people, not just for the few who are present. The unity of the people may not have been visible to the people for two centuries, but for God and Hezekiah this unity does exist. Everything happens in the awareness of the unity of God’s people. The blood of the bulls, rams and lambs is collected by the priests and sprinkled on the altar ( ). The chronicler emphasizes the blood of each of the animals by mentioning their blood separately. It speaks of God’s special appreciation of the blood. Blood covers the sins and works atonement. “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” ( ). What happens to the animals for the sin offering is described in even more detail and therefore more emphatically ( ). The chronicler involves the reader in every handling. The reader watches as “they brought the male goats of the sin offering”. The eyes of both the king and the assembly are on the goats for the sin offering. Then the involvement becomes even greater, because both the king and the entire assembly lay their hands on the sin offering. By this act they identify themselves with the sin offering ( ), by which, so to speak, their sins pass to the sin offering. Then the priests come into action ( ). They alone are authorized to slaughter the male goats. For us, believers of the church, all of whom are priests, it means that we must have a priestly mind to be able to empathize with the death that Christ had to die for the sins of His people, the church. The blood of the sin offering is offered on the altar, as is the blood of the burnt offering. Blood is life and is therefore only for God ( ). The blood of sacrifice is for atonement, which is to cover the sins of the people, so that the people do not have to die, but can stay alive. The New Testament teaches that the blood not only covers the sins, but also takes away the sins, it cleanses from sins ( ). In the Old Testament the covering is done in view of the perfect sacrifice that would still be made, while in the New Testament the sacrifice is actually made (cf. ). Hezekiah has understood that atonement cannot be limited to a part of God’s people ( ). It is not only for Judah, but “for all Israel” as it says twice. In the next chapter we will see more details about this, where it is about the celebration of the Passover. We too must remember that the work of Christ is not only for those with whom we come together, but that it is accomplished for all who belong to the church. Now that the sacrifices have been brought and the relationship with the LORD has been restored on the right basis, there is room for expressions of joy ( ). Hezekiah also works here according to the commandment given “according to the command … from the LORD through His prophets” and which was executed by David. In it says four times that Hezekiah does something in accordance with what David has done or said. This indicates that Hezekiah does not organize a new temple service or an adapted temple service. He acts according to what God has previously revealed to David. He goes back to what is from the beginning. For the expressions of joy the Levites are stationed with instruments of David ( ). The priests are given trumpets. When they all stand in place and have the instruments ready, Hezekiah orders to offer the burnt offering on the altar. At the same time as the sacrifice is brought, the song for the LORD is started under the accompaniment of the instruments of David, the king of Israel ( ). This gives a wonderful picture of the service we are allowed to perform as a holy priesthood. As soon as we occupy ourselves with the Lord Jesus and His work and tell God about it, it is inevitable that our heart will spring up with joy. Fellowship with the Father and the Son gives complete joy ( ). Then there is worship, what we see in the people who worship ( ). This worship is not an emotion of the moment, but remains after the offering is brought ( ). Then Hezekiah and the officials order the Levites to make new expressions of joy ( ). These expressions are not newly invented, but old expressions that are experienced in a new way. In the same way we can regularly sing the same songs. Our feelings will, if all goes well, always be new, always fresh. The more we engage with Christ and His work, the more our worship will deepen. We will often use the same words to express our worship, but which reflect still deeper feelings. After the necessary sacrifices come the voluntary sacrifices ( ). They are a real representation of the state of the hearts. It is the climax of the revival, in which also sacrifices and thank offerings are brought. The thank offering is a peace offering, it is a meal offering in which is participated by God and the priest and every member of the people who is clean ( ). The joy that is enjoyed is expressed in the sacrifice of praise ( ). In addition, there are, as it were automatically, voluntary burnt offerings, which express worship. All sacrifices and consecrated things brought are counted ( ). For God, every sacrifice counts. Compared to the sacrifices Solomon brought, Hezekiah brings little. But a revival is a return to the principles of God and not to the circumstances of the beginning. We should not compare the time of Hezekiah and what he does with the time of Solomon, but with the time of his father Ahaz. Unfortunately, many priests do not show up ( ). In a revival not everyone participates. However, a revival does not depend on the number that participates. It is only a handful. Not the quantity, but the quality is characteristic for a revival. Because there are too few priests, they are unable to skin all the burnt offerings. To skin means that the inner, the inward, becomes visible. In the burnt offering it speaks of the inner feelings of the Lord Jesus that are present with Him as He accomplishes the work to the glory of God. What He feels within, we can read in the book of Psalms. There are not many Christians today who are able to “skin the burnt offering”. But fortunately there are Levites. They help the priests. They did so until the other priests had also cleansed themselves. In this way God provides for the shortage of priests. He makes sure that the priestly service can continue. The Levites can be seen as a picture of the teachers the Lord Jesus gave to teach His church. Through their teaching the believers are helped to gain a better understanding of and insight into the Lord Jesus and His work and what the results are ( ). The burnt offerings also include the fat of the peace offerings ( ). Just like the blood, the fat is only for God. Fat speaks of energy, the best. In His life on earth Christ has used all His energy to glorify God. Everything He has is for His God. He does so with joy, of which the libation speaks. The libation is a sacrifice of wine that is poured over the main offering. Wine represents joy ( ). With this, the service of the house of God is restored. Hezekiah and all the people rejoice over this ( ). Their joy is especially for God, for what has happened has been brought about by Him. No one has been able to think of or process this. The situation is hopeless. The people are completely lost under the leadership of Ahaz. What has now happened under Hezekiah has been done by God, completely suddenly. To Him be the honor!

‏ 2 Chronicles 29:20-36

Rededication of the Temple

The day after the cleansing Hezekiah arises early (2Chr 29:20). It will be a long day, full of activities. When the Levites and priests have done their work, it is the turn of “the princes of the city”. Hezekiah gathers them to go to the temple. They all willingly go along and bring sacrifices at the house of the LORD (2Chr 29:21). What is happening here is, as it were, a new dedication of the temple service, as it happened by Solomon (2Chr 5:6), a temple service that has been so neglected since then.

Three times seven animals are offered as burnt offering, bulls, rams and lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering. The various kinds of burnt offerings speak of different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus as a burnt offering (Lev 1:1-17), while the number seven speaks of the perfection of that work. The fact that it is three times seven indicates that the triune God is involved in this work: the Father has given the Son, the Son has given Himself and has done everything in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The sin offering of seven male goat is to atone for the king and the princes (“the kingdom”), the priests (“the sanctuary”) and the people (“Judah”). The number seven indicates perfection. The sins are many and the period in which they were committed is long. The sin offering is with a view to the past, the burnt offering is with a view to the future. They are sacrifices for the whole people, not just for the few who are present. The unity of the people may not have been visible to the people for two centuries, but for God and Hezekiah this unity does exist. Everything happens in the awareness of the unity of God’s people.

The blood of the bulls, rams and lambs is collected by the priests and sprinkled on the altar (2Chr 29:22). The chronicler emphasizes the blood of each of the animals by mentioning their blood separately. It speaks of God’s special appreciation of the blood. Blood covers the sins and works atonement. “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22b).

What happens to the animals for the sin offering is described in even more detail and therefore more emphatically (2Chr 29:23). The chronicler involves the reader in every handling. The reader watches as “they brought the male goats of the sin offering”. The eyes of both the king and the assembly are on the goats for the sin offering. Then the involvement becomes even greater, because both the king and the entire assembly lay their hands on the sin offering. By this act they identify themselves with the sin offering (Lev 4:4 ; 15 ; 24 ; 29 ; Lev 16:21), by which, so to speak, their sins pass to the sin offering.

Then the priests come into action (2Chr 29:24a). They alone are authorized to slaughter the male goats. For us, believers of the church, all of whom are priests, it means that we must have a priestly mind to be able to empathize with the death that Christ had to die for the sins of His people, the church. The blood of the sin offering is offered on the altar, as is the blood of the burnt offering. Blood is life and is therefore only for God (Lev 17:11).

The blood of sacrifice is for atonement, which is to cover the sins of the people, so that the people do not have to die, but can stay alive. The New Testament teaches that the blood not only covers the sins, but also takes away the sins, it cleanses from sins (1Jn 1:7b). In the Old Testament the covering is done in view of the perfect sacrifice that would still be made, while in the New Testament the sacrifice is actually made (cf. Rom 3:25-26).

Hezekiah has understood that atonement cannot be limited to a part of God’s people (2Chr 29:24b). It is not only for Judah, but “for all Israel” as it says twice. In the next chapter we will see more details about this, where it is about the celebration of the Passover. We too must remember that the work of Christ is not only for those with whom we come together, but that it is accomplished for all who belong to the church.

Now that the sacrifices have been brought and the relationship with the LORD has been restored on the right basis, there is room for expressions of joy (2Chr 29:25). Hezekiah also works here according to the commandment given “according to the command … from the LORD through His prophets” and which was executed by David. In 2Chr 29:25-30 it says four times that Hezekiah does something in accordance with what David has done or said. This indicates that Hezekiah does not organize a new temple service or an adapted temple service. He acts according to what God has previously revealed to David. He goes back to what is from the beginning.

For the expressions of joy the Levites are stationed with instruments of David (2Chr 29:26). The priests are given trumpets. When they all stand in place and have the instruments ready, Hezekiah orders to offer the burnt offering on the altar. At the same time as the sacrifice is brought, the song for the LORD is started under the accompaniment of the instruments of David, the king of Israel (2Chr 29:27).

This gives a wonderful picture of the service we are allowed to perform as a holy priesthood. As soon as we occupy ourselves with the Lord Jesus and His work and tell God about it, it is inevitable that our heart will spring up with joy. Fellowship with the Father and the Son gives complete joy (1Jn 1:3b-4). Then there is worship, what we see in the people who worship (2Chr 29:28). This worship is not an emotion of the moment, but remains after the offering is brought (2Chr 29:29).

Then Hezekiah and the officials order the Levites to make new expressions of joy (2Chr 29:30). These expressions are not newly invented, but old expressions that are experienced in a new way. In the same way we can regularly sing the same songs. Our feelings will, if all goes well, always be new, always fresh. The more we engage with Christ and His work, the more our worship will deepen. We will often use the same words to express our worship, but which reflect still deeper feelings.

After the necessary sacrifices come the voluntary sacrifices (2Chr 29:31). They are a real representation of the state of the hearts. It is the climax of the revival, in which also sacrifices and thank offerings are brought. The thank offering is a peace offering, it is a meal offering in which is participated by God and the priest and every member of the people who is clean (Lev 3:11 ; 16 ; Lev 7:11-12 ; 19 ; 31). The joy that is enjoyed is expressed in the sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15). In addition, there are, as it were automatically, voluntary burnt offerings, which express worship.

All sacrifices and consecrated things brought are counted (2Chr 29:32-33). For God, every sacrifice counts. Compared to the sacrifices Solomon brought, Hezekiah brings little. But a revival is a return to the principles of God and not to the circumstances of the beginning. We should not compare the time of Hezekiah and what he does with the time of Solomon, but with the time of his father Ahaz.

Unfortunately, many priests do not show up (2Chr 29:34). In a revival not everyone participates. However, a revival does not depend on the number that participates. It is only a handful. Not the quantity, but the quality is characteristic for a revival.

Because there are too few priests, they are unable to skin all the burnt offerings. To skin means that the inner, the inward, becomes visible. In the burnt offering it speaks of the inner feelings of the Lord Jesus that are present with Him as He accomplishes the work to the glory of God. What He feels within, we can read in the book of Psalms.

There are not many Christians today who are able to “skin the burnt offering”. But fortunately there are Levites. They help the priests. They did so until the other priests had also cleansed themselves. In this way God provides for the shortage of priests. He makes sure that the priestly service can continue.

The Levites can be seen as a picture of the teachers the Lord Jesus gave to teach His church. Through their teaching the believers are helped to gain a better understanding of and insight into the Lord Jesus and His work and what the results are (Eph 4:11-13).

The burnt offerings also include the fat of the peace offerings (2Chr 29:35). Just like the blood, the fat is only for God. Fat speaks of energy, the best. In His life on earth Christ has used all His energy to glorify God. Everything He has is for His God. He does so with joy, of which the libation speaks. The libation is a sacrifice of wine that is poured over the main offering. Wine represents joy (Jdg 9:13).

With this, the service of the house of God is restored. Hezekiah and all the people rejoice over this (2Chr 29:36). Their joy is especially for God, for what has happened has been brought about by Him. No one has been able to think of or process this. The situation is hopeless. The people are completely lost under the leadership of Ahaz. What has now happened under Hezekiah has been done by God, completely suddenly. To Him be the honor!