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Chronicles 29 reminds me that our God specializes in rebuilding
projects. The Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God
Himself. The condition of the Temple indicated the heart of the
people towards God. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the Holy
Spirit is now given to each one of us. The presence of God changes us
from the inside-out. Regardless of how much we might have neglected
our spiritual life, the Holy Spirit of God can make us like new. The
chapter begins, “Hezekiah
was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem twenty-nine years… He did what was right in the eyes of
the Lord“.
It is easy to see the passion of his heart, “In
the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors
of the temple of the Lord and repaired them“.
It is interesting to note that God often starts the repair of our
spiritual life by fixing the doors of our conscience. Doors create a
barrier to keep some things out. Things that were once permitted
suddenly seem out of place. Next
the king re-gathered the Priests and said, “Consecrate
yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord… Remove all
defilement from the sanctuary“.
He
honored the things of God as sacred. When we receive God’s Spirit,
we begin to see our rebellion and we desire to remove the clutter.
The king reminded the people, “This
is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and
daughters and our wives are in captivity“.
Is there junk in your temple?
The
chapter continues the process of renewal. As God continues to make
us His own, we desire to express our gratitude. The King told the
Temple workers, “My
sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to…
serve Him, to minister before Him“.
They were careful to do everything according to God’s Word. “They
went in to purify the temple… following the word of the Lord“.
Remember, the Temple had been used for perverted purposes. This was
a dramatic overhaul. “The
priests went into the sanctuary … They brought out to the
courtyard… everything unclean that they found in the temple“.
For sixteen days they both removed the unholy things and replaced
them with things dedicated to God. Finally, they report to the king,
“We
have purified the entire temple… We have prepared and consecrated
all the articles“.
This is a great reminder that we can’t simply “remove’ things
from our life, but it is important to add and replace activities with
more excellent things.
It
is cool to see the results. “Early
the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together
and went up to the temple of the Lord“.
After the Burnt Offering (Atonement for sin) we see the joy return.
“As
the offering began, singing to the Lord began also…the whole
assembly bowed in worship… All this continued until the sacrifice
of the burnt offering was completed… they sang praises with
gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped“.
Next the people were invited to give a thanks offering. We read,
“All
whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings“.
In fact there was so much given that there were not enough priests
to handle it “so
their kinsmen the Levites helped them until the task was finished“.
The chapter ends with the Temple being reestablished and, “Hezekiah
and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his
people, because it was done so quickly“.
Colossians 4:16 reminds us that God heals us so that we might share
our experience with others, “Take
heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you
may fulfill it“.