2 Chronicles 29-30 Renewal In The Heart

Hezekiah was 25 when he became king.  He’d apparently witnessed everything his father Ahaz had done and detested it, for he worked quickly to repair not only the Temple, but the spiritual damage his father had done.  The Levites were so inspired that they outdid the priests in getting things ready for worship.

Hezekiah called for the Passover celebration to be held a month late (the law provided for this) so that more citizens could be made ritually clean.  In the process, the altars to idols were removed from Jerusalem.  Even people who hadn’t had time to make themselves ritually clean showed up for the celebration and Hezekiah prayed that God would accept their worship.  He did.  Joy returned to Jerusalem when God had been properly respected and worshiped.

The repairs to the Temple reflected something that ties in from the New Testament.  We know that our hearts are now where God resides and our bodies are the Temple.  So verses 3-8 of chapter 29 are particularly engaging for us:  “Hezekiah opened the doors of the Temple … and repaired … Remove from the Temple everything that makes it impure … Our ancestors were unfaithful … They shut the doors of the Temple, and they let the fire go out…”

Father, help me to examine my life and my heart as Hezekiah did.  Open the doors of my heart, repair what needs repairing, remove the impure things.  Stoke the fire, and let it never go out!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford