Second Chronicles 30:21

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 30:21-27, “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.[22] And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.[23] And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.[24] For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.[25] And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.[26] So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.[27] Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.” These verses show us how much joy and gladness and happiness there was once the people turned to the Lord and started doing things His way. One reason that the Bible is so important is that it shows us God’s will for us as we live life on this earth. In the case of the Jews of the Old Testament, it was the will of God that they observe the feasts such as the Feast of the Passover. O how much the nation of Israel had fallen away from God’s will. It can happen. It can happen to Christians, such as Christians who are not involved in a good Bible teaching church, or Christians who are simply out of fellowship with the Lord and who need to confess their sins and get back in fellowship with Him. Jesus established the church. Jesus wants Christians to join together in love, hearing the Word of God, singing the good Gospel songs, and praying for one another. These Jewish people turned back to doing thigs God’s way, and look at the result. Verse twenty-one says they had “great gladness,” they “praised the Lord,” and they had “singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.” Verse twenty-three again says that they had “gladness.” Verse twenty-six says “there was great joy in Jerusalem.” Do you want to be happy? Do you want to enjoy life? Get right with the Lord Jesus Christ and do things His way.

Notice some other spiritual principles that are important that are mentioned in these verses. Verse twenty-two speaks of “the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD.” The teaching of the Word of God is good. It is our spiritual food. Jesus said, “man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of God.” The Word of God is part of the spiritual armor as mentioned in Ephesians chapter six. The Word of God is alive and powerful. You can only grow in faith as you desire the sincere milk of the Word.

Verse twenty-two also says that they were “making confession to the LORD God.” Jesus always forgives our sins when we confess our sins. Daily confession of sins is an important part of staying in fellowship with Jesus. Happily, Jesus always forgives sins, and so every Christian can stay in fellowship with Him, even the Christian that often fails. The Bible says in First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We do not keep following Jesus because of how good we are. We keep following Jesus because He always forgives our sins. He is gracious and merciful and loving. He always forgives.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 31:1-6, “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.[2] And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.[3] He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.[4] Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.[5] And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.[6] And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.” Now that the people’s hearts are right with the Lord, they are going to start cleaning up their lives. There is always more that can be done, more that can be fixed, more that can be made better. In verse two they got rid of things that should not have been there. They “brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars…” What do you need to clean up and get rid of from your life? Perhaps there are some videos or magazines or websites that you need to get out of your life and your environment.

In verse two it says that “Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service.” For the priests and Levites to do their work, they needed to be supported from a material standpoint. That has always been God’s way. God uses people to do His work. In the Old Testament they gave tithes and offerings. The principle for giving in the New Testament is a little different. It says in Second Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” It is expected that giving based upon the principle of grace would be a more abundant giving than giving on the principle of law. Of course, that will depend upon what people purpose in their hearts. Many Christians will give much more than ten percent if they are filled with the Spirit.

As it says in verse six, so many things were given that they had “heaps” of stuff left over. Concerning their heaps, the Bible says in Second Chronicles 31:7-19, “In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.[8] And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.[9] Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.[10] And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.[11] Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,[12] And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.[13] And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.[14] And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.[15] And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:[16] Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;[17] Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;[18] And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:[19] Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.” They had to build extra rooms to contain all the heaps of things that were given. And then they distributed fairly to every member of the priests’ and Levites’ families. The Bible is a book of fairness and equality. All have sinned. God loves everyone. Jesus died for everyone on the cross. Everyone gets saved the same way: by repenting of sin and asking Jesus for forgiveness. Romans 10:13, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 31:20-21, “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.[21] And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” Notice the phrase “throughout all Judah.” Because Hezekiah was king, he had a great influence, just like all leaders of countries. That is why they will have a lot to answer for. To whom much is given is much required. These are great things said about Hezekiah. We need to aspire to be more like him. He “wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.” And verse twenty-one says that “in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” It is very important to make the written Word of God part of your life. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.” It is very important to seek God. Everyone is seeking something. Look to the Lord Jesus and seek Him: to know Him better, to be in fellowship with Him, and to be close to Him. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

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