2 Chronicles - Chapter 29

2 Chronicles 29.1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 Chronicles 29.2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. 2 Chronicles 29.3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. 2 Chronicles 29.4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, 2 Chronicles 29.5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 2 Chronicles 29.6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 2 Chronicles 29.7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 29.8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 2 Chronicles 29.9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 2 Chronicles 29.10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 2 Chronicles 29.11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense. 2 Chronicles 29.12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: 2 Chronicles 29.13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: 2 Chronicles 29.14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. 2 Chronicles 29.15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29.16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 2 Chronicles 29.17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 2 Chronicles 29.18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof. 2 Chronicles 29.19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29.20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29.21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29.22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 2 Chronicles 29.23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: 2 Chronicles 29.24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 2 Chronicles 29.25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 2 Chronicles 29.26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 2 Chronicles 29.27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 2 Chronicles 29.28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 2 Chronicles 29.29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. 2 Chronicles 29.30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. 2 Chronicles 29.31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. 2 Chronicles 29.32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29.33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 2 Chronicles 29.34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. 2 Chronicles 29.35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. 2 Chronicles 29.36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles : Chapter 29

The Reign of Hezekiah and Spiritual Awakening

Chapter 29 of the book of 2 Chronicles takes us back to the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah, a king of Judah whose piety and devotion to God sparked a true spiritual awakening among the people. This inspiring text reveals the reopening and cleansing of the temple, the restoration of the priesthood, and the renewal of worship. Through these actions, we discover essential themes such as national repentance, spiritual restoration, and the importance of consecrated leadership.

The Importance of Worship in National Life

The events narrated in 2 Chronicles 29 underscore the crucial role of worship in national life. Worship, as the bond between God and His people, is a source of renewal and restoration. Through Hezekiah's actions, we are invited to reflect on the importance of returning to God and how a godly leader can inspire profound change within the community.

Biblical Passages Correlating with the Themes of 2 Chronicles 29

We invite you to consider five biblical passages that resonate with the transformative themes of this invigorating chapter:

1. 2 Kings 18:1-3

"In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. [...] He did what was pleasing to the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done."

This passage offers a parallel perspective on the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, emphasizing his commitment to following God's will.

2. Psalm 69:9

"For zeal for your house consumes me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you fall upon me."

This psalm illustrates Hezekiah's zeal to cleanse and restore the temple, a task he undertook with passion and determination.

3. Malachi 3:1

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. And suddenly the Lord, whom you seek, will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, the one you long for, will come, says the Lord of hosts."

This prophetic verse echoes the actions of Hezekiah, who prepared the temple for proper worship, thus anticipating the coming of the Lord.

4. Leviticus 4:13-14

"If the whole community of Israel sins unintentionally and does what the Lord has forbidden in one of his commandments, even if the community is unaware of it, they will be guilty. When the sin they have committed is discovered, the congregation shall offer a bull as a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting."

These verses describe the type of sin offering Hezekiah offered, thus marking a return to repentance and spiritual cleansing.

5. 1 Chronicles 25:1

"David, along with the commanders of the army, set apart certain of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, to serve in the ministry of prophecy, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of the men who performed this service:"

This verse provides the context for the restoration of temple music, a vital element of worship that was revitalized under Hezekiah.

Through these reflections, we are encouraged to turn to God, seek the purification of our hearts, and revive our worship as a community, following Hezekiah's example. May his example inspire us to live our faith with zeal and determination.