Portion For Reading 2 Chr 26-29Hezekiah, son of Ahaz was born during the reign of his grandfather Jotham in 741 BC. Scripture tells us little about Jotham’s reign, except that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. After him came Ahaz, who abandoned the worship of the Lord in favour of the Ba’al (2 Kings 16:2-4; 2 Chron. 28:2-4), even going so far as to sacrifice at least one of Hezekiah’s brothers in the fire (2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chron. 28:3).
Threatened by attacks from Aramean, Israelite, Edomite and Philistine (28:17-18) forces which resulted in the death of another of Hezekiah’s brothers (28:7) Ahaz made a decision that was to have far-reaching consequences for his descendants: he made himself a vassal of the king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9). His action solved his short-term problem, according to the writers of Kings at least (cf. 2 Chron. 28:20-21), but further undermined the worship of the Lord.
While he was visiting his new suzerain at Damascus he saw an altar there that fascinated him. On returning to Jerusalem he had a duplicate made and set up in the Temple and set aside the traditional furniture in its favour (2 Kings 16:10-16). Ahaz also removed some of the symbols of his power from the Temple (16:18) (Noth, 1996: 266). In many ways the life of Hezekiah stands in stark contrast to that of his father, but at times (as we shall see) his father’s political practices influenced his own decisions.
Hezekiah Purifies the Temple
An anti-Assyrian policy allowed Hezekiah to purify the National worship from Assyrian cultic elements, a process that he had begun when he ascended to the throne (2 Chron. 29:3). He called the Levites to purify the temple and made a covenant with the Lord to serve him only (29:3-11). Things primarily used for idol worship were burned by the Brook Kidron and the Temple vessels desecrated by his father Ahaz were rededicated. In sixteen days the Temple was ready for worship (29:16-36).
Hezekiah invited the Israelites from the provinces of Samaria and Megiddo to join Judah in celebrating at the Passover at Jerusalem. Many ridiculed the king’s messengers, but a few responded, coming from Asher, Manasseh, Ephraim and Isaachar as well as from Judah to celebrate the festival. He planned the celebration one month later than prescribed so as to allow adequate time for consecration (30:1-12).
In most other respects the Law of Moses was carefully observed (cf. 30:18-20) so it is reasonable to conclude the month’s postponement was, most likely, a conciliatory measure to gain the participation of the Northern tribes, who had been following the observance date instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:32). It was during this celebration that the King destroyed the bronze serpent Nehushtan, and the people, inspired by his actions went out to demolish pillars, Asherim, high places and altars throughout the land (2 Chron. 31:1). Tithing was reinstituted to support the newly organised Priests and Levites (31:4-19) and feasts and seasons were once again observed in accordance with the law.
Applications:1 Cor 6:17-20
*But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.
*Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
*Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
* You were bought with a price [purchased with a [b]preciousness and paid for, [c]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
*Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
*Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
* You were bought with a price [purchased with a [b]preciousness and paid for, [c]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
Col 3:5-9
*Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
*Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b]
*You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
*But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
*Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Source: biblicalstudies.org/ Robert I. Bradshaw