18 May

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2 Chronicles 28-31

2 Chronicles 28

The whole reign of Ahaz was a period of terrible and rapid degeneracy. With appalling fearlessness the king restored all the evils of idolatry, even including the terrible offering of children to Moloch. In all probability his own son was a victim. As difficulties gathered around, he turned to the king of Assyria for aid, attempting to procure help from him by giving him treasure out of the house of God. The evil of his character is supremely demonstrated in that calamities seemed not to have the effect, as they so often had had among his predecessors, of rousing him to consciousness of his sin. Indeed it is distinctly stated, "In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord, this same king Ahaz."

During this period Isaiah was exercising his ministry, and the king was persistently rebellious, absolutely refusing to listen to Isaiah's voice or obey its call. Ahaz was evil by choice, persistent in evil in spite of calamity, blasphemously rebellious notwithstanding the direct warnings of the prophet of God. This attitude of the king made the darkness all the more dense.

2 Chronicles 29

With the accession of Hezekiah a great change came over the life of Judah. Among all the reformers he was perhaps the most remarkable. That this was so in spite of the fact that he was the son of Ahaz is interesting, and leads to inquiry as to the reason. The answer is not far to seek. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, probably the person mentioned by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 8:2) as a "faithful witness." This possible friendship, of his mother for the prophet, combined with the certainty that up to this time he had been under the influence of Isaiah's ministry, may account for Hezekiah's action on coming to the throne. A man brought up in the atmosphere of the wonderful teaching of Isaiah would naturally inaugurate his reign along lines diametrically opposed to those followed by his father.

The reformation began in Hezekiah's deep consciousness of the wretched condition of the people, and the reason thereof. This is most graphically set forth in his words to the priests and Levites when he called them together. He made no attempt to blame on God the calamities which had overtaken the nation. On the other hand, he traced the story of their sin, and declared that the result was the wrath of God, which had expressed itself in their disasters. He then commenced the work of restoring the order of worship, the first business of which was to cleanse the house. Some idea of the condition of things may be gathered from the fact that the Levites were occupied sixteen whole days in carrying out the accumulated filth from the sacred precincts. This being done, the great ceremony of rededication followed. The consciousness of the true order is manifest in Hezekiah's words, "Now ye have consecrated yourselves . . . bring sacrifices and thank-offerings." The New Testament parallel is found in the words of the apostle to the Corinthians, "First they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God."

2 Chronicles 30

For a long time the proper feasts of the Lord had not been observed. Hezekiah made arrangements to keep the Passover. It is very beautiful to see how his heart took in the whole nation. In all probability, this Passover was observed before the final passing of the northern kingdom into captivity; and Hezekiah sent messengers throughout Israel as well as Judah, asking them to come up to Jerusalem and take part in the feast. The hopeless corruption of Israel is seen in the statement that "the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them."

Nevertheless, a remnant even out of Israel gathered to Judah, and took part in the sacred, solemn observance. It was a motley crowd that gathered, multitudes of the people were utterly ignorant of the divine arrangements for preparation. Again Hezekiah's tenderness was shown in his pity for these people and the prayer he offered. His prayer was answered, and the imperfect method was not punished in the case of those who set their hearts to seek the Lord.

2 Chronicles 31

The observance of the feast was followed by reorganization of the nation. The remnant gathered from Israel became the pioneers in destroying all that remained of idolatry throughout the cities of Judah, and also in Ephraim and Manasseh. The king set in order the courses of the priests and Levites for the service, and rearranged the offerings according to law. He called for the payment of the tithe, and the response seems to have been widespread and generous.

All this is told in general terms in the chapter. The special value in the work was the thoroughness with which the king carried it out. The closing verse states this, and reveals a truth of constant value. "In every work that he began to do 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". In this statement we have a purpose, a method, and a result. His purpose was to seek his God, and this he did in the way of the divine appointment, and with all his heart; and the result was his prosperity.