Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is  History Tuesday. Our reading is 2 Chronicles 29-32. I’m calling today’s episode “Changes.”

Comments on 2 Chronicles 29-32

Hezekiah was a remarkable king, wasn’t he? 

His father was Ahaz, who reigned before him, and he was one of the most evil kings of Judah. If you’ve been listening along, no doubt you remember him and the heinous things he did, including sacrificing his own children.

That Hezekiah was such a good king is certainly noteworthy. As chapter 29, verse 2 says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” Bible commentator G. Campbell Morgan said of him, “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.” 

Whatever the reason for his devotion to following God, he was a welcome contrast to his father, wouldn’t you say?

Think of the courage that was necessary for Hezekiah to reverse the course of Judah. Pagan altars, idols, and temples were destroyed. The bronze serpent that Moses had made in the desert (Numbers 21:9) was also destroyed, because the people had made it an idol (2 Kings 18:4). The temple in Jerusalem, whose doors had been nailed shut by Hezekiah’s own father, was cleaned out and reopened. The Levitical priesthood was reinstated (2 Chronicles 29:5), and the Passover was reinstituted as a national holiday (2 Chronicles 30:1). 

Instead of Hezekiah being cancelled, revival came to Judah. And God blessed him. 

Beloved, I believe that Hezekiah is a good example for us. He knew that his nation had wandered far from God under the leadership of his father, Ahaz. And when he had the opportunity, he boldly made the changes necessary to make things right. He even confronted the temple priests who had been entirely derelict in their duties. He told them to clean out the temple and sanctify themselves, the temple and everything in it. 

Each of us can do our part to make things right with God. We can pray daily for those in all levels of government. We can pray for our pastors, that they will have the courage to say and do what is right in the eyes of God in the pulpit. We can make our voices heard. 

We are called to be salt and light, beloved. Ask the Holy Spirit to give opportunities to make a difference. He will answer that prayer, guaranteed. Then when He does it, have the courage to follow His leading. Revival can begin today, beloved. It starts when God’s people cry out to Him, and then have the courage to follow His leading.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 29 ESV; Ch. 30-31 NLT; Ch. 32 NIV

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Transcript

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Hezekiah is a good example for us.

INTRO S12E306 – 0:10
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. For those of you in the US of A, I hope you had a great Fourth of July. Today is History Tuesday. Our reading is 2 Chronicles 29 through 32. I’m calling today’s episode “Changes”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e307. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

2 CHRONICLES 29 (ESV) – 0:48
2 Chronicles, chapter 29. (1) Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. (2) And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

(3) In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. (4) He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east (5) and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. (6) For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. (7) They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. (8) Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. (9) For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. (10) Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. (11) My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

(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 Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; (13) and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; (14) and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. (15) They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. (16) The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they 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 and carried it out to the brook Kidron. (17) They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. (18) Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. (19) All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

(20) Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. (21) And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male 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. (22) So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. (23) Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, (24) and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

(25) And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king’s seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. (26) The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. (27) Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. (28) The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. (29) When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. (30) And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

(31) Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. (32) The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. (33) And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. (34) But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. (35) Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. (36) And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

2 CHRONICLES 30 () – 6:47
2 Chronicles, chapter 30. (1) King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel. (2) The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual. (3) They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.

(4) This plan for keeping the Passover seemed right to the king and all the people. (5) So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.

(6) At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said:

“O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings. (7) Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. (8) Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.

(9) “For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.”

(10) The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them. (11) However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.

(12) At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord. (13) So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. (14) They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

(15) On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord. (16) Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.

(17) Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. (18) Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those (19) who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.” (20) And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.

(21) So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. (22) Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

(23) The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week. (24) King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.

(25) The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah. (26) There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. (27) Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.

2 CHRONICLES 31 (NLT) – 11:36
2 Chronicles, chapter 31. (1) When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.

(2) Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the Lord at the gates of the Temple. (3) The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the Lord. (4) In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.

(5) When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced. (6) The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps. (7) They began piling them up in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn. (8) When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel!

(9) “Where did all this come from?” Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.

(10) And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, “Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”

(11) Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Temple of the Lord. When this was done, (12) the people faithfully brought all the gifts, tithes, and other items dedicated for use in the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei. (13) The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.

(14) Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the Lord. (15) His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike. (16) They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions. (17) They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions. (18) Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.

(19) As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.

(20) In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. (21) In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.

2 CHRONICLES 32 (NIV) – 15:43
2 Chronicles, chapter 32. (1) After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. (2) When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, (3) he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. (4) They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. (5) Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.

(6) He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: (7) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. (8) With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

(9) Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:

(10) “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? (11) When Hezekiah says, ‘The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,’ he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. (12) Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god’s high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it’?

(13) “Do you not know what I and my predecessors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? (14) Who of all the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? (15) Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my predecessors. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!”

(16) Sennacherib’s officers spoke further against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. (17) The king also wrote letters ridiculing the Lord, the God of Israel, and saying this against him: “Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.” (18) Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. (19) They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of human hands.

(20) King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. (21) And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.

(22) So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side. (23) Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.

(24) In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. (25) But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. (26) Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.

(27) Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. (28) He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. (29) He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.

(30) It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. (31) But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

(32) The other events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. (33) Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

COMMENTS – 21:09
Hezekiah was a remarkable King, wasn’t he? His father was Ahaz who reigned before him and he was one of the most evil kings of Judah. If you’ve been listening along, no doubt you remember him and the heinous things he did, including sacrificing his own children. That Hezekiah was such a good king is certainly noteworthy as chapter 29, verse 2 says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord just as his father David had done.” Of course, in biblical language, David as his father is another word for ancestor here.

Bible commentator G. Campbell Morgan said of Hezekiah,

“His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, probably the person mentioned by the prophet Isaiah in 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.”

Whatever the reason for his devotion to following God, he was a welcome contrast to his bio dad Ahaz wouldn’t you say. Think of the courage that was necessary for Hezekiah to reverse the course of Judah. Pagan altars, idols and temples were destroyed. The bronze serpent that Moses had made in the desert in Numbers 21:9 was also destroyed because the people had made it into an idol. We read about that in 2 Kings 18:4. The temple in Jerusalem whose doors had been nailed shut by Hezekiah’s own father was cleaned out and reopened. The Levitical priesthood was reinstated in 2 Chronicles 29:5. And the Passover was reinstituted as a national holiday, 2 Chronicles 30, verse 1. And instead of Hezekiah being cancelled, like he probably would be today, revival came to Judah and God blessed him.

Beloved, I believe that Hezekiah is a good example for us. He knew that his nation had wandered far from God under the leadership of his father Ahaz. And when he had the opportunity, he boldly made the changes necessary to make things right. He even confronted the temple priests who had been entirely derelict in their duties. He told him to clean out the temple and sanctify themselves, the temple and everything in it. Each of us can do our part to make things right with God. We can pray daily for those in all levels of government. No matter where you live in the world. We can pray for our pastors, that they will have the courage to say and do what is right in the eyes of God in the pulpit. We can make our voices heard. We are called to be salt and light, Beloved. Ask the Holy Spirit to give opportunities to make a difference. I guarantee he’ll answer that prayer. And then when he does it, we need to have the courage to follow his leading. Revival can begin today, Beloved. It starts when God’s people cry out to Him, and then have the courage to follow his leading.

What are your thoughts? Have a comment? Let me know at lifespringmedia.com/s12e307. Tomorrow is Psalms Wednesday and we’ll read chapters 128 through 130.

Boost?

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 24:38
On this date in church history, July 5, 1865, in London pioneer English revivalist William Booth held the first rescue meeting at his newly established Christian Mission. In 1878, he changed the name of this organization to the Salvation Army.

CLOSING PRAYER – 25:06
Let’s pray. Our gracious heavenly Father, Lord, help us like Hezekiah to be unafraid to make the necessary changes to return ungodly, ingrained behaviors and systems back to ways that honor you. Give us courage, Lord. We pray that people would once again acknowledge that you are God, and that your ways are right. I pray this in Jesus name, amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E307 – 25:44
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e307. And send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise contribute time and talent to the show and I thank them. I thank those of you who are faithfully streaming sats and sending boosts and I thank those of you who send weekly or monthly donations. If you have ever sent a gift into the show. I appreciate it.

And I pray that God will bless you. If you receive value from the show, I ask that you help to support it. Go to lifespringmedia.com/support and find out how. Thank you so much for inviting me into your life today, sharing your time with me, sharing your life with me, letting me share God’s word with you.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise