Brought Back Together

 II Chronicles 30:23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived 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 had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.

We have seen how far downward Judah had spiraled spiritually, having been influenced by the idolatry of the surrounding nations, including Israel. The reign of Hezekiah not only halted that but brought about the restoration of worship in the temple, including the long-lost feast of Passover, which had not been held for generations. It was a glorious celebration. Once phrase which might go unnoticed is extremely significant: and the whole assembly that came out of Israel. Some from the northern kingdom left their false worship to rejoin the spiritual fold of true Israel, just like when it had been one united kingdom. That was monumental. God took notice and heard their voice and prayer. One day all believers of all times will worship that way. What a day that will be!

Worship Restored!

II Chronicles 29:25 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. 

We saw yesterday how King Ahaz had brought things in Judah to a new low. Not only did he promote idol worship in the land; he also shut down worship of the True and Living God in the temple and left it in ruins, allowing pagan worship there. Hezekiah was a breath of fresh air, coming in and cleansing the temple, repairing it, restoring the work of the Levites, and consecrating it and the people to the worship of the Lord. What a great day it would be to get back to worshipping Him! Lay aside anything you have put in way of doing so. Worship Him.

A New Low

 

II Kings 28:22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

This chapter begins with a description of Ahaz's approach to worship: he chose to worship the Baals and to practice child sacrifice. Because of this, God allowed Syria to defeat him. Rather than call out to God in repentance, Ahaz tried calling on other pagan nations to help him. Rather than aid him, they defeated and plundered Judah even more. Rather than repent, he chose to totally abandon the worship of the worship of the Lord and add other idols to his menu. Once again, this earned him a place outside the cemetery of the kings and the list of good Kings in Jerusalem. How do you respond to discipline? Do you just go lower and farther away from God?

Role Reversal

23 And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria. 25 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 From the time when he turned away from the Lord they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. 

As we read through Kings and Chronicles, we need to constantly pay attention as the historian switches back and forth between the Southern kingdom, Judah, or "house of David," and the Northern Kingdom, Israel, which rebelled and established their own religion.  With the latter, Israel, we usually see their kings "did evil in the sight of the Lord," and thereby their nation fell sooner. But sometimes, like above, we see God using the Northern Kingdom to chastise the Southern Kingdom. Why? He turned away from the Lord. Lest we become complacent, thinking we are better than pagans around us, God often uses them to keep us straight. 

At Second Glance...

 II Chronicles 24:24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash. 25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite.

At first glance, it appeared that Joash was going to be a good king. He repaired the temple and resumed the offerings so there would be regular worship.  But when the priest spoke out against the sins and idolatry of the people, Joash allowed him to be killed.  We see that he was not whole-heartedly devoted to the Lord as he had allowed pagan people to infiltrate the palace, and they joined in the plot to assassinate him.  It is also telling that he was not buried with the kings.

Prayer and Worship Leads to Victory

II Chronicles 20:24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

Judah was surrounded by their enemies who had joined against them. The response of Jehoshaphat was to fast, pray, and call the people to worship and trust God. While they worshipped, God won the victory, turning the enemies on one another.  What a picture for us: realizing we are surrounded by spiritual enemies, knowing we cannot win the battle on our own, calling out to Him in repentance and faith and trusting Him to win the battle while we worship Him alone.

Hear, all you peoples!

 II Chronicles 18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 24 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 25 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.’” 27 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

God made it very clear to Israel how to know who the true prophet was: his word came true. After the kingdom divided into Israel and Judah, the two were often at odds with one another. On occasion they did join together against their enemies. It then became muddy who to listen to.  There were true and false prophets from both nations.  Ahab, the king of Israel at this point had built a lifetime of wickedness and was about to reap what he had sown. Micaiah the prophet lays it on the line well: If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” In other words: "You won't be coming back from battle alive." My we learn to discern who speaks the Word of the Lord, and listen.