Chronicles ends on a high note. It ends with the revival of Gods people under the kingship of Hezekiah and Josiah. It is a sign of what is to come. So much that we have of Hezekiah is found no where in Chronicles. And it is beautiful! last time we saw how he opened the doors of the temple – a symbol of opening the doors again into the presence of God.. And today we will see how atonement leads to restored fellowship and worship. We see a revival. A son of David restoring the kingdom in right relationship to God and uniting Israel and Judah under one king. Out of the darkness of the darkest night, is born one of the greatest revivals in Israel’s history. Out of the blackest day – comes hope for all man.
They way of Revival!
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Begins by holding onto to past promises
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Is Led by the king
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Requires repentance and forgiveness
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It results in joy Fellowship and obedience
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And ends in worship.
Begins by holding onto the past promises
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, Moses, David, Solomon. These chapters are about God first and foremost, and his faithfulness throughout all the generations. They are about a people that recognize this and do not find their identity in how big or powerful they may be, but in the redemptive historical promises of their God.
Who are we? That is the question the people of God must always be asking. And we find the answer in the Word of God. We are profoundly shaped by redemptive history. Just as the history of a nation’s laws, culture, and battles shape that nation so it is with the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is shaped by redemptive history more then any other thing. Or it should be at least.
And this history is recorded in this book. This book is about God – and his promises. His covenant. His glory. His love. His justice. And only in the light of this book do we know who we are. Hezekiah knew this profound truth. Just look at all the verses which point back to the word of God, and to a different age in Israel’s history. Chapter 29:21 he refers to Aaron, v. 25 he refers to David, and Gad the seer, and Nathan the Prophet. V. 26 David again. V. 27 David again. V. 30 David and Asaph. Chapter 30:6 we have an appeal to return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, v. 16 we have a reference to Moses. And it goes on and on and on.
A church that is not firmly grounded in Scripture in History is bound to lose its way. Do we want revival! Do we want god to work! Then we must start here! We must look back in order to move forward. And in this Is led by the king
Let’s start with Chapter 29. Remember the King had spent the first two weeks roughly of is reign cleaning out the filth of Ahaz reign. He had started immediately, and his urgency comes through at the very beginning of the text in 29:20, “Then king Hezekiah rose early….” We can assume it was the morning after the temple with all its utensils had been consecrated. He does not waste any time.
And the king’s leadership and initiative comes out throughout our passage today. The Son of David is leading the people into the presence of God. He is taking the initiative. In verse 20 he “gathered the officials”, in verse 21 “he commanded” the priests to offer sacrifices, and in verse 24 he commanded that the burnt offering and sin offering be made for all Israel. In verse 25 he stations the Levites in the house of the LORD. In verse 27 he commands the burnt offering to be burnt on the altar. In verse 30 he commands the Levites to sing. In verse 31 he invites the people to come near. This is the son of David who restores fellowship with God.
I love what he says in 29:31, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come now; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the LORD.” It is a command, a gospel call! By the king! Come all you who have been set apart! Partake in worship. This is Christ continuing call to us! Come you have been washed, consecrated, and cleaned! Come and worship! Live in newness of life!
In chapter 30 He sends out heralds to the farthest reaches of his empire in Chapter 30 inviting them to a huge feast calling all people to repent from their sins, and humble themselves before the LORD. These heralds are sent with a message of grace that comes with a strong rebuke to God’s covenant people.
It almost reminds you of when Jesus sent out the seventy to all the towns of Israel. It is a message of repentance! Six time the word turn is used! 3 times in reference to calling the people to return, and three times in reference to the promise of the Lord returning! If they would return God would return to them! It’s a gospel promise!
Nevertheless, Some mock and make fun of the heralds of the king. It is no different today. But for those who do come, the king intercedes for them in 30:18. The Lord hears the prayer and heals the people. The son of David mediates on behalf of the people. And the people are healed. If we want revival we must follow the direction of the Son of David, our king, and do as he says, here is call and humble ourselves as well – and hear the voice of the heralds calling on us, so that he might intercede for us and we might be healed.
It requires Forgiveness & Repentance
After the dark days of Ahaz, the first thing that is done is that sacrifices are offered for the atonement of sin. And the atonement must complete – because the sin is total! Not only in its depth – a total rebellion. But also in its breadth, all Israel. No one was innocent here. For revival to happen there must be a realization of sin. And a turning from that sin.
Seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, seven make goats as a sin offering for the kingdom and sanctuary. Sin had penetrated the very heart the people of God in the temple, and it had to be atoned for. Seven as the number of fullness. There sin was complete. And for who was it sacrificed for? For all Israel. This is repeated in verse 24 twice. They placed their hands on the goats head as a sign of placing their sins upon these so that they would die for the people.
Dear children of the covenant we don’t just waltz into Gods presence. We come in the name of Christ – the lamb that was sacrificed for all Israel! For all his people! Out sin is deep – total depravity. It is wide – all have sinned. Only when the sacrifice is done do we see the king inviting the people into the presence of God to sacrifice. Only through the shedding of blood is there forgiveness of sins.
And all people are invited in chapter 30 to leave their sins behind. The king says, quit being so stiff-necked, and hardhearted. Humble themselves and seek the Lord. God does not give cheap grace (ver. 7-10) God gives grace so that we can return, and we can continue to grow. Leave your sin behind and go and sin no more. This is what the Passover, which they were celebrating was all about. Freedom from the guilt of sin & and the power of sin.
And this seeking of forgiveness goes hand in hand with true repentance. After the temple had been cleared out, and the people also bring forth their own sacrifices, and when they as they are about to celebrate the Passover meal, we read in 2 Chronicles 30:14 that they “set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the alters that were used for burning incense they took away and through in the local garbage dump – the Kidron valley.” And again, after the feast we read in chapter 31 that when the party was done in Jerusalem they left and, “broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke all the high places and the altars throughout all Benjamin and Judah, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they destroyed them all.” Broke. Cut them Down. Destroyed them all. ALL! They don’t stop until all sin – all idolatry is cut off. There is not stopping at most, or almost all. But all! This is violent language. It reminds us of what the New Testament tells us what to do! Crucify. But to death. Put off! This battle on this die of eternity is not done until all the sin of the sinful nature has been put off.
True forgiveness also leads to a passion for holiness. A passion to rid oneself of all that might hinder you from worship. From the presence of God! And a devotion to all that is of God! This would have been a strong rebuke the people of the post-exilic time, who were living in their fancy houses while the hours of God lay in Ruins. It is as if the author is saying, do you want to see true revival, real joy, and a peace that years of human effort could not work, then give yourself to the work of the LORD!
Which brings us to the next point
It results in Joy, Fellowship and obediance
Joy
Just imagine being there for this first two months of Hezekiah’s reign! In two months, the country had been turned upside down! People’s hearts had been turned right side up! Here was a man who wanted to follow the Lord. Who knew the covenant promises of God – and that only in him could they find their highest joy! There highest joy was found in being able to find forgiveness. That’s why there is singing when all the sacrifices go up! There is a ton of singing in this book. I don’t know if you have noticed. And its commanded. Its not optional.
The sacrifices for sin were an invitation for Israel back into the presence of God in worship. We were made for fellowship with God! To enjoy him. The symphony is led by the priests and Levites with cymbals harps and lyres, and trumpets! Could you imagine being there! Just read verse 28 and imagine being part of this assembly. The Temple had just been cleaned out; sacrifices had been offered for sin! They had been set free! Set free from the tyranny of sin! It is not wonder that the next chapter leads into the Passover. A meal that represented freedom! There is reason to sing! To make music! Music allows the heart to feel the reality of what is believed!
These chapter are just exploding with emotion. These are not just outward actions but an inward heart change! Verse 29 after the atonement we read they “sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worship.” There is something about a restored relationship with the covenant God that bring a joy that surpasses all earthly joy! That makes you want to sing and shout!
Look at the Passover feast! It was huge, and it was even extended 7 days! This was the feast of the earthly people in the old testament. And how much more not do we have every reason to celebrate and sing the Lords praise! We have been eternally redeemed by blood not of seven goats, but by the spotless lamb of God – the true and eternal blood of the covenant – which has been shed for us once for all! We have been set free to a life of worship! This feast that we are invited to will not stop. The magnitude is so much more. We are called to heavenly festivities. Heavenly tabernacle. Extended into eternity!
Just look at the amount of joy we have here. In 29:30, and again in verse 26. And again, this theme is picked up in chapter 30:21, and verse 23,25, and in case you still didn’t think they were joyful read verse 30:26. Joy. Gladness. Singing. This is a people who understand truly what is happening and are overcome with the goodness and grace of God! I can hear it often when the church is especially touched by the word of God and the Holy Spirit works. I hear it in the voices of Gods people! They couldn’t sing louder if they tried! I think we can so often forget that singing is central to the people of God throughout scripture.
O dear church, I hope the Holy Spirit is speaking this reality into the church – our church now! That we would explode with the fulness of joy as we are invited by our king to sit at the table. As we remember his sacrifice and know that all our sins are forgiven. As we look forward to marriage feast of the lamb. You and I have fellowship with GOD!
Fellowship
The sacrifices had taken place for all Israel, and all Israel is invited in chapter 30:1 and in verse 6 we read the couriers went to all Israel! And in verse 30:25 we have the assembly of Judah, and the assembly of Israel united. It is only worship it is only the gospel it is only in the church that there is true unity. Not a man-made unity – but a God wrought unity.
Have you noticed how up to this time it has seemed futile to bring unity between the northern and southern tribes? It has been tried through marriage alliances, through war, through treaties. Where sin brought war and strife, captivity and death. Worship brought them together around one table. As they fellowshipped with each other they fellowship with God.
And when they leave they are united in reformation and cut down all the idols through out the whole land, until they had destroyed them all. There is unity in worship – and unity in walking in the same direction. Away from sin – to God.
it ends in worship
And what is the response to the gospel – but overflowing thanksgiving, and a deep desire to keep in the work that has been started, and guard that work.
And that is what we have in chapter 31, which starts with the words, “Now when all this was finished..” What happens, this revival bears real fruit. That’s how you know if its real – if it bears long tern fruit. If people in a sense put their money where their mouth is.
And this is exactly what we see in chapter 31. Overflowing generosity. These people want to see the temple rebuilt, restored, and maintained. They do not want these doors to closed again and they are willing not only to cut our idols or sin in the land, they are willing to give resources to promote the true worship of God. They give to overflowing. This is a witness against the post exilic people who were living in fancy houses while the temple was not built. But also the church in every age where people spend more time and resources thinking about their own wellbeing then the church and the kingdom of God.
And there is a desire of the people to see that worship of God continues that this revival die but is sustained. This is not just a spiritual high; this is true worship. And it’s beautiful to see the hearts of the people behind it. The king also leads in giving, but the people five generously and with joyful hearts! They have been reminded of who they are. They are forgiven. Freed from slavery. They are the people of the covenant God. A people made to worship and glory in Him. And they give to that end.
O what an encouragement his is to the church of every age! O that we would follow our king, as we stand on the ancient promises and are formed by them, as we come to worship him through the blood of the lamb and share in his victory of sin and death – let us leave here demolishing every argument and thought and thing that raises itself against him. Let us give so that this mighty work might continue! Let us desire nothing but to respond to the promises of God in faith.
Amen