II Kings 18:5-6
“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.” (II Kings 18:5-6)
Hezekiah was the best king Judah ever had, He was the only one who consistently followed God’s commands throughout his entire reign. One of his very first actions as king was to reopen the temple and rededicate the priests and Levites that had been disenfranchised under his father. Less than a month after he took office, they were ready to resume the daily sacrifices and offerings they had agreed to offer in Moses’ day.
“Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he 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.
So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” (II Chronicles 29:20-24)
The temple and the priests had already been dedicated as God had commanded Moses. Now Hezekiah got the leaders together to offer an offering for the sin of the rulers and of the people that had not been dealt with during Ahaz’ reign.
“And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” (II Chronicles 29:25-27)
Because it affects our emotions so directly, music tends to focus our attention to degree almost nothing else does. In Numbers 10:10, God had directed Moses, “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” The sound of the trumpets would focus their attention on the offerings and sacrifices so the people would remember them.
Later David had established a much larger variety of musical instruments for the same purpose. To keep the congregation focused, Hezekiah had the orchestra and choir sing and play while the sacrifices for atonement were made.
“And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.” (II Chronicles 29:28-29)
The word translated worshipped here means to prostrate oneself, to show humility and reverence or extreme respect. With their mind and heart focused on being forgiven for their sins, the congregation bowed do, acknowledging their sin and God’s righteousness. The leaders could not bow down until they had finished their part in identifying the sacrifices as being for themselves and the people.
“Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (II Chronicles 29:30)
With an attitude of humility and reverence, the people were ready to celebrate what God had done for them, thanking him for it in psalms or songs of praise such as David and Asaph had written. This in turn led to increased joy and further bowing in worship.
“Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.” (II Chronicles 29:31a)
With their sins forgiven and a proper attitude toward God, recognizing what he had done for them, the people were finally in a state to serve God with their offerings and demonstrations of love.
“And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.” (II Chronicles 29:31b-33)
With their hearts and minds focused on God and what he had done for them, the people voluntarily gave abundantly.
“But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.” (II Chronicles 29:34-35)
Discouraged by apathy and government opposition under Ahaz, many of the priests had left the ministry. As a result there were not enough priests available to deal with all the people, and the Levites were pressed into service to assist, because they were more apt to be walking with God than the priests. Sadly, I think the same thing is often true in churches today.
“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.” (II Chronicles 29:36)
There had been no long period of planning for a revival. It had all taken place within about three weeks of the time Hezekiah became king. The results were not the result of Hezekiah’s planning but of the power of God. We are left to wonder how often human planning prevents seeing the power of God.
It is interesting to note that the first step in seeing this revival was getting the priests and Levites right with God. Most revivals fail because they start with reaching the lost, rather than with getting the church leaders right with God.
“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.” (II Kings 18:5-6)
Hezekiah was the best king Judah ever had, He was the only one who consistently followed God’s commands throughout his entire reign. One of his very first actions as king was to reopen the temple and rededicate the priests and Levites that had been disenfranchised under his father. Less than a month after he took office, they were ready to resume the daily sacrifices and offerings they had agreed to offer in Moses’ day.
“Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he 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.
So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” (II Chronicles 29:20-24)
The temple and the priests had already been dedicated as God had commanded Moses. Now Hezekiah got the leaders together to offer an offering for the sin of the rulers and of the people that had not been dealt with during Ahaz’ reign.
“And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” (II Chronicles 29:25-27)
Because it affects our emotions so directly, music tends to focus our attention to degree almost nothing else does. In Numbers 10:10, God had directed Moses, “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” The sound of the trumpets would focus their attention on the offerings and sacrifices so the people would remember them.
Later David had established a much larger variety of musical instruments for the same purpose. To keep the congregation focused, Hezekiah had the orchestra and choir sing and play while the sacrifices for atonement were made.
“And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.” (II Chronicles 29:28-29)
The word translated worshipped here means to prostrate oneself, to show humility and reverence or extreme respect. With their mind and heart focused on being forgiven for their sins, the congregation bowed do, acknowledging their sin and God’s righteousness. The leaders could not bow down until they had finished their part in identifying the sacrifices as being for themselves and the people.
“Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (II Chronicles 29:30)
With an attitude of humility and reverence, the people were ready to celebrate what God had done for them, thanking him for it in psalms or songs of praise such as David and Asaph had written. This in turn led to increased joy and further bowing in worship.
“Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.” (II Chronicles 29:31a)
With their sins forgiven and a proper attitude toward God, recognizing what he had done for them, the people were finally in a state to serve God with their offerings and demonstrations of love.
“And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.” (II Chronicles 29:31b-33)
With their hearts and minds focused on God and what he had done for them, the people voluntarily gave abundantly.
“But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.” (II Chronicles 29:34-35)
Discouraged by apathy and government opposition under Ahaz, many of the priests had left the ministry. As a result there were not enough priests available to deal with all the people, and the Levites were pressed into service to assist, because they were more apt to be walking with God than the priests. Sadly, I think the same thing is often true in churches today.
“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.” (II Chronicles 29:36)
There had been no long period of planning for a revival. It had all taken place within about three weeks of the time Hezekiah became king. The results were not the result of Hezekiah’s planning but of the power of God. We are left to wonder how often human planning prevents seeing the power of God.
It is interesting to note that the first step in seeing this revival was getting the priests and Levites right with God. Most revivals fail because they start with reaching the lost, rather than with getting the church leaders right with God.
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