The People Accept Responsibility

II Chronicles 31:1-21

“Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.” (II Chronicles 31:1)

Before they had celebrated the Passover, the people of Judah had gone through Jerusalem destroying the idols and places of nature worship.  After the celebration and the extra week, they went out to destroy the idols and other places of worship throughout the rest of Judah.  The people who had come from Israel joined in and before they finished, they destroyed the nature worship and many of the altars to idolatry in Israel as well, although they were unable to eradicate the established religion Jeroboam started.

"And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.  He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.  Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.” (II Chronicles 31:2-4)

Hezekiah reestablished the old divisions of priestly duties, designating each one according to their families as God had directed in Exodus.  Since only a few of the Levites lived in Judah, he ordered that the daily sacrifices be taken from his personal account rather than the Levites providing it from their own herds as God had directed..  In addition, he directed the people of Jerusalem to provide a portion for the priests so they could devote their energy to their service of God rather than spending their time trying to earn a living.

“And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 

And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.  In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.” (II Chronicles 31:5-7) 

Over the years, I have observed or been involved with a great many church startups on the reservation.  Time after time missionaries and pastors have insisted the church could not support a pastor.  While they usually grow faster at first, because they have the money, inevitably the church becomes dependent on outside support and many are still depending on it fifty years later, often collapsing when the missionary leaves, unable to pay their bills Time after time the missionary complains he just can’t get his people to give.

Churches which take the responsibility for supporting their pastor, on the other hand seem proud to be able to do so, and rarely run short of money.  They quickly develop a sense of responsibility toward the church, becoming more faithful as well.

When Hezekiah asked the people to take responsibility for supporting the temple and priests, they responded willingly.  Not only did they give more than was expected, but people volunteered who hadn’t been asked.  Not only the people of Jerusalem but those from other cities and the outlying villages gave.  They didn’t have enough warehouses to store it all and ended up just making heaps outdoors.

“And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.  Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” (II Chronicles 31:8-10)

Hezekiah was astounded by the amount the people had given and Thanked the Lord for it all, but questioned the priests to be sure it had been given voluntarily and not through some kind of scam or coercion.

 “Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. 

And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.  And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. 

And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses; And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.” (II Chronicles 31:11-19)

Because the people gave so willingly, Hezekiah had new warehouses built in various locations and Assigned a group of Levites to oversee the care of what was given so it wouldn’t just go to waste sitting in the piles.  Care was taken to ensure that every priest and Levite was adequately compensated for their service.

“And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began 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.” (II Chronicles 31:20-21)

Hezekiah did his best to do what was right, and as a result he was more successful than any other king in turning Judah back to God as well as having an impact on a lot of people in Israel.  It was his total commitment to god himself that enabled him to lead his people to commit fully.