Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
2 Chronicles 29-32
A paradigm shift, or contrast to the popular way of thought, was brought about by Hezekiah with the Lord’s help. While he was king, he not only applied laws that enforced the worship of God; he was also able to turn around people’s minds and hearts, so that for a while there seemed to be a renaissance of the days of David and Solomon. This was eventually spoiled by the invasion of the Assyrians, but Hezekiah’s faith in God preserved him and brought him back to prosperity.
Hezekiah came to the throne in his mid-twenties, energetic and full of ideals. The colloquial expression, a “take-charge kind of guy,” definitely applied to him. Hezekiah may have had governing responsibilities before his father Ahaz’s death. If so, the events related in these chapters came to pass once Hezekiah was in leadership himself. The chronicler (Ezra) gives Hezekiah the highest possible praise by comparing his conduct to his father David. But there were many parallels between Hezekiah and Solomon as well.
Hezekiah had no sooner taken charge than he started to undo all the damage caused by his father Ahaz. King Ahaz had actually closed the doors of the temple and mandated idol worship throughout the kingdom. Hezekiah’s first order was to open the temple again and renew the regular sacrifices. There was need for physical maintenance on the complex since it had been unused for a number of years. The temple had been defiled by pagan worship, and it needed to be cleansed ritually before being used for worship again. This makes me think of the property on 11 mile that we are praying about purchasing.
Hezekiah’s speech in which he instructed the priests and Levites to cleanse the temple was based on the dedication prayer Solomon had made about 250 years earlier. Solomon had acknowledged the fact that disobedience to God would lead to national calamities, and he had asked the Lord to rescue the kingdom if the people returned to Him, using the temple as their focal point of repentance. Therefore, Hezekiah stated that the present miserable state of the nation was because of God’s punishment.
In America, we have seen idolatry in the form of living independent from God. Unfortunately, this idolatry has often made its way into our churches and even into our homes. May we take heed to the warning of Hezekiah and not forsake the reality of our dependence upon God.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to stand against the tide of our society to live independent of God and your word.
- Lord, please help me to lead Faith Baptist Church to exalt the Lord Jesus and operate completely dependent upon you.
- Lord, please help me to lead my family to be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit so that we live completely in your will.
Political
- Representative Chris Greig – District 37 – Northville.
- Representative Beth Griffin – District 66 – Paw Paw
- Representative Vanessa Guerra – District 95 – Saginaw