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| A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver |
AN UNPLEASANT, YET FAMILIAR, ENVIRONMENT
King Hezekiah was charged with such a task. Prior to his reign, the people were in ruin as a result of wicked leadership, namely, Ahaz.
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. (2 Chronicles 28:22-25)
Something needed to be done and quickly. Repentance was in order and, as always, it had to be immediate; “while it was still called today.” This was as needful a time as any, so Hezekiah called an assembly...and God showed up.
He Opened the Doors. There was no time to waste. The very first thing on the king’s agenda was to open up the way to God’s presence. And so, “in the first year of his reign, in the first month, [he] opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them” (2 Chr 29:3).
Gathering the Priests. Next, Hezekiah gathered the priests and Levites together (2 Chr 29:4). The work that needed to be done in order to prepare the people before God was not a work he could do alone, so he gathered others. The work to be done was not something that could be done with only a few; Hezekiah needed many men, but not just any men, he needed the men of God. Knowing that “the Lord hath chosen [them] to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that [they] should minister unto Him and burn incense” (2 Chr 29:11), Hezekiah gathered “the priests and Levites” together so he could speak to them.
Sanctify Yourselves and the House. Holy people are required to do holy work. The priests and Levites, having neglected their ministry and followed after Ahaz, were far from holy. Hezekiah charged them, “sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God” (2 Chr 29:5).
God is not honored by worship and praise offered by unholy people. In fact, it is detestable to Him. He has said to His people through Isaiah the prophet, “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot [endure]; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting” (Isa 1:13). Before Hezekiah could restore temple worship he had to gather together the priests. And before the priests and Levites could minister unto Him, they had to sanctify themselves and the house of the Lord.
Carry Forth the Filthiness. The Holy places must be cleansed from filthiness if God is going to accept what is done in them. Not only did the people have to be holy but the vessels and tabernacle itself had to be cleansed, and that with blood. The priests could not simply wash themselves and go offer sacrifices. They had to “carry forth the filthiness” (2 Chr 29:5) that was resident in the holy place as a result of the sins committed during the reign of Ahaz.
Sin Defiles Everything It Touches. The necessity of the sanctification of the priests and Levites and the holy place was due to the defilement caused by their iniquity.
PREPARING THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACES
Men are not permitted to come before God while defiled. They cannot, “come as they are” when “as they are” is defiled. They must prepare themselves to stand before God. They must be washed, they must be cleansed, they must be purged from all things that corrupt. This is what salvation is all about. Salvation prepares us to stand before God. And God uses the assembly of the saints in His purpose of preparing the people. This truth is seen in Hezekiah’s work in preparing the priests to once again minister in behalf of men in things pertaining to God (Heb 5:1).He Opened the Doors. There was no time to waste. The very first thing on the king’s agenda was to open up the way to God’s presence. And so, “in the first year of his reign, in the first month, [he] opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them” (2 Chr 29:3).
Gathering the Priests. Next, Hezekiah gathered the priests and Levites together (2 Chr 29:4). The work that needed to be done in order to prepare the people before God was not a work he could do alone, so he gathered others. The work to be done was not something that could be done with only a few; Hezekiah needed many men, but not just any men, he needed the men of God. Knowing that “the Lord hath chosen [them] to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that [they] should minister unto Him and burn incense” (2 Chr 29:11), Hezekiah gathered “the priests and Levites” together so he could speak to them.
Sanctify Yourselves and the House. Holy people are required to do holy work. The priests and Levites, having neglected their ministry and followed after Ahaz, were far from holy. Hezekiah charged them, “sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God” (2 Chr 29:5).
God is not honored by worship and praise offered by unholy people. In fact, it is detestable to Him. He has said to His people through Isaiah the prophet, “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot [endure]; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting” (Isa 1:13). Before Hezekiah could restore temple worship he had to gather together the priests. And before the priests and Levites could minister unto Him, they had to sanctify themselves and the house of the Lord.
Carry Forth the Filthiness. The Holy places must be cleansed from filthiness if God is going to accept what is done in them. Not only did the people have to be holy but the vessels and tabernacle itself had to be cleansed, and that with blood. The priests could not simply wash themselves and go offer sacrifices. They had to “carry forth the filthiness” (2 Chr 29:5) that was resident in the holy place as a result of the sins committed during the reign of Ahaz.
Sin Defiles Everything It Touches. The necessity of the sanctification of the priests and Levites and the holy place was due to the defilement caused by their iniquity.
For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. (2 Chronicles 29:6-7)
The people has sinned and had forsaken God. They were extremely busy in religious things but they were not worshipping God. They turned their faces from His house. He was not prominent in their minds and was being neglected in hearts. They worshipped and served other gods in His stead. The places that were set apart for God they used to serve others. The result of all of this was defilement and corruption. They couldn’t just repent. They couldn’t just stop their wickedness and start to live to righteousness. While this was required it was not ALL that was required. The people and the places had to be cleansed, sanctified.
Determination to Recover. Hezekiah, a holy man of God, was burdened by the condition of Israel. Their waywardness vexed his soul and God’s punishment upon them was more than he was willing to bear. He knew the reason for their suffering, “the wrath of Lord” was upon them. Hezekiah was determined to correct this condition. “Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” (2 Chr 29:10). Oh, that their were more men today who would have this in their hearts.
Be Not Negligent. Hezekiah’s charge to the priests and Levites was simple, “be not now negligent” (2 Chr 29:11). Their charge was not to do something foreign or unknown to them. Their charge was to do exactly what they were chosen to do. No man-made philosophies or strategies of recovery were necessary. They didn’t need a program of steps to take them from here to there. What they needed was to do the first things, the things they were chosen to do.
Determination to Recover. Hezekiah, a holy man of God, was burdened by the condition of Israel. Their waywardness vexed his soul and God’s punishment upon them was more than he was willing to bear. He knew the reason for their suffering, “the wrath of Lord” was upon them. Hezekiah was determined to correct this condition. “Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” (2 Chr 29:10). Oh, that their were more men today who would have this in their hearts.
Be Not Negligent. Hezekiah’s charge to the priests and Levites was simple, “be not now negligent” (2 Chr 29:11). Their charge was not to do something foreign or unknown to them. Their charge was to do exactly what they were chosen to do. No man-made philosophies or strategies of recovery were necessary. They didn’t need a program of steps to take them from here to there. What they needed was to do the first things, the things they were chosen to do.
PREPARING THE PEOPLE TODAY
Through this account we can see the things that are required for a defiled people to recover themselves and once again serve their Lord acceptably. The doors to God must be open. The priests must be gathered and sanctified. The house of the Lord must be sanctified. Sin and its guilt and defilement must be put away. The people must be determined to recover themselves and they must not be negligent in walking according to their calling. No assembly of saints can be pleasing to God until the people themselves are pleasing to Him. God will not accept offerings until the ones offering the gifts are accepted. In Christ, we are accepted (Eph 1:6). In Christ, we have access to the Father (Eph 2:18).
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