Today’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 29:3 through 2 Chronicles 31:21
King Hezekiah did not waste a minute beginning the process of repairing and reopening the temple. In the very first month of the first year of his reign he summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-4).
Let’s get a picture of this in today’s world…let’s say you got a new CEO, administrator, or commanding officer at your job. What if he/she called a meeting of the managers or officers within his/her first week of being there and said:
“Listen to me you leaders, it’s time to clean house! You are an embarrassment to the founders of this organization. This is why our business is in the tank. I’ll be meeting with our board of directors today to lay out a plan to return to the company we once were. There will be no more slackers. You have been chosen to lead; now it’s time to lead, follow or get out-of-the-way!”
If you read 2 Chronicles 29:3-11, that’s “sort of” what Hezekiah told the priests and Levites. When he spoke his last sentence, they got right to work:
- They purified themselves (the first thing Hezekiah told them to do)
- Then they began to cleanse the Temple
- They were careful to follow all the Lord’s instructions
- They carted all the defiled things from the Temple to the Kidron Valley
Hezekiah must have put the fear of God in those priests and Levites; they completed the project in only sixteen days! As soon as they finished, they immediately went to King Hezekiah and gave him a full report—we cleansed the entire Temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offerings and it’s utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils. They also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple and they are now in the front of the altar of the Lord, purified and ready for use. (2 Chronicles 29:18-20)
What was the result of Hezekiah’s House Cleaning?
- The Temple of the Lord was restored to service.
- God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the Word of the Lord.
- King Hezekiah prayed for the people; God listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.
- There was great joy in the city for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon.
As I read the account of Hezekiah’s passion to purify the priest and Levites and clean and restore the Temple I began to think about another temple…
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself… 1 Corinthians 6:19
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have our “temples” repaired and restored like the Temple of the Lord in Hezekiah’s day–To have our health restored, a new-found desire to follow the Word of the Lord with our whole heart, God hearing our prayers and restoring our bodies, minds, and spirits to the way He meant them to be, and sense of joy that we haven’t know for years…
Yes Lord! We want this!
But, (here’s that word again)
are we willing to do what Hezekiah did?
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for not keeping this temple, our bodies pure and clean. Holy Spirit, help us to understand at the heart level that our body, soul and spirit are where you live. We want to be pure for you. Speak to us loudly with your Fatherly conviction about the areas that aren’t pleasing to you. Jesus, help us to learn from “no hesitation” Hezekiah and clean our spiritual house–NOW! In Your Name we pray. Amen and Amen!
A “No Hesitation” Hezekiah wan-a-be!
© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Proverbs 25:1 through Proverbs 29:27
