2 Chronicles 28 - 31 and Psalm 119:49-56
In summary:
Judah falls deeply into paganism in Ahaz’s reign and suffers humiliating and devastating consequences. But by Yahweh’s grace, a revival breaks forth in Hezekiah’s reign that restores the people to their God.
Judah falls deeply into paganism in Ahaz’s reign and suffers humiliating and devastating consequences. But by Yahweh’s grace, a revival breaks forth in Hezekiah’s reign that restores the people to their God.
In more detail:
When Athaliah exterminated the royal descendants of David’s house (except for one boy) in 2 Chronicles 22:10, who would have imagined that someone would surpass her in evil? But now a member of this same royal household, the king himself, offers some of his children, the inheritors of Yahweh’s covenant with David, to a false god: “And he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel” (2 Chronicles 28:3).
Ahaz’s idolatry is an unrestrained example that mocks the participants in the covenant. Instead of worshiping Yahweh who said, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:3-4); [Ahaz] made metal images for the Baals (2 Chronicles 28:2). Instead of trusting Yahweh’s covenant with David’s house, he offered his holy descendants in human sacrifice to a false god (2 Chronicles 28:3). Instead of respecting the centrality of the temple in Jerusalem for
worship and finding divine help in the time of need: “He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree” (2 Chronicles 28:4).
Yahweh’s response to this insult is quick: “Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus” (2 Chronicles 28:5). Afterwards King Pekah of Israel wins a stunning victory over Judah in 2 Chronicles 28:6. And in a surprising turn of events, in 2 Chronicles 28:8-15 pagan Israel shows more attention than the king of Judah to Yahweh’s word and returns the captives of war.
But Ahaz does not see Yahweh’s hand in this salvation and instead seeks help from the Assyrians (2 Chronicles 28:16). Edomite and Philistine armies march in, and there is no doubt why: “The LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 28:19). Ahaz continues in his blindness, seeking among pagan gods for the help he so desperately needs (2 Chronicles 28:23).
When Ahaz dies and Hezekiah comes to the throne, a revival breaks out in Judah. As Jehoiada the priest sparked revival by supporting the last remaining descendant of the
house of David in 2 Chronicles 23, Hezekiah begins the revival by supporting the Levites in chapter 29: “He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east and said to them, ‘Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place’” (2 Chronicles 29:4-5). His call to repentance includes the confession of sin (2 Chronicles 29:6-7), the recognition of Yahweh’s just punishment (2 Chronicles 29:8-9), a decisive statement to renew the covenant (2 Chronicles 29:10) and an invitation to others to participate (2 Chronicles 29:11). We will see these themes repeat themselves in other calls to repentance in Ezra, Nehemiah and the books by the prophets.
Hezekiah’s attention to worship in the temple is similar in importance and in devotion to Solomon’s request for wisdom in the beginning of his reign (Pratt, Richard L., Jr., 1 and 2 Chronicles: A Mentor Commentary. 2006: Ross-shire, Great Britain, Christian Focus Publications, pg. 588). And the force of its impact is similar – he directs all the people in worship of Yahweh. What the author of 2 Kings described in a single verse (2 Kings 18:4) and very generally in a couple more (2 Kings 18:5-6), the Chronicler emphasizes by describing in three long and detailed chapters – the cleaning of the temple and its consecration (2 Chronicles 29:12-19), the reestablishment of the temple service (2 Chronicles 29:20-36), the celebration of the Passover with all Israel (2 Chronicles 30), and the reestablishment of the temple offerings and the support of the Levites in their ministry in Judah (1 Chronicles 31). Notice that these narratives are marked by Yahweh’s blessings over these projects: “And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly” (2 Chronicles 29:36). “The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles
30:12). “Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven” (2 Chronicles 30:27).
“And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). Therefore all of today’s reading is an example of the faithfulness that the Chronicler underlines for his readers’ imitation: “There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26).
Among the events in the chapters on Hezekiah, notice the call to repentance preached to the northern tribes (2 Chronicles 30:5-9). Although the details of Israel’s exile are not explained, the call to repentance as a result of this disaster stands out.
Notice the inclusion of all Israel in this call (2 Chronicles 30:5), the emphasis on devotion to Yahweh exactly as it is described in the law (2 Chronicles 30:5), the call to repentance (2 Chronicles 30:6), the rejection of the pagan example of their fathers (2 Chronicles 30:7-8) and the hope that the gracious and compassionate God offers them (2 Chronicles
30:9).
Therefore, the Chronicler highlights Hezekiah’s revival as one of the most glorious moments in Judah’s history before the exile. His call to repentance resonates among the Levites, the people of Judah and all Israel. Empowered by Yahweh, he directs the attention and the worship of the people to their God once again. And the intention of the
Chronicler is that it resonate among the generations, too.
When Athaliah exterminated the royal descendants of David’s house (except for one boy) in 2 Chronicles 22:10, who would have imagined that someone would surpass her in evil? But now a member of this same royal household, the king himself, offers some of his children, the inheritors of Yahweh’s covenant with David, to a false god: “And he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel” (2 Chronicles 28:3).
Ahaz’s idolatry is an unrestrained example that mocks the participants in the covenant. Instead of worshiping Yahweh who said, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:3-4); [Ahaz] made metal images for the Baals (2 Chronicles 28:2). Instead of trusting Yahweh’s covenant with David’s house, he offered his holy descendants in human sacrifice to a false god (2 Chronicles 28:3). Instead of respecting the centrality of the temple in Jerusalem for
worship and finding divine help in the time of need: “He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree” (2 Chronicles 28:4).
Yahweh’s response to this insult is quick: “Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus” (2 Chronicles 28:5). Afterwards King Pekah of Israel wins a stunning victory over Judah in 2 Chronicles 28:6. And in a surprising turn of events, in 2 Chronicles 28:8-15 pagan Israel shows more attention than the king of Judah to Yahweh’s word and returns the captives of war.
But Ahaz does not see Yahweh’s hand in this salvation and instead seeks help from the Assyrians (2 Chronicles 28:16). Edomite and Philistine armies march in, and there is no doubt why: “The LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 28:19). Ahaz continues in his blindness, seeking among pagan gods for the help he so desperately needs (2 Chronicles 28:23).
When Ahaz dies and Hezekiah comes to the throne, a revival breaks out in Judah. As Jehoiada the priest sparked revival by supporting the last remaining descendant of the
house of David in 2 Chronicles 23, Hezekiah begins the revival by supporting the Levites in chapter 29: “He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east and said to them, ‘Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place’” (2 Chronicles 29:4-5). His call to repentance includes the confession of sin (2 Chronicles 29:6-7), the recognition of Yahweh’s just punishment (2 Chronicles 29:8-9), a decisive statement to renew the covenant (2 Chronicles 29:10) and an invitation to others to participate (2 Chronicles 29:11). We will see these themes repeat themselves in other calls to repentance in Ezra, Nehemiah and the books by the prophets.
Hezekiah’s attention to worship in the temple is similar in importance and in devotion to Solomon’s request for wisdom in the beginning of his reign (Pratt, Richard L., Jr., 1 and 2 Chronicles: A Mentor Commentary. 2006: Ross-shire, Great Britain, Christian Focus Publications, pg. 588). And the force of its impact is similar – he directs all the people in worship of Yahweh. What the author of 2 Kings described in a single verse (2 Kings 18:4) and very generally in a couple more (2 Kings 18:5-6), the Chronicler emphasizes by describing in three long and detailed chapters – the cleaning of the temple and its consecration (2 Chronicles 29:12-19), the reestablishment of the temple service (2 Chronicles 29:20-36), the celebration of the Passover with all Israel (2 Chronicles 30), and the reestablishment of the temple offerings and the support of the Levites in their ministry in Judah (1 Chronicles 31). Notice that these narratives are marked by Yahweh’s blessings over these projects: “And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly” (2 Chronicles 29:36). “The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles
30:12). “Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven” (2 Chronicles 30:27).
“And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). Therefore all of today’s reading is an example of the faithfulness that the Chronicler underlines for his readers’ imitation: “There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26).
Among the events in the chapters on Hezekiah, notice the call to repentance preached to the northern tribes (2 Chronicles 30:5-9). Although the details of Israel’s exile are not explained, the call to repentance as a result of this disaster stands out.
Notice the inclusion of all Israel in this call (2 Chronicles 30:5), the emphasis on devotion to Yahweh exactly as it is described in the law (2 Chronicles 30:5), the call to repentance (2 Chronicles 30:6), the rejection of the pagan example of their fathers (2 Chronicles 30:7-8) and the hope that the gracious and compassionate God offers them (2 Chronicles
30:9).
Therefore, the Chronicler highlights Hezekiah’s revival as one of the most glorious moments in Judah’s history before the exile. His call to repentance resonates among the Levites, the people of Judah and all Israel. Empowered by Yahweh, he directs the attention and the worship of the people to their God once again. And the intention of the
Chronicler is that it resonate among the generations, too.
