Verses 1-33

M. Hezekiah chs29-32

In contrast to Ahaz, we can see Hezekiah"s love for Yahweh in how he cared for the temple. Ahaz"s reign was full of war, but Hezekiah enjoyed peace. God rewarded Hezekiah"s spiritual restoration of Judah with a remarkable military deliverance. Yet "good king" Hezekiah was not the completely faithful Son of David whose kingdom God had promised to establish forever ( 1 Chronicles 17:11-14).

"He is the "golden boy" of Chronicles." [Note: Wilcock, p242.]

The Chronicler gave more space to Hezekiah"s reign than to any others except David and Song of Solomon, to whom he likened Hezekiah. [Note: Dillard, 2 Chronicles, p229.]

Verses 1-36

1. The cleansing and rededication of the temple ch29

Ahaz had closed the temple and had set up other centers of worship throughout the land ( 2 Chronicles 28:24-25). Hezekiah reopened the temple and cleansed it in preparation for reusing it ( 2 Chronicles 29:3; 2 Chronicles 29:5). Whereas the writer of Kings described Hezekiah"s religious reforms in only one verse ( 2 Kings 18:4), the Chronicler devoted three chapters to them (chs29-31). Hezekiah wanted to rededicate the nation to God ( 2 Chronicles 29:10).

"When there is a financial crisis, the first thing we think about is money. When there is a communications crisis, our prime concern is to learn how to talk the language of the modern generation. When there is a church attendance crisis, we make it our chief aim to get numbers up. If Hezekiah had responded to a military threat in a military way, the Assyrians would have understood that. Army would have been matched against army, with dire consequences for Judah. But instead he and his people first look up to God." [Note: Wilcock, p247.]

Hezekiah carried out his clean-up job hurriedly to prepare for the celebration of the Passover ( 2 Chronicles 29:17; 2 Chronicles 29:26; 2 Chronicles 30:1). The Kidron Valley was a convenient place to dump unclean things since it lay just east of the temple area. Hezekiah first offered a sin offering to atone for the guilt of Judah ( 2 Chronicles 29:21). Then he sacrificed burnt offerings of worship ( 2 Chronicles 29:27) and led the people in worship ( 2 Chronicles 29:29), joyful singing ( 2 Chronicles 29:30), and willing sacrificial giving ( 2 Chronicles 29:31). All the people of Judah who reverenced Yahweh rejoiced over the king"s Revelation -establishment of the temple services ( 2 Chronicles 29:35-36).