daily bible readings

The people of God had been living in sin for generations. For centuries the people had rejected God and bowed down to foreign gods, statues made of wood, clay, silver and gold. They had prostituted themselves to these foreign gods and had thought nothing of permanently closing the doors of the Temple of Yahweh. It would have been somewhat expected that the current generation with Hezekiah would have continued in their sinful rebellion.

But, as we’ve seen already, the Passover was celebrated with grace abundantly flowing outwards. Even though many rules and regulations had to be broken, love and grace ruled the day. God even pronounced his blessing on the ceremony.

It can’t be stressed enough that grace melts hard hearts. Grace softens a doggedly sinful heart. The people here serve as a great example. Rather than returning to their idolatrous ways, as had happened so numerously in the past, the people repented and sought God, “When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.” 2 Chronicles 31:1.

Hezekiah also ordered the Priests and Levites to do the work in the Temple that God had given them to do according to the Word of the Lord. The messengers were sent out throughout the land to collect the portion that was meant to be given to the Temple and its service. Again, we read of the effects of grace. “As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.” 2 Chronicles 31:5. The writer wants us to see the generosity of the people because he continues to describe the offerings, “The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps. 7 They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed his people Israel.” 2 Chronicles 31:6–8.

The Chronicler goes on to describe the volume of gifts received and the effects on the priesthood and Levitical tribes. “The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons and appointed feasts as written in the Law of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 31:3. Grace transforms people. Grace melts hard hearts. Grace grows generosity. Grace moves stubborn mountains.

As this section of Hezekiah’s life comes to a close, the Chronicler sums up the reign of Hezekiah in glowing terms. “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:20–21.

Is your church a church filled and overflowing with grace or with a legalistic attitude and mindset? Is your church so in love with God because of what He has done in Christ Jesus that it seeks to build people up, even when they sin, rather than seeking to condemn them and to tear them down? Is your church so in love with God that it seeks to grow in grace each and every single day?

Prayer:

Adoration:

· Adore the Lord for His grace to you in Christ Jesus.

· Adore the Lord Almighty that though He would have been right and justified    in condemning you, He chose to treat you with grace.

Confession:

· Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness

Thanks:

· Thank God for the grace in your congregation.

· Thank God for the love in your congregation.

· Thank God for each and every single person in your congregation.

Supplication:

· Pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ would change your internally and transform you to be more like Jesus Christ.

· Pray this for each person in your congregation.

· Pray that your church would grow in grace and be transformed by grace.  

Discussion Questions

1. Why does the Chronicler detail the structure and organisation of the Priests and Levites?

2. Why does he detail the generosity of the people?

3. In what way have you seen grace evident in your life?