2 Chronicles 29-30

May 17

2 Chronicles 29-30

Hezekiah turned Judah and Israel back to the Lord. He reopened the temple that Ahaz had shut down. He restored worship of God instead of the false gods Ahaz promoted. When Hezekiah opened the temple he called the Levites together and gave them a pep talk. He told them that the reason Israel was facing captivity was because of their disobedience to God. But Hezekiah called to Levites to consecrate themselves and to consecrate the temple to restore worship of God in Israel. He call for all of Judah and Israel to come together and worship the way God had told them to worship. He told the Levites; "Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”" (2 Chronicles 29:10-11, NIV)

God’s desire is for us to worship Him. He is the only God after all. He wants what is best for us. He created us, so he knows what we really need to find security and happiness. God has a plan for us, but often we rebel and walk our own way. We shut down our temple and close the doors and do not come to God. When we take God out of our lives and worship the things of this world, we will face consequences. We may not understand what is happening, but we need people like Hezekiah to call us to turn back to God. The good news is that God welcomes us back when we turn back to him.

In Luke’s gospel in chapter 15 beginning in verse 11, Jesus told a story about a son who left his father for wild living where he blew his inheritance. It is a story that sounds like Israel, but in the story the boy comes to his senses and returns to his father who welcomes him with open arms. God is just waiting for us to turn back to him. There is nothing we have done that is too terrible for Him to forgive if we truly repent and turn back to Him.