mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 29.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.xxx" n="xxx" next="iiCh.xxxi" prev="iiCh.xxix" progress="86.39%" title="Chapter XXIX">
<h2 id="iiCh.xxx-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.xxx-p0.2">CHAP. XXIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.xxx-p1">We are here entering upon a pleasant scene, the
good and glorious reign of Hezekiah, in which we shall find more of
God and religion than perhaps in any of the good reigns we have yet
met with; for he was a very zealous, devout, good man, none like
him. In this chapter we have an account of the work of reformation
which he set about with vigour immediately after his accession to
the crown. Here is, I. His exhortation to the priests and Levites,
when he put them in possession of the house of God again, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.1-2Chr.29.11" parsed="|2Chr|29|1|29|11" passage="2Ch 29:1-11">ver. 1-11</scripRef>. II. The care and pains
which the Levites took to cleanse the temple, and put things in
order there, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.12-2Chr.29.19" parsed="|2Chr|29|12|29|19" passage="2Ch 29:12-19">ver.
12-19</scripRef>. III. A solemn revival of God's ordinances that
had been neglected, in which atonement was made for the sins of the
last reign, and the wheels were set a-going again, to the great
satisfaction of king and people, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.20-2Chr.29.36" parsed="|2Chr|29|20|29|36" passage="2Ch 29:20-36">ver. 20-36</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxx-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29" parsed="|2Chr|28|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 28" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxx-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.1-2Chr.29.11" parsed="|2Chr|28|1|28|11" passage="2Ch 28:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.28.1-2Chr.28.11">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxx-p1.6">Hezekiah's Good Reign. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p1.7">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxx-p2">1 Hezekiah began to reign <i>when he was</i>
five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in
Jerusalem. And his mother's name <i>was</i> Abijah, the daughter of
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p2.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.2" parsed="|Zech|2|0|0|0" passage="Zechariah. 2">Zechariah.   2</scripRef> And he did <i>that which was</i> right in the
sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.2">Lord</span>, according to all
that David his father had done.   3 He in the first year of
his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.3">Lord</span>, and repaired them.   4
And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them
together into the east street,   5 And said unto them, Hear
me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.4">Lord</span> God of your fathers, and
carry forth the filthiness out of the holy <i>place.</i>   6
For our fathers have trespassed, and done <i>that which was</i>
evil in the eyes of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.5">Lord</span> our
God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from
the habitation of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.6">Lord</span>, and
turned <i>their</i> backs.   7 Also they have shut up the
doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned
incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy <i>place</i> unto
the God of Israel.   8 Wherefore the wrath of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.7">Lord</span> was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath
delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye
see with your eyes.   9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by
the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives <i>are</i>
in captivity for this.   10 Now <i>it is</i> in mine heart to
make a covenant with the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.8">Lord</span> God of
Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.   11 My
sons, be not now negligent: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p2.9">Lord</span> hath chosen you to stand before him, to
serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn
incense.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p3">Here is, I. Hezekiah's age when he came to
the crown. He was <i>twenty-five years old.</i> Joash, who came to
the crown after two bad reigns, was but seven years old; Josiah,
who came after two bad reigns, was but eight, which occasioned the
delay of the reformation; but Hezekiah had come to years, and so
applied himself immediately to it. We may well think with what a
sorrowful heart he beheld his father's idolatry and profaneness,
how it troubled him to see the doors of the temple shut, though,
while his father lived, he durst not open them. His soul no doubt
wept in secret for it, and he vowed that when he should receive the
congregation he would redress these grievances, which made him do
it with more readiness and resolution.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p4">II. His general character. He <i>did that
which was right like David,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.2" parsed="|2Chr|29|2|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Of several of his predecessors
it had been said that they did that which was right, <i>but not
like David,</i> not with David's integrity and zeal. But here was
one that had as hearty an affection for the ark and law of God as
ever David had.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p5">III. His speedy application to the great
work of restoring religion. The first thing he did was to <i>open
the doors of the house of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.3" parsed="|2Chr|29|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. We are willing to hope his
father had not quite suppressed the temple service; for then the
holy fire on the altar must have gone out, and we do not read of
the re-kindling of it; but he had hindered the people from
attending it, and the priests, except such of them as were of his
own party, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.16.5" parsed="|2Kgs|16|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 16:5">2 Kings xvi. 15</scripRef>.
But Hezekiah immediately threw the church doors open, and
<i>brought in the priests and Levites.</i> He found Judah low and
naked, yet did not make it his first business to revive the civil
interests of his kingdom, but to restore religion to its good
posture again. Those that begin with God begin at the right end of
their work, and it will prosper accordingly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p6">IV. His speech to the priests and Levites.
It was well known, no doubt, that he had a real kindness for
religion and was disaffected to the corruptions of the last reign;
yet we do not find the priests and Levites making application to
him for the restoration of the temple service but he calls upon
them, which, I doubt, bespeaks their coldness as much as his zeal;
and perhaps, if they had done their part with vigour, things would
not have been brought into so very bad a posture as Hezekiah found
them in. Hezekiah's exhortation to the Levites is very
pathetic.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p7">1. He laid before them the desolations of
religion and the deplorable state to which it was brought among
them (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.6-2Chr.29.7" parsed="|2Chr|29|6|29|7" passage="2Ch 29:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>):
<i>Our fathers have trespassed.</i> He said not "<i>My</i> father,"
because it became him, as a son, to be as tender as might be of his
father's name, and because his father would not have done all this
if their fathers had not neglected their duty. Urijah the priest
had joined with Ahaz in setting up an idolatrous altar. He
complained, (1.) That the house of God had been deserted: <i>They
have forsaken God, and turned their backs upon his habitation.</i>
Note, Those that turn their backs upon God's ordinances may truly
be said to forsake God himself. (2.) That the instituted worship of
God there had been let fall. The lamps were not lighted, and
incense was not burnt. There are still such neglects as these, and
they are no less culpable, when the word is not duly read and
opened (for that was signified by the <i>lighting of the lamps</i>)
and when prayers and praises are not duly offered up, for that was
signified by <i>the burning of incense.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p8">2. He showed the sad consequences of the
neglect and decay of religion among them, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.8-2Chr.29.9" parsed="|2Chr|29|8|29|9" passage="2Ch 29:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>. This was the cause of all
the calamities they had lain under. God had in anger delivered them
to trouble, to the sword, and to captivity. When we are under the
rebukes of God's providence it is good for us to enquire whether we
have not neglected God's ordinances and whether the controversy he
has with us may not be traced to this neglect.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p9">3. He declared his own full purpose and
resolution to revive religion and make it his business to promote
it (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.10" parsed="|2Chr|29|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "<i>It
is in my heart</i> (that is, I am fully resolved) <i>to make a
covenant with the Lord God of Israel</i> (that is, to worship him
only, and in that way which he has appointed); for I am sure that,
otherwise, his fierce anger will not turn away from us." This
covenant he would not only make himself, but bring his people into
the bond of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p10">4. He engaged and excited the Levites and
priests to do their duty on this occasion. This he begins with
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.5" parsed="|2Chr|29|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); this he ends
with, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.11" parsed="|2Chr|29|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. He
called them <i>Levites</i> to remind them of their obligation to
God, called them his <i>sons</i> to remind them of the relation to
himself, that he expected that, <i>as a son with the father, they
should serve with him</i> in the reformation of the land. (1.) he
told them what was their duty, to sanctify <i>themselves</i> first
(by repenting of their neglects, reforming their own hearts and
lives, and renewing their covenants with God to do their duty
better for the time to come), and then to <i>sanctify the house of
God,</i> as his servants, to make it clean from every thing that
was disagreeable, either through the disuse or the profanation of
it, and to set it up for the purposes for which it was made. (2.)
He stirred them up to do it (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.11" parsed="|2Chr|29|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): "<i>Be not now negligent,</i>
or remiss, in your duty. Let not this good work be retarded through
your carelessness." <i>Be not deceived,</i> so the <i>margin.</i>
Note, Those that by their negligence in the service of God think to
mock God, and put a cheat upon him, do but deceive themselves, and
put a damning cheat upon their own souls. <i>Be not secure</i> (so
some), as if there were no urgent call to do it or no danger in not
doing it. Note, Men's negligence in religion is owing to their
carnal security. The consideration he quickens them with is derived
from their office. God had herein put honour upon them: He has
<i>chosen you to stand before him.</i> God therefore expected work
from them. They were not chosen to be idle, to enjoy the dignity
and leave the duty to be done by others, but to serve him and to
minister to him. They must therefore be ashamed of their late
remissness, and, now that the doors of the temple were opened
again, must set about their work with double diligence.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxx-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.12-2Chr.29.19" parsed="|2Chr|28|12|28|19" passage="2Ch 28:12-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.28.12-2Chr.28.19">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxx-p10.5">The Temple Cleansed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p10.6">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxx-p11">12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of
Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites:
and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the
son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah,
and Eden the son of Joah:   13 And of the sons of Elizaphan;
Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and
Mattaniah:   14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei:
and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.   15 And
they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came,
according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.1">Lord</span>, to cleanse the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.2">Lord</span>.   16 And the priests went into
the inner part of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.3">Lord</span>, to cleanse <i>it,</i> and brought out all
the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.4">Lord</span> into the court of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.5">Lord</span>. And the Levites took <i>it,</i> to
carry <i>it</i> out abroad into the brook Kidron.   17 Now
they began on the first <i>day</i> of the first month to sanctify,
and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.6">Lord</span>: so they sanctified the house
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.7">Lord</span> in eight days; and in
the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.   18
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed
all the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.8">Lord</span>, and the
altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the
showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.   19 Moreover
all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his
transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they
<i>are</i> before the altar of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p11.9">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p12">We have here busy work, good work, and
needful work, the cleansing of the house of the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p13">I. The persons employed in this work were
the priests and Levites, who should have kept the temple clean,
but, not having done that, were concerned to make it clean. Several
of the Levites are here named, two of each of the three principal
houses, Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.12" parsed="|2Chr|29|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), and two of each of the three
families of singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.13-2Chr.29.14" parsed="|2Chr|29|13|29|14" passage="2Ch 29:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>. We cannot think these
are named merely because they were chief in place (for then surely
the high priest, or some of the heads of the courses of the
priests, would have been mentioned), but because they were more
zealous and active than the rest. When God has work to do he will
raise up leading men to preside in it. And it is not always that
the first in place and rank are most fit for service or most
forward to it. These Levites not only bestirred themselves, but
<i>gathered their brethren,</i> and quickened them to do
<i>according to the commandment of the king by the word of the
Lord.</i> Observe, They did according to the king's command, but
with an eye to God's word. The king commanded them what was already
their duty by the word of God, and, in doing it, they regarded
God's word as a rule to them and the king's commandment as a spur
to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p14">II. The work was <i>cleansing the house of
God,</i> 1. From the common dirt it had contracted while it was
shut up-dust, and cobwebs, and the rust of the vessels. 2. From the
idols and idolatrous altars that were set up in it, which, though
kept ever so neat, were a greater pollution to it than if it had
been made the common sewer of the city. The priests were none of
them mentioned as leading men in this work, yet none but they durst
go <i>into the inner part of the house, no, not to cleanse it,</i>
which they did, and perhaps the high priest into the holy of
holies, to cleanse that. And, though the Levites had the honour to
be the leaders in the work, they did not disdain to be servitors to
the priests according to their office; for what filth the priests
brought into the court the Levites carried to the brook Kidron. Let
not men's usefulness, be it ever so eminent, make them forget their
place.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p15">III. The expedition with which they did
this work was very remarkable. They began on the first day of the
first month, a happy beginning of the new-year, and one that
promised a good year. Thus should every year begin with the
reformation of what is amiss, and the purging away, by true
repentance, of all the defilements contracted the foregoing year.
In eight days they cleared and cleansed the temple, and in eight
days more the <i>courts</i> of the temple, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.17" parsed="|2Chr|29|17|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Let those that do good work
learn to rid work and get it done. Let what is amiss be amended
quickly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p16">IV. The report they made of it to Hezekiah
was very agreeable, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.18-2Chr.29.19" parsed="|2Chr|29|18|29|19" passage="2Ch 29:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18,
19</scripRef>. They gave him an account of what they had done,
because it was he that set them on work, boasted not of their own
care and pains, nor did they come to him to be paid, but to let him
know that all things that had been profaned were now sanctified
according to law, and were ready to be used again whenever he
pleased. They knew the good king had set his heart upon God's
altar, and longed to be attending that, and therefore they insisted
most upon the readiness they had put that into—that the vessels
for the altar were scoured and brightened. Those vessels which
Ahaz, in his <i>transgression, had cast away</i> as vessels in
which there was no pleasure, they gathered together, sanctified
them, and laid them in their place <i>before the altar.</i> Though
the vessels of the sanctuary may be profaned for a while, God will
find a time and a way to sanctify them. Neither his ordinances nor
his people shall be suffered to fail for ever.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxx-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.20-2Chr.29.36" parsed="|2Chr|28|20|28|36" passage="2Ch 28:20-36" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.28.20-2Chr.28.36">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxx-p16.3">Hezekiah's Sacrifice. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p16.4">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxx-p17">20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and
gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.1">Lord</span>.   21 And they brought
seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he
goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary,
and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to
offer <i>them</i> on the altar of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.2">Lord</span>.   22 So they killed the bullocks, and
the priests received the blood, and sprinkled <i>it</i> on the
altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the
blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they
sprinkled the blood upon the altar.   23 And they brought
forth the he goats <i>for</i> the sin offering before the king and
the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:   24
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with
their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel:
for the king commanded <i>that</i> the burnt offering and the sin
offering <i>should be made</i> for all Israel.   25 And he set
the Levites in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.3">Lord</span>
with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the
commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the
prophet: for <i>so was</i> the commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.4">Lord</span> by his prophets.   26 And the Levites
stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the
trumpets.   27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt
offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the
song of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.5">Lord</span> began <i>also</i>
with the trumpets, and with the instruments <i>ordained</i> by
David king of Israel.   28 And all the congregation
worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded:
<i>and</i> all <i>this continued</i> until the burnt offering was
finished.   29 And when they had made an end of offering, the
king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and
worshipped.   30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes
commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.6">Lord</span> with the words of David, and of Asaph the
seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their
heads and worshipped.   31 Then Hezekiah answered and said,
Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.7">Lord</span>, come near and bring sacrifices and thank
offerings into the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.8">Lord</span>. And the congregation brought in sacrifices
and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt
offerings.   32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which
the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, a
hundred rams, <i>and</i> two hundred lambs: all these <i>were</i>
for a burnt offering to the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.9">Lord</span>.
  33 And the consecrated things <i>were</i> six hundred oxen
and three thousand sheep.   34 But the priests were too few,
so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore
their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended,
and until the <i>other</i> priests had sanctified themselves: for
the Levites <i>were</i> more upright in heart to sanctify
themselves than the priests.   35 And also the burnt offerings
<i>were</i> in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and
the drink offerings for <i>every</i> burnt offering. So the service
of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxx-p17.10">Lord</span> was set in
order.   36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that
God had prepared the people: for the thing was <i>done</i>
suddenly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p18">The temple being cleansed, we have here an
account of the good use that was immediately made of it. A solemn
assembly was called to meet the king at the temple, the very next
day (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.20" parsed="|2Chr|29|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); and
very glad, no doubt, all the good people in Jerusalem were, when it
was said, <i>Let us go up to the house of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.122.1" parsed="|Ps|122|1|0|0" passage="Ps 122:1">Ps. cxxii. 1</scripRef>. As soon as Hezekiah
heard that the temple was ready for him he lost no time, but made
it appear that he was ready for it. He rose early to go up to the
house of the Lord, earlier on that day than on other days, to show
that his heart was upon his work there. Now this day's work was to
look two ways:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p19">I. Atonement must be made for the sins of
the last reign. They thought it not enough to lament and forsake
those sins, but they brought a sin-offering. Even our repentance
and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ,
who was made <i>sin</i> (that is, a sin-offering) for us. No peace
but through his blood, no, not for penitents. Observe, 1. The
sin-offering was <i>for the kingdom, for the sanctuary,</i> and
<i>for Judah</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.21" parsed="|2Chr|29|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>), that is, to make atonement for the sins of princes,
priests, and people, for they had all corrupted their way. The law
of Moses appointed sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of the
whole congregation (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.13-Lev.4.14 Bible:Num.15.24-Num.15.25" parsed="|Lev|4|13|4|14;|Num|15|24|15|25" passage="Le 4:13,14,Nu 15:24,25">Lev.
iv. 13, 14; Num. xv. 24, 25</scripRef>), that the national
judgments which their national sins deserved might be turned away.
For this purpose we must now have an eye to Christ the great
propitiation, as well as for the remission and salvation of
particular persons. 2. The law appointed only one goat for a
sin-offering, as on the day of atonement (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.15" parsed="|Lev|16|15|0|0" passage="Le 16:15">Lev. xvi. 15</scripRef>) and on such extraordinary
occasions as this, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.15.24" parsed="|Num|15|24|0|0" passage="Nu 15:24">Num. xv.
24</scripRef>. But they here offered seven (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.21" parsed="|2Chr|29|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), because the sins of the
congregation had been very great and long continued in. Seven is a
number of perfection. Our great sin-offering is but one, yet that
one <i>perfects</i> for ever <i>those that are sanctified.</i> 3.
The king and the <i>congregation</i> (that is, the representatives
of the congregation) <i>laid their hands on the heads of the
goats</i> that were for the <i>sin-offering</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.23" parsed="|2Chr|29|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), thereby owning themselves
guilty before God and expressing their desire that the guilt of the
sinner might be transferred to the sacrifice. By faith we lay our
hands on the Lord Jesus, and so <i>receive the atonement,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Rom.5.11" parsed="|Rom|5|11|0|0" passage="Ro 5:11">Rom. v. 11</scripRef>. 4.
Burnt-offerings were offered with the sin-offerings, <i>seven
bullocks, seven rams,</i> and <i>seven lambs.</i> The intention of
the burnt-offerings was to give glory to the God of Israel, whom
they owned as the only true God, which it was proper to do at the
same time that they were by the sin-offering making atonement for
their offences. The blood of those, as well as of the sin-offering,
was <i>sprinkled upon the altar</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.22" parsed="|2Chr|29|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), to make reconciliation <i>for
all Israel</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.24" parsed="|2Chr|29|24|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>), and not for Judah only. Christ is a propitiation,
not for the sins of Israel only, but <i>of the whole world,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:1John.2.1 Bible:1John.2.22" parsed="|1John|2|1|0|0;|1John|2|22|0|0" passage="1Jo 2:1,22">1 John ii. 1, 2</scripRef>. 5. While
the offerings were burning upon the altar the <i>Levites</i> sang
<i>the song of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.11" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.27" parsed="|2Chr|29|27|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), the Psalms composed by David
and Asaph (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.12" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.30" parsed="|2Chr|29|30|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>),
accompanied by the musical instruments which God by his prophets
had commanded the use of (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.13" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.25" parsed="|2Chr|29|25|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>), and which had been long neglected. Even sorrow for
sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. By faith we must
rejoice in Christ Jesus as our righteousness; and our prayers and
praises must ascend with his offering, to be accepted only in
virtue of it. 6. The king and all the congregation testified their
consent to and concurrence in all that was done, by <i>bowing their
heads</i> and <i>worshipping,</i> expressing an awful veneration of
the divine Majesty, by postures of adoration. This is taken notice
of, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p19.14" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.28-2Chr.29.30" parsed="|2Chr|29|28|29|30" passage="2Ch 29:28-30"><i>v.</i> 28-30</scripRef>. It
is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not
ourselves worship him, and that not with bodily exercise only,
which profits little, but with the heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p20">II. The solemnities of this day did
likewise look forward. The temple service was to be set up again,
that it might be continually kept up; and this Hezekiah calls them
to, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.31" parsed="|2Chr|29|31|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. "Now
that you have <i>consecrated yourselves to the Lord</i>—have both
made an atonement and made a covenant by sacrifice, are solemnly
reconciled and engaged to him—now <i>come near, and bring
sacrifices.</i>" Note, Our covenant with God must be pursued and
improved in communion with him. Having consecrated ourselves, in
the first place, to the Lord, we must bring the sacrifices of
prayer, and praise, and alms, to his house. Now, in this work, it
was found.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p21">1. That the people were free. Being called
to it by the king, they brought in their offerings, though not in
such abundance as in the glorious days of Solomon (for Judah was
now diminished, impoverished, and brought low), but according to
what they had, and as much as one could expect considering their
poverty and the great decay of piety among them. (1.) Some were so
generous as to bring burnt-offerings, which were wholly consumed to
the honour of God, and of which the offerer had no part. Of this
sort there were seventy bullocks, 100 rams, and 200 lambs,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.32" parsed="|2Chr|29|32|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. (2.) Others
brought peace-offerings and thank-offerings, the fat of which was
burnt upon the altar, and the flesh divided between the priests and
the offerers, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.35" parsed="|2Chr|29|35|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:35"><i>v.</i>
35</scripRef>. Of this sort there were 600 oxen and 3000 sheep,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.33" parsed="|2Chr|29|33|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. Perhaps the
remembrance of their sin in sacrificing on the high places made
them more willing to bring their sacrifices now to God's altar.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p22">2. That <i>the priests were few,</i> too
few for the service, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.34" parsed="|2Chr|29|34|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>. Many of them, it is likely, were suspended and laid
aside as polluted and uncanonical, for having sacrificed to idols
in the last reign, and the rest had not the zeal that one might
have expected upon such an occasion. They thought that the king
needed not to be so forward, that there was no necessity for such
haste in opening the doors of the temple, and therefore they took
no care to sanctify themselves, and being unsanctified, and so
unqualified, they made that their excuse for being absent from the
service; as if their offence would be their defence. It is recorded
here, to the perpetual shame of the priests, that, though they were
so well provided for out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire,
yet they did not mind their business. Here was work to do, and
there wanted proper hands to do it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p23">3. That the Levites were forward. They had
been <i>more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the
priests</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.34" parsed="|2Chr|29|34|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>), were better affected to the work and better
prepared and qualified for it. This was their praise, and, in
recompence for it, they had the honour to be employed in that which
was the priests' work: they <i>helped them to flay the
offerings.</i> This was not according to the law (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.5-Lev.1.6" parsed="|Lev|1|5|1|6" passage="Le 1:5,6">Lev. i. 5, 6</scripRef>), but the irregularity
was dispensed with in cases of necessity, and thus encouragement
was given to the faithful zealous Levites and a just disgrace put
upon the careless priests. What the Levites wanted in the
ceremonial advantages of their birth and consecration was
abundantly made up in their eminent qualifications of skill and
will to do the work.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxx-p24">4. That all were pleased. The king and all
the people rejoiced in this blessed turn of affairs and the new
face of religion which the kingdom had put on, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxx-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.36" parsed="|2Chr|29|36|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>. Two things in this matter
pleased them:—(1.) That it was soon brought about: <i>The thing
was done suddenly,</i> in a little time, with a great deal of ease,
and without any opposition. Those that go about the work of God in
faith and with resolution will find that there is not that
difficulty in it which they sometimes imagine, but it will be a
pleasing surprise to them to see how soon it is done. (2.) That the
hand of God was plainly in it: <i>God had prepared the people</i>
by the secret influences of his grace, so that many of those who
had in the last reign doted on the idolatrous altars were now as
much in love with God's altar. This change, which God wrought on
their minds, did very much expedite and facilitate the work. Let
magistrates and ministers do their part towards the reforming of a
land, and ascribe to him the glory of what is done, especially when
it is done suddenly and is a pleasing surprise. <i>This is the
Lord's doing, and it is marvellous.</i></p>
</div></div2>