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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We are here entering upon a pleasant scene, the good and glorious reign
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of Hezekiah, in which we shall find more of God and religion than
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perhaps in any of the good reigns we have yet met with; for he was a
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very zealous, devout, good man, none like him. In this chapter we have
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an account of the work of reformation which he set about with vigour
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immediately after his accession to the crown. Here is,
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I. His exhortation to the priests and Levites, when he put them in
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possession of the house of God again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. The care and pains which the Levites took to cleanse the temple,
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and put things in order there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:12-19">ver. 12-19</A>.
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III. A solemn revival of God's ordinances that had been neglected, in
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which atonement was made for the sins of the last reign, and the wheels
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were set a-going again, to the great satisfaction of king and people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:20-36">ver. 20-36</A>.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hezekiah's Good Reign.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 726.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Hezekiah began to reign <I>when he was</I> five and twenty years
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old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his
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mother's name <I>was</I> Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
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2 And he did <I>that which was</I> right in the sight of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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according to all that David his father had done.
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3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened
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the doors of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and repaired them.
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4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered
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them together into the east street,
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5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now
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yourselves, and sanctify the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of your
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fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy <I>place.</I>
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6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done <I>that which was</I>
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evil in the eyes of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God, and have forsaken him, and
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have turned away their faces from the habitation of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and
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turned <I>their</I> backs.
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7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out
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the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt
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offerings in the holy <I>place</I> unto the God of Israel.
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8 Wherefore the wrath of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was upon Judah and Jerusalem,
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and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to
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hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
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9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons
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and our daughters and our wives <I>are</I> in captivity for this.
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10 Now <I>it is</I> in mine heart to make a covenant with the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
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11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath chosen you
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to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister
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unto him, and burn incense.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Hezekiah's age when he came to the crown. He was <I>twenty-five
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years old.</I> Joash, who came to the crown after two bad reigns, was
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but seven years old; Josiah, who came after two bad reigns, was but
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eight, which occasioned the delay of the reformation; but Hezekiah had
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come to years, and so applied himself immediately to it. We may well
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think with what a sorrowful heart he beheld his father's idolatry and
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profaneness, how it troubled him to see the doors of the temple shut,
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though, while his father lived, he durst not open them. His soul no
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doubt wept in secret for it, and he vowed that when he should receive
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the congregation he would redress these grievances, which made him do
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it with more readiness and resolution.</P>
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<P>
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II. His general character. He <I>did that which was right like
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David,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Of several of his predecessors it had been said that they did that
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which was right, <I>but not like David,</I> not with David's integrity
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and zeal. But here was one that had as hearty an affection for the ark
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and law of God as ever David had.</P>
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<P>
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III. His speedy application to the great work of restoring religion.
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The first thing he did was to <I>open the doors of the house of the
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Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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We are willing to hope his father had not quite suppressed the temple
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service; for then the holy fire on the altar must have gone out, and we
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do not read of the re-kindling of it; but he had hindered the people
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from attending it, and the priests, except such of them as were of his
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own party,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+16:5">2 Kings xvi. 15</A>.
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But Hezekiah immediately threw the church doors open, and <I>brought in
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the priests and Levites.</I> He found Judah low and naked, yet did not
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make it his first business to revive the civil interests of his
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kingdom, but to restore religion to its good posture again. Those that
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begin with God begin at the right end of their work, and it will
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prosper accordingly.</P>
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<P>
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IV. His speech to the priests and Levites. It was well known, no doubt,
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that he had a real kindness for religion and was disaffected to the
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corruptions of the last reign; yet we do not find the priests and
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Levites making application to him for the restoration of the temple
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service but he calls upon them, which, I doubt, bespeaks their coldness
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as much as his zeal; and perhaps, if they had done their part with
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vigour, things would not have been brought into so very bad a posture
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as Hezekiah found them in. Hezekiah's exhortation to the Levites is
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very pathetic.</P>
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<P>
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1. He laid before them the desolations of religion and the deplorable
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state to which it was brought among them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>):
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<I>Our fathers have trespassed.</I> He said not "<I>My</I> father,"
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because it became him, as a son, to be as tender as might be of his
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father's name, and because his father would not have done all this if
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their fathers had not neglected their duty. Urijah the priest had
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joined with Ahaz in setting up an idolatrous altar. He complained,
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(1.) That the house of God had been deserted: <I>They have forsaken
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God, and turned their backs upon his habitation.</I> Note, Those that
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turn their backs upon God's ordinances may truly be said to forsake God
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himself.
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(2.) That the instituted worship of God there had been let fall. The
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lamps were not lighted, and incense was not burnt. There are still such
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neglects as these, and they are no less culpable, when the word is not
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duly read and opened (for that was signified by the <I>lighting of the
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lamps</I>) and when prayers and praises are not duly offered up, for
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that was signified by <I>the burning of incense.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. He showed the sad consequences of the neglect and decay of religion
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among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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This was the cause of all the calamities they had lain under. God had
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in anger delivered them to trouble, to the sword, and to captivity.
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When we are under the rebukes of God's providence it is good for us to
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enquire whether we have not neglected God's ordinances and whether the
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controversy he has with us may not be traced to this neglect.</P>
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<P>
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3. He declared his own full purpose and resolution to revive religion
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and make it his business to promote it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>It is in my heart</I> (that is, I am fully resolved) <I>to make a
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covenant with the Lord God of Israel</I> (that is, to worship him only,
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and in that way which he has appointed); for I am sure that, otherwise,
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his fierce anger will not turn away from us." This covenant he would
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not only make himself, but bring his people into the bond of.</P>
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<P>
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4. He engaged and excited the Levites and priests to do their duty on
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this occasion. This he begins with
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
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this he ends with,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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He called them <I>Levites</I> to remind them of their obligation to
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God, called them his <I>sons</I> to remind them of the relation to
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himself, that he expected that, <I>as a son with the father, they
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should serve with him</I> in the reformation of the land.
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(1.) he told them what was their duty, to sanctify <I>themselves</I>
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first (by repenting of their neglects, reforming their own hearts and
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lives, and renewing their covenants with God to do their duty better
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for the time to come), and then to <I>sanctify the house of God,</I> as
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his servants, to make it clean from every thing that was disagreeable,
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either through the disuse or the profanation of it, and to set it up
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for the purposes for which it was made.
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(2.) He stirred them up to do it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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"<I>Be not now negligent,</I> or remiss, in your duty. Let not this
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good work be retarded through your carelessness." <I>Be not
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deceived,</I> so the <I>margin.</I> Note, Those that by their
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negligence in the service of God think to mock God, and put a cheat
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upon him, do but deceive themselves, and put a damning cheat upon their
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own souls. <I>Be not secure</I> (so some), as if there were no urgent
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call to do it or no danger in not doing it. Note, Men's negligence in
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religion is owing to their carnal security. The consideration he
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quickens them with is derived from their office. God had herein put
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honour upon them: He has <I>chosen you to stand before him.</I> God
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therefore expected work from them. They were not chosen to be idle, to
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enjoy the dignity and leave the duty to be done by others, but to serve
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him and to minister to him. They must therefore be ashamed of their
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late remissness, and, now that the doors of the temple were opened
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again, must set about their work with double diligence.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch28_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Temple Cleansed.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 726.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel
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the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the
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sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of
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Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and
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Eden the son of Joah:
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13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the
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sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
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14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the
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sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
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15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves,
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and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to cleanse the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to cleanse <I>it,</I> and brought out all the uncleanness that
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they found in the temple of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> into the court of the house
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. And the Levites took <I>it,</I> to carry <I>it</I> out abroad
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into the brook Kidron.
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17 Now they began on the first <I>day</I> of the first month to
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sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the
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porch of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: so they sanctified the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in
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eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made
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an end.
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18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have
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cleansed all the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and the altar of burnt
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offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table,
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with all the vessels thereof.
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19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did
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cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified,
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and, behold, they <I>are</I> before the altar of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here busy work, good work, and needful work, the cleansing of
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the house of the Lord.</P>
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<P>
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I. The persons employed in this work were the priests and Levites, who
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should have kept the temple clean, but, not having done that, were
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concerned to make it clean. Several of the Levites are here named, two
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of each of the three principal houses, Kohath, Gershon, and Merari
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and two of each of the three families of singers, Asaph, Heman, and
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Jeduthun,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>.
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We cannot think these are named merely because they were chief in place
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(for then surely the high priest, or some of the heads of the courses
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of the priests, would have been mentioned), but because they were more
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zealous and active than the rest. When God has work to do he will raise
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up leading men to preside in it. And it is not always that the first in
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place and rank are most fit for service or most forward to it. These
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Levites not only bestirred themselves, but <I>gathered their
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brethren,</I> and quickened them to do <I>according to the commandment
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of the king by the word of the Lord.</I> Observe, They did according to
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the king's command, but with an eye to God's word. The king commanded
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them what was already their duty by the word of God, and, in doing it,
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they regarded God's word as a rule to them and the king's commandment
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as a spur to them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The work was <I>cleansing the house of God,</I>
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1. From the common dirt it had contracted while it was shut up-dust,
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and cobwebs, and the rust of the vessels.
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2. From the idols and idolatrous altars that were set up in it, which,
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though kept ever so neat, were a greater pollution to it than if it had
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been made the common sewer of the city. The priests were none of them
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mentioned as leading men in this work, yet none but they durst go
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<I>into the inner part of the house, no, not to cleanse it,</I> which
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they did, and perhaps the high priest into the holy of holies, to
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cleanse that. And, though the Levites had the honour to be the leaders
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in the work, they did not disdain to be servitors to the priests
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according to their office; for what filth the priests brought into the
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court the Levites carried to the brook Kidron. Let not men's
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usefulness, be it ever so eminent, make them forget their place.</P>
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<P>
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III. The expedition with which they did this work was very remarkable.
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They began on the first day of the first month, a happy beginning of
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the new-year, and one that promised a good year. Thus should every year
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begin with the reformation of what is amiss, and the purging away, by
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true repentance, of all the defilements contracted the foregoing year.
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In eight days they cleared and cleansed the temple, and in eight days
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more the <I>courts</I> of the temple,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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Let those that do good work learn to rid work and get it done. Let what
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is amiss be amended quickly.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The report they made of it to Hezekiah was very agreeable,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
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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
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Ahaz, in his <I>transgression, had cast away</I> as vessels in which
|
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there was no pleasure, they gathered together, sanctified them, and
|
|
laid them in their place <I>before the altar.</I> Though the vessels of
|
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the sanctuary may be profaned for a while, God will find a time and a
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way to sanctify them. Neither his ordinances nor his people shall be
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suffered to fail for ever.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hezekiah's Sacrifice.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 726.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers
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of the city, and went up to the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven
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lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom,
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and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the
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priests the sons of Aaron to offer <I>them</I> on the altar of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the
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blood, and sprinkled <I>it</I> on the altar: likewise, when they had
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killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they
|
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killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the
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altar.
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23 And they brought forth the he goats <I>for</I> the sin offering
|
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before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands
|
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upon them:
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24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation
|
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with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all
|
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Israel: for the king commanded <I>that</I> the burnt offering and the
|
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sin offering <I>should be made</I> for all Israel.
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25 And he set the Levites in the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with
|
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cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the
|
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commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the
|
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prophet: for <I>so was</I> the commandment of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> by his
|
|
prophets.
|
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26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the
|
|
priests with the trumpets.
|
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27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the
|
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altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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began <I>also</I> with the trumpets, and with the instruments
|
|
<I>ordained</I> by David king of Israel.
|
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28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang,
|
|
and the trumpeters sounded: <I>and</I> all <I>this continued</I> until the
|
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burnt offering was finished.
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29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all
|
|
that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
|
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30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the
|
|
Levites to sing praise unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with the words of David, and
|
|
of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they
|
|
bowed their heads and worshipped.
|
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31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated
|
|
yourselves unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, come near and bring sacrifices and
|
|
thank offerings into the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
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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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1">Ps. cxxii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+4:13,14,Nu+15:24,25">Lev. iv. 13, 14; Num. xv. 24, 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:15">Lev. xvi. 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
and on such extraordinary occasions as this,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+15:24">Num. xv. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
But they here offered seven
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+5:11">Rom. v. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
to make reconciliation <I>for all Israel</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
and not for Judah only. Christ is a propitiation, not for the sins of
|
|
Israel only, but <I>of the whole world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:1,22">1 John ii. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. While the offerings were burning upon the altar the <I>Levites</I>
|
|
sang <I>the song of the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
the Psalms composed by David and Asaph
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
accompanied by the musical instruments which God by his prophets had
|
|
commanded the use of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:28-30"><I>v.</I> 28-30</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
"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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
(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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
Of this sort there were 600 oxen and 3000 sheep,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
2. That <I>the priests were few,</I> too few for the service,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
3. That the Levites were forward. They had been <I>more upright in
|
|
heart to sanctify themselves than the priests</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+1:5,6">Lev. i. 5, 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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