2 Chronicles 30:26 (KJV)
So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
If I have my timing correct, this is no exaggeration. After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam became king, and the people of God split into two kingdoms:
Judah to the south, loyal to the family of David whom God had set on the throne.
Israel to the north, having rebelled specifically against that royal line.
Of necessity, I suppose (though it was sinful and corrupted them), this rebellion also led to a rebellion against the Levitical priesthood and against the Temple in Jerusalem.
Generations passed. Judah saw spiritual upswings and downswings, both in their kings and in the people in general. Israel, on the other hand, displayed a constant spiritual decline among their kings (no one family ever having a lasting claim to the kingdom) and among the people.
Eventually, God allowed Assyria to take Israel captive. Most of the people were carried away.
It was at this time that Hezekiah became king in Judah. Hezekiah ordered the Temple to be cleansed and restored Temple worship. But he did something else. He invited what remained of Israel to join with them.
- He didn’t compromise.
- He didn’t join in affinity with them.
- He didn’t lower the standards so they would feel comfortable.
Hezekiah invited them to come home. He opened the door for their return to the Lord.
Of course, not all of Israel accepted the invitation. There were those who mocked and scoffed. There will always be people like that. But some did accept.
And for the first time since Solomon was king, the people of God were one once again.
It’s not a perfect ending, because that’s not going to happen until Jesus sits on the throne in the Millennial Kingdom. But it was a reminder of what is possible when the people of God invite the lost to come join them in worship, and the lost humble themselves and do it.
#ComeHomeToGod #HezekiahsRevival #JoyInJerusalem #ReturnToTheLord #BiblicalRevival
Some Mocked. Some Came. The Result Changed a Nation
What do you think was the key to the great joy described in 2 Chronicles 30? Was it the cleansing of the Temple, the return to worship, or the willingness of some to humble themselves and come home to the Lord?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.
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