2 Chronicles 30:21

2 Chronicles 30:21 says, And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.  The people of Israel continued the feast of unleavened bread for a week and did so with gladness.  The priests and Levites praised God all day, singing with loud instruments.  We too often get upset if the worship service lasts over an hour and often are not there rejoicing in the Lord but worrying about the rest of the day.  We also no longer want revival services that last a week, saying that this is too long to expect people to be able to give up the time to attend that long, or the favorite, "Nobody does that anymore."  Verse twenty-two adds, And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.  Hezekiah, the king, talked comfortably with the Levites and they continued to eat and feast while offering peace offerings and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.  I would think that they had to see Him not just as the God of their fathers in order to worship Him, but as their God also.  I do know that we must see Jesus Christ not just as the God of our fathers but as our personal Savior and Lord if we are going to successfully worship Him.  It was also good that the King was in agreement with them and worshipped God as well, and it would be good if government leaders today put their faith in God alone and worshipped Him.  Of course, we also might be able to get Christians to attend longer services if we were eating and feasting during them, not that I am endorsing that.  Verse twenty-three continues, And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.  Everyone agreed to keep the seven days and kept another seven days with gladness.  Matthew Henry says that they had been so long without celebrating this feast that they didn't want it to end so the continued for this second week.  I believe that we as Christians need this same kind of commitment to worshipping God today, so that instead of looking for the least amount of time we can spend worshipping Him, that we will not want it to end.  Verse twenty-four states, For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.  The king and the princes all gave many animals for the sacrifice, and we need governmental and church leaders today who are willing to give to God from the things He has blessed them with, especially the church leaders.  Often, they are all looking for what will bring them the most material wealth unfortunately.  Verse twenty-five adds, And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.  Everyone from the priests and Levites to the congregation of Israel as well as the strangers that dwelt in Judah rejoiced.  We may not get the strangers, or non-Christians to rejoice in the Lord, but we as Christians need to always do so.  Verse twenty-six continues, 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.  There was joy in Jerusalem that had not been seen since the time of Solomon since the people had devoted themselves to worshipping God in accordance with His commandments.  If we want joy in our lives and in the church as a whole, we need to be committed to following God and obeying His commandments.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.  When the priests and Levites purified themselves, they were successful in praising God and having their prayers heard by Him.  I don't believe that God ever fails to hear and answer the prayers of Christians, though the answer is often no, but if we have sanctified ourselves and pray in accordance with the leadership of the Holy Spirit and pray for God's will to be done in our lives, I believe we will always see His answer to our prayers and give Him the glory.