2 Chronicles 31:11 says, Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord; and they prepared them, The Levites continued to restore the house of God, next preparing the chambers at the king's command. We need to always be preparing our hearts to do the work of God and to make room for the leadership if the Holy Spirit in our lives, and he will guide us to what we need to do for Him. Verse twelve adds, And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. Then they brought the tithes and dedicated things into the temple, God's house. We need to be just as faithful in bringing our tithes and offerings into the church today, even if the building is not now considered the only place where God can be found. Two particular Levites, Cononiah and his brother Shimei were in charge of the tithes and offerings, and we need trustworthy people to be in charge of our tithes and offerings today. Verse thirteen continues, And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. Several others were also in charge of the tithes and offerings under the supervision of Cononiah and Shimei by the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah who was over the temple. We all as Christians need to ensure that our tithes and offerings are being used in accordance with the command of Jesus Christ, who is both our King and High Priest. Verse fourteen states, And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the most holy things. There was a further assignment for maintaining the freewill offerings as well. We need to maintain control over all the offerings that are brought to God today in order to ensure that they are used properly for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Verse fifteen adds, And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: There were priests appointed in every city to take care of these tithes and offerings as well. We collectively as the church, all the people of God, and as individual congregations need to make sure that we are following God's guidance in using His tithes and offerings. Verse sixteen continues, Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the Lord, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; All those who were born into the families of the nation of Judah who were males three years old or older were to be allowed into the temple and allowed to participate in the worship service. Today, all who are a part of the family of God should be welcomed into the church regardless of their age and we as followers of Christ should do our best to make sure that their needs are met. Of course, everyone should be welcomed into the worship service, whether they are a Christian or not, and those who aren't should be welcomed even more so, but they shouldn't be in charge of the service. Verse seventeen says, Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses; Then, those born into the priesthood who were twenty years old or older were to take their role in the worship service and to care for the things of God. We as Christians today are not so by our birth but by our rebirth through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and then the Holy Spirit will give us our calling in serving God. Verse eighteen adds, And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: Their families were then sanctified to the service of God, and we need to do our best to sanctify ourselves to God's service and also to do all that we can to bring our families to Jesus Christ. Verse nineteen continues, Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. The sons of Aaron would have been his descendants and those in all the cities as well as those born into the family of Levy were to be provided for as they did their duty to the people in the worshipping of God. God does not leave anyone out in providing for their needs if they are serving Him in accordance with the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Of course, He will work through His people to ensure this is true, if we are willing to give under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Verse twenty states, And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. Hezekiah had this done throughout Judah to ensure that the people did what was good and right before God. We cannot ensure that every Christian is going to do what is good and right before God, and we certainly cannot force anyone to do so, but we can proclaim God's truth to them and make sure that we individually are doing His will in our life. Verse twenty-one adds, And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. Everything that Hezekiah proposed to do in His heart to restore the worship of God he did with all his heart, and he prospered. We need to serve and worship God with all our heart, and if we do, we will prosper spiritually. Whether we prosper materially or not should not matter, as long as we are doing what God has called us to do.
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