2 Chronicles 31:11

 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.

2 Chronicles 31:6

2 Chronicles 31:6 says, And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.  Those people of Israel, God's chosen people as a whole, who lived in Judah brought the holy things consecrated to God and laid them up by heaps.  Not all of His people were doing this, since those who were part of the other part of the divided kingdom, Israel, did not become involved.  As Christians, we are all part of the same family of God and we need to be united in obeying His commandments and doing His work.  Still, if some who call themselves Christians are allowing false teachings into their worship services, we need to separate ourselves from them and pray that they will begin to follow God's commandments once again.  Verse seven adds, In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.  For four months, they worked laying the foundation of the heaps.  Matthew Henry says they had not been making these heaps to hoard them but to show how much God had blessed them by having this much left over.  We don't need to hoard the things that God blesses us with but need to use them to do His work, and if we do, He will always abundantly bless us.  Verse eight continues, And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel.  When the king and the princes saw these heaps of the tithes, it says they blessed God and His people.  I believe this would more accurately be that they praised God, because He blessed them and not the other way around, and the same is true today.  Verse nine states, Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  Though I have already discussed what the heaps were, it was in this verse that Hezekiah questioned the Levites about them, after he had already praised God for them.  If we see that God is richly blessing the church today, especially our local congregation, maybe we need to ask why He is doing so and what He wants us to do with the things He has blessed us with, and not just hoard them unused.  The same applies to individual Christians, I believe.  Verse ten adds, And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.  Azariah the chief priest told Hezekiah that since the people had started bringing their offerings to God, they had all their needs met and this was what was left over, as already stated earlier.  As followers of Christ, if we all begin to bring our tithes and offerings to God, I believe all our needs will still be met and the church will have an abundance to do what we need to do collectively.  I also believe we should do this with rejoicing and not with complaining.

2 Chronicles 31:1

2 Chronicles 31:1 says, Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.  After the celebration, the people began to destroy the idols and cut down the groves used in worship and throw down the altars in the high places.  This even carried over into parts of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh.  They got rid of everything associated with the false gods and so must we in our lives as followers of Christ.  It is not enough to gather and celebrate God and then go out into the world and still allow idols to exist in our lives.  Verse two adds, And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord.  Hezekiah then established the order in which the Levites would serve.  This might have been the responsibility of the high priest, but if it was, he evidently wasn't fulfilling his responsibility.  Thankfully, our High Priest will never fail us, even if we fail to do what He has called us to do.  Verse three continues, He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord.  Hezekiah gave his own portion to be used in doing God's will of burning the morning and even offerings.  We need to be willing to give back to God at least a portion of what He has blessed us with so that His work may continue to be done.  Verse four states, Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.  He also commanded that the people who lived in Jerusalem give to support the priests and Levites.  Matthew Henry points out that this had been neglected for a long time.  If we believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead us to giving to God, but we will never be forced to give.  We must do so willingly and also joyfully I believe.  Verse five adds, And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.  To their credit, as soon as the command went out, the people obeyed it and began to bring their offerings to God.  Once we know that we have not been giving in accordance with God's word and the guidance of Holy Spirit, we need to begin to do so immediately and not think we will wait until certain things have been paid off or until we feel that we can afford to do so.  We need to put giving to God first. 

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.

2 Chronicles 30:13

2 Chronicles 30:13 says, And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.  A very large congregation then assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread.  We as individual Christians need to gather often to celebrate our new life given to us by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We should not just do this on special occasions like Christmas and Easter but should do so at least weekly.  Verse fourteen adds, And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.  They began to remove the altars to false gods that were in Jerusalem.  When we become Christians, we need to remove all false gods from our lives, and as a body of believers, when we gather to worship God, we need to make sure we have not allowed any false ideas to proclaimed, and if we see that they have been, we need to remove them.  Verse fifteen continues, Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord.  When they killed the Passover sacrifice, the priests and Levites were ashamed and cleansed and sanctified themselves, which they should have done beforehand.  The people were ready for the celebration, but the priests and Levites weren't ready to offer the sacrifice.  To effectively worship God, we must be purified and sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ and those in charge of the worship service should certainly be so.  Verse sixteen states, And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.  At least after they sanctified themselves the priests and Levites conducted the service in accordance with God's law.  We need to always conduct our worship services in accordance with the laws of God.  This doesn't mean by a specific order of service, but by doing things for God's honor and glory under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seventeen adds, For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord.  The Levites killed the sacrifice, which was not in accordance with God's law, which specified that the priests alone could do so.  In our worship services, we need to make sure that they are carried out in accordance with God's will.  Many people were not ceremonial clean, so the priests and Levites had to kill the Passover for everyone who was not clean.  We are spiritually unclean and can only have God's judgment pass over us by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, since He is the only One Who is spiritually clean and qualified to do so.  Verse eighteen continues, For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one.  Several people, many from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulon being specified did not purify themselves before participating in the Passover meal, so Hezekiah prayed and asked God to forgive them.  If people who are not saved participate in worship services today, we cannot purify them, but we can ask God to help them come to Jesus Christ so they can be purified.  Verse nineteen says, That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.  Hezekiah's prayer was that those who we not spiritually purified would be, and that should be our prayer for the lost people of the world today.  We should never look down on them but should lift them up to God by prayer. Verse twenty adds, And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.  God listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.  I believe the people had a change of heart and repented and were purified in God's sight and not that Hezekiah was able to bring them forgiveness without them confessing and asking for forgiveness, just as Jesus Christ intercedes for all sinners with the Father, but it does them no good, unless they accept Him as their Savior and Lord and ask for forgiveness.  We cannot bring anyone to God's saving grace by our own abilities, but we can only bring them to God in prayer.  Then, it is up to them to accept the gift of salvation and God will forgive them if they do.

2 Chronicles 30:1

2 Chronicles 30:1 says, And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel.  Hezekiah sent word to all of Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim, and Manasseh and invited them to come to the Passover.  All of those who were called God's people were invited. Though they had revolted against God, Hezekiah invited them to return and worship Him.  We, who call ourselves followers of Christ need to be united in serving Him, and if some have strayed, we need to invite them back to worship and serve Him once more.  Verse two adds, For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.  Hezekiah is said to have asked all the princes and congregation in Jerusalem about keeping the Passover in the second month.  We need to listen to try to be united in what we do for God as Christians and not just make decisions on our own believing that what we think is always going to be right.  Verse three continues, For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.  It is said that they could not keep it until then because the priests had not sanctified themselves.  As a part of the priesthood of believers, we as Christians should always be sanctified, or set apart form the world, and ready to serve and worship God at any time.  Verse four states, And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.  Setting up a time for the Passover pleased both the King and the people.  We as believers should be pleased any time people are coming together to worship God.  Verse five adds, So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.  A proclamation was made and sent throughout all of Israel to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover, which they had not done in a long time.  The people of Israel, the ten tribes that broke away, were invited as well, even though they often were at war with Judah. If we as Christians have been fighting against each other, we need to come together in unity to serving and worshipping God once more.  Verse six continues, So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.  Hezekiah did not invite the people of Israel to return to following him, but to return and follow God's commandments. They weren't invited for political purposes, but for spiritual ones. Hezekiah was not asking them to follow him, but to follow God. We don't need people to follow a particular leader but to follow God alone, then He will lead them to the ones they need to follow in the running of the country.  Verse seven says, And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.  Hezekiah asked them to not be like their fathers and brothers who had led them away from God, which resulted in desolation.  We as Christians need to pray that we never lead anyone away from God, either by our words or our actions.  Verse eight adds, Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.  The people of Israel, who once again we need to remember were a part of God's chosen people, were asked not to be stiff-necked, or set in their resolve to not listen to God.  People today often refuse to listen to the gospel because they will not turn away from their own desires.  Verse nine continues, For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.  Hezekiah said that if they returned to following God, He would be with them and bless them once more, setting them free from their captors.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He will set us free from the captivity of sin, and if we have put our faith in Him and strayed away, He will restore us to a right relationship with Him if we confess our sins and ask His forgiveness.  Verse ten states, So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.  The messages went out, but the people who received them laughed at it with scorn and mocked those who sent it.  When we share the gospel today, people are often going to laugh at us and mock us with scorn, but we are still called on to present the gospel.  It is then up to the individual how he or she receives it.  Verse eleven adds, Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.  Not everyone mocked the proclamation, because some of the people of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun heeded the call and returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  The gospel is going to be received by some people today even if it is being rejected by the majority and those who accept it will be restored to God.  Verse twelve continues, Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.  The people of Judah were united in heart to do the commandment of the king and princes, which was to repent and come worship God at the Passover.  We as Christians need to be united in heart as followers of God, and our hearts must be set on following and worshipping God.  

2 Chronicles 29:28

 2 Chronicles 29:29 says, And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.  After the offering was completed, the king and all those with him bowed and worshipped God.  We need to bow in worship as soon as we enter the church building, and I believe we need to bow in worship at the beginning of each day and throughout the day and not just on Sunday at church.  Verse thirty adds, Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.  Though Hezekiah ordered the Levites to sing praises to God with the psalms of David and Asaph, two of the writers of Psalms, they sang with gladness.  We should not have to be ordered to sing praises to God, but we should do so willingly and with gladness.  Verse thirty-one continues, Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.  Hezekiah told them to then bring their sacrifices and thanks offerings and those who would did so willingly, along with free-will burnt offerings.  We should not just sing praises to God willing, but we should bring our tithes and offerings to God.  We always need to bring our tithes to God, but we should willingly go above that and freely bring our offerings as well, though no one should ever be forced to do either.  Verse thirty-two states, And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.  Seventy bulls, a hundred rams and two hundred lambs were offered as a burnt sacrifice.  I know many people today might say that was animal cruelty and that these people should be punished for it, but God Himself initiated the sacrificial system   Others might say that this was a waste of resources just as giving to the church is in their opinion, but we need to follow what God says and not what the world says.  Verser thirty-three adds, And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.  There were also six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep that were brought and referred to as consecrated things.  I believed that everything we have as Christians should be consecrated to God since He has blessed us with it, and we should use everything under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-four continues, 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 other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.  There were too many things brought to sacrifice for the priests to do it, so the Levites helped them.  We don't usually have a problem with there being too much given to the church for those in charge of it to deal with.  It also says that the priests had to first sanctify themselves, but the Levites were more upright in their heart and had already purified themselves.  We need to pray that religious leaders today will be upright in their heart and purify themselves, but each individual Christian should also do so as well, even if the leaders are slower at doing so.  Verse thirty-five says, And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.  There was plenty for all the offerings and the house of the Lord was set in order.  We need to do all that we can to make sure that the house of the Lord is in order today, starting with our lives as the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ has already provided all the sacrifice for sin that can ever be offered, but if we have put our faith in Him, we need to give to make sure there is always enough resources to carry out His work today.  Verse thirty-six adds, And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.  Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, especially those that God had prepared to do the work which was necessary because this was done suddenly.  We should be prepared to make the most of every opportunity God gives us to advance His kingdom, even if this opportunity comes to us suddenly.  We should also rejoice in the Lord no matter what is happening in our life.