2 Chronicles 32:9

2 Chronicles 32:9 says, After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,  After Hezekiah had cut off the water supply to the troops of Sennacherib, he sent word to Hezekiah.  He still thought himself to be in the more powerful position.  Those who oppose God today often think they are in the more powerful position, but they are cut off from the Living Water and cannot survive spiritually.  Verse ten adds, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?  Sennacherib asked Hezekiah who he put his faith in that he would oppose him and think he could survive the siege.  When the people of the world believe they are more powerful than God, they may ask Christians the same thing.  Verse eleven continues, Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?  Sennacherib also asked the people in Jerusalem if Hezekiah had persuaded them to die of thirst and famine in Jerusalem instead of just surrendering to him.  We may be asked today how we can put our faith in God when those who deny Him are in power and more numerous than us.  Verse twelve states, Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?  Sennacherib then appealed to them on a religious basis, asking if Hezekiah had not taken away many places where they used to worship and by implication the gods that they worshipped.  There are still people today who accuse Christians of being narrow minded because they insist that there is only one God and that He cannot be worshipped in the same places where other gods are worshipped along with worshipping those other gods.  Verse thirteen adds, Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then began to brag about the power of the Assyrians, asking the people in Judah if they had not heard what the Assyrians had done to other people.  It may be that those in power become boastful and ask us as followers of Christ if we have not heard of their power if we oppose their gods, but they need to know that we will never turn away from the one true God, no matter what.  Verse fourteen continues, Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then compared God to all the other gods of the people that Assyria had defeated.  People may defeat those who follow other gods, but for the to compare these false gods to the one true God will lead to their downfall one day, and we as Christians cannot begin to think that they are more powerful than our God.  Verse fifteen says, Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then told them to not be confused by Hezekiah's words and stated that there never had been a god who could deliver them.  He made the mistake of trying to compare the God of Judah with other gods, and peoople still make that mistake today and may ask how we can put our faith in Him and those who follow Him.  Verse sixteen adds, And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.  Sennacherib's servants then began to speak against God and Hezekiah, who was referred to as God's servant.  Many people, and not just those in power, may question how we can serve God today and imply that He cannot save us, but we can never doubt Him and be successful spiritually.  Verse seventeen continues, He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.  Sennacherib then said that just as other gods had failed to deliver those who had followed them from the Assyrians, neither would God be able to deliver the people in Jerusalem.  Verse eighteen states, Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.  The people of Assyria then begin to cry out against the people of Jerusalem in their own language in order to try to frighten them.  The lost people of the world today will often attempt to bring fear into the lives of Christians by claiming their power and the lack of power on the part of God. Verse nineteen adds, And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.  They then spoke against God as if He were just another god made by hand.  People often try to convince us that God is just like other false gods and powerless to save us, but His victory has already been established as well as ours if we put our faith in Him.

2 Chronicles 32:1

2 Chronicles 32:1 says, After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.  After the people of Judah began to follow God's commandments and started to worship Him again, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria invaded Judah.  Matthew Henry says his predecessor had already carried the ten tribes of Israel away captive.  This happened because they had turned away from God.  We might think that since Judah was again following God that they would have been at peace in the world, but that wasn't the case.  We may be devoted to following God and follow His commandments but still find that we are not safe from conflict with the world. Verse two adds, And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,  When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invade Judah and was planning a fight against Jerusalem.  He was aware of the coming war, and we need to be aware of the war that we are going to face in the world as Christians.  Verse three continues, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.  Hezekiah didn't just rely on his own abilities, but took counsel from his princes as well and they decided to cut off the water flow that the Assyrians would need to stay strong.  I believe that they did this by God's guidance.  We need to look to other Christians in our times of distress, and we also need to be there for others in their time of distress, and we need to do everything we do under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?  Many people gathered to stop the water, and we as Christians need all be at work in fighting against the forces of evil.  Of course, those who don't put their faith in Jesus Christ are already cut off from the Living Water.   Verse five adds, Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.  Hezekiah not only cut off the water that the Assyrians would need, but he also rebuilt the wall that was broken and raised up towers.  He also had another wall built outside of Jerusalem and repaired Millo, which was referred to as being in the city of David.  He also armed the people.  We need to rebuild the walls of protection that God had given us as Christians if we have allowed them to be torn down, and we need to arm ourselves with the armor of God.  Verse six continues, And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,  He then organized the defenders and spoke comfortably to them.  We need to be organized as Christians today to effectively spread the gospel and to help one another in remining true to God, and we need not act out of panic or fear.  God has already secured the victory.  Verse seven says, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:  Hezekiah then called for the people to not be afraid or dismayed and said there were more of the people of Judah than there were of the Assyrians who were attacking them, but it really wasn't their number that was important, but their obedience to God that would make the difference.  I believe that there are more people who stand against God in the world than there are that stand with Him, but we don't need to be afraid or dismayed as long as we are being obedient to God.  Verse eight adds, With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.  Hezekiah then said what we as followers of Christ should always believe, and that is that the people who oppose us rely on the power of the world, but we rely on the power of God.  The people of Judah then rested on the words that Hezikiah had said.  We need not be afraid today if we rely on the power of God to keep us spiritually safe forever and then we can rest on His word.

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.