x

What an uplifting reading for today…Hezekiah's reforms. His reforms laid the groundwork for the people to be receptive to Isaiah's message.  Hezekiah started off really well. His early reforms were done quickly too.
"In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them."
Application for today:  Open the doors of our hearts to welcome Him.

Hezekiah restored proper worship and religious observance.  There had been a famine in the land of hearing the Word of the Lord from the kings.  Hezekiah invited all the people of Israel, including the northern tribes.  Most refused, but some joined in the spiritual renewal.  That is so true today.  When spiritual leaders seek to restore proper worship and observances (God's Holy Days - feast days and festivals) only some will join in.  But even though there may be only a few, God will honor that!  And, as in the days of Hezekiah, there will be great joy for those few!
Application for today:  Restore proper worship of Him, honor His Holy Days.

The priests purified the sanctuary and removed everything unclean and then consecrated it. Remember King Ahaz had brought in pagan gods, altars, and high places. If we apply this type of reform to today, how would it look in our churches?
Application for today: Purify our lives.  Remove anything in our lives that pull us away from God.  Repent of our sins.

What would be the pagan influences that have infiltrated our churches today?  If we look at the ways of The Way (the early followers of Jesus), it looks much, much different from the ways we worship today. Read the book of Acts to see how the early followers of Jesus worshiped Him. Read also pages 265-268 in the book These Last Days for how worship will look in the Millennium. 

Hezekiah ordered sin offerings for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and for Judah. When the offerings were finished, singing to the Lord began and the whole assembly bowed in worship.
Application for today: Pray that God will forgive our specific sins (blatant and subtle ones, outward ones and inner ones) and to forgive those sins that we may not be aware of.  Then rejoice that we have already been forgiven.  We don't have to offer those animal sacrifices for sin.  Jesus took care of that!

Then Hezekiah did something very significant. He reinstituted observance of Passover. The people responded with great enthusiasm, so much so that they celebrated for an additional week. Sounds like a modern day crusade or revival. "There was great joy in Jerusalem."
Application for today:  Start our own spiritual revival.  Remember His Days.  Then rejoice!

When the celebration was over, the people were motivated to go out into the towns of Judah. They smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars…ALL of them. What a testimony to revival! Couldn't we do that today? What would be some examples of sacred stones and high places?
Application for today: Clean up our own lives and witness to those around us.

The king set the standard, the people followed. What a concept! Spiritual leaders leading spiritually!
The people brought so many freewill offerings (above and beyond the ten percent tax tithe) that the offerings were distributed to fellow priests according to divisions and even given to males three years old who would later enter temple service. Astounding!

Hezekiah listened to the Lord and obeyed. The result…major spiritual reform and renewal.

What would happen to our churches today if a spirit of reform and renewal swept our country, or our church denominations, or our local churches, or individuals?  We can't depend on our spiritual leaders alone. You know it ultimately comes down to the individual; will we be willing to institute reform and renewal in our own lives?

Read carefully the last paragraph in today's reading - 2 Chron. 31:20,21.
Application for today: When we do what is right in the eyes of God, when we are faithful to Him, when we are obedient to the Lord and His commands, when we seek the Lord and work wholeheartedly for Him, we WILL prosper,  And that's a promise!