Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 31:1. In Ephraim and Manasseh, for many of these had attended the passover, and placed themselves again under David’s house.

2 Chronicles 31:21. He did it with all his heart. King Hezekiah was just the reverse of his father.

REFLECTIONS.

Hezekiah, unable by proclamation to purge his people from idols, warmed their hearts by a taste of the piety of their fathers, and then he succeeded among the better disposed. They most willingly sallied forth in companies, and demolished every work of superstition. In vain did the Micahs cry, “Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more?” We are not only to put away our sins, but also the occasions of sin, and even in lawful things whenever we have cause to dread future danger. It is much safer to make a small sacrifice than to commit a great sin.

Piety not only warms the heart, it also expands and enlarges the affections. The people put away their idols; and believing in God, they willingly gave their tithes to the industrious levites and priests, with abundance of freewill-offerings to the Lord. It is seldom that men will do much for God, without tasting his good word of grace: the levites laboured for the people, and the people laboured for the levites. The servants of the sanctuary had enough, and an overplus laid up in granaries for winter, that nothing might be damaged, and that the poor might eat during the festivals, as the Lord had commanded.

This good king, having restored the courses of the priests and levites, next came to see the abundance of plenty which thronged the temple, and to appoint officers over it. When there is grace in the heart, and harmony in discipline, the work of the Lord prospers, and the smiles of heaven crown the whole. How happy for the church and nation when the rulers are clothed with righteousness, and the priests with salvation. This good king obtained by piety a long reprieve, and a cloud of blessings for his apostate country. May his blessed example encourage others to do their utmost in their age and nation.