Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The subject of this chapter is the chronicle of the reign of Hezekiah. He restoreth the true worship of God, and cleanseth the Lord's house.

2 Chronicles 29:1

We may have reference to the recital of the reign of Hezekiah, 2Ki 16 and a very interesting account we have of a part of it, Isa 36; 36:3 following chapters.

His address to his people in the very opening of his government implies that his soul had been grieved for the dreadful conduct of his father during his minority. Reader! how evident it is that grace is not hereditary. How many a graceless father hath had a gracious son! and how many a gracious father a graceless child. What a contrast is here between Ahaz and Hezekiah!

The purification of the house of the Lord may serve to remind us of the yet more infinitely important work of God the Holy Ghost in his cleansing work of the heart by his power. - What a sweet scripture that is to this effect; When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion with the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. Isaiah 4:4. Reader! seek for those precious effects in your own soul. Have you the spirit of judgment to enlighten the understanding in the knowledge of Jesus? And have you the spirit of burning, to make your heart burn within you while Jesus draweth nigh in making himself known by the way and opening the soul to the apprehension of the scriptures?

It is astonishing to observe in this solemn service what an eye to Jesus and his salvation this whole service had. Here was the sin-offering; and Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Here was the king and the people laying their hands upon the goats, as an intimation that their sins were to be laid upon the sacrifice. And were not the sins of the people all laid upon Jesus when Jehovah laid on him the iniquities of us all? Isaiah 53:6.

How beautiful and interesting to behold the joy both of king and people in the view they now had of the house of God being cleansed; and that peace being made with God, they had now free access to the temple service as heretofore. But Reader! how infinitely more beautiful is this subject considered as typical and figurative, with an eye to Jesus. Having peace with God (saith an apostle) in the blood of his cross, we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2. Seen with an eye to gospel times, and to gospel mercies in Jesus, how truly interesting the Old Testament church history appears, and how evidently the whole proves that it was God prepared the people, and that God the Spirit hereby glorified Christ Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

How beautiful the face of things appears in Judah under the reign of Hezekiah, compared to the deplorable state in which we behold it under the reign of his father Ahaz. And oh! how much the conduct of men in power, and in exalted stations, operates upon all the inferior departments, both in church and state. But chiefly, my soul, let the improvements which arise out of this chapter tend to lead thee to the precious Jesus. And conceive how infinitely interesting and important must be that salvation of his, which was so uniformly made in all ages of the church the great means and end of purification, unto which, by faith, the people all directed their religious services. Oh! thou blessed reconciler, who hast made our peace in the blood of thy cross! by virtue of thy atoning blood and righteousness it is, that after all our unworthiness and the setting up of idols in our hearts, we are like the house of Judah under Hezekiah, again consecrated unto the Lord to approach in the name and the rich sacrifice of Jesus. Thou art the author and finisher, the means and the end, the sum and substance of all consolation to thy church, both militant and triumphant, by peace here and glory hereafter. Hail! blessed Jesus! I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; thou art my song of rejoicing all the day, for thou art become my salvation.