2 Chronicles 29:20 - Meaning and Application

Now that the temple had been cleansed, the people immediately put it to good use. A solemn meeting was called for the next day, and the king came to the temple. No doubt the faithful people in Jerusalem were glad to say, “Let us go up to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1). As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he wasted no time. He rose early to go to the house of the Lord, earlier than on other days, to show that his heart was set on this work.

That day looked in two directions. First, atonement had to be made for the sins of the last reign. They did not think it was enough to grieve over those sins and turn from them. They also brought a sin offering. Even our repentance and reform will not win pardon except through Christ, who was made sin for us, that is, a sin offering. There is no peace apart from his blood, not even for repentant people.

The sin offering was for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah (2 Chronicles 29:21). That means it was to cover the sins of princes, priests, and people, since all of them had gone astray. Moses had appointed sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of the whole people (Leviticus 4:13, 14; Numbers 15:24, 25), so that the national judgments their sins deserved might be turned away. In the same way, we must now look to Christ, the great sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath, for the forgiveness and salvation of individuals as well.

The law usually called for only one goat for a sin offering, as on the day of atonement (Leviticus 16:15) and on other special occasions like this (Numbers 15:24). But here they offered seven (2 Chronicles 29:21), because the sins of the people had been very great and had lasted a long time. Seven is a number of fullness or perfection. Our great sin offering is also one, but that one sacrifice makes perfect forever those who are made holy.

The king and the congregation, that is, the people representing the whole nation, laid their hands on the heads of the goats for the sin offering (2 Chronicles 29:23). In this way they confessed that they were guilty before God and showed their desire that the sinner’s guilt would pass to the sacrifice. By faith we lay our hands on the Lord Jesus, and so receive the atonement, the pardon that brings us into peace with God (Romans 5:11).

Burnt offerings were offered along with the sin offerings, seven bulls, seven rams, and seven lambs. The purpose of the burnt offerings was to honor the God of Israel, whom they now owned as the only true God. That was fitting at the same time they were making atonement for their sins. The blood of those offerings, like the blood of the sin offering, was sprinkled on the altar (2 Chronicles 29:22), to make reconciliation for all Israel (2 Chronicles 29:24), not for Judah alone. Christ is a sacrifice for sins, not only for Israel’s sins, but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1, 2).

While the offerings were burning on the altar, the Levites sang the Lord’s song (2 Chronicles 29:27), the psalms written by David and Asaph (2 Chronicles 29:30). They sang with the musical instruments that God, through his prophets, had commanded them to use (2 Chronicles 29:25), though these had been neglected for a long time. Even sorrow for sin should not keep us from praising God. By faith we must rejoice in Christ Jesus as our righteousness, and our prayers and praises must rise with his sacrifice, accepted only because of it.

The king and all the people showed their agreement with what was done by bowing their heads and worshiping. They gave reverence to God’s great majesty through these acts of adoration. This is noted in 2 Chronicles 29:28-30. It is not enough to be where God is worshiped if we do not worship him ourselves. And that worship must be from the heart, not just through outward actions that profit little.

The day also pointed ahead. The temple service was to be started again so it could continue from then on, and Hezekiah called the people to that work (2 Chronicles 29:31). He said, in effect, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, made atonement and entered a covenant by sacrifice, and are now reconciled to him and committed to him, come near and bring offerings.” Our covenant with God must be kept alive and deepened through communion with him. Once we have given ourselves to the Lord, we should bring the sacrifices of prayer, praise, and almsgiving to his house.

In this work, the people proved willing. The king’s call brought out their offerings, though not in the great amounts seen in Solomon’s day, because Judah had been reduced, impoverished, and brought low. Still, they gave according to what they had, as much as could be expected in their poverty and with piety so much weakened among them. Some were generous enough to bring burnt offerings, which were completely given to God’s honor and from which the offerer received nothing. There were seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs (2 Chronicles 29:32).

Others brought peace offerings and thank offerings, whose fat was burned on the altar and whose meat was shared by the priests and the offerers (2 Chronicles 29:35). There were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep (2 Chronicles 29:33). Perhaps remembering their sin in sacrificing on the high places made them more willing to bring their sacrifices now to God’s altar.

The priests were too few for the work (2 Chronicles 29:34). Many of them were likely set aside as unclean and unfit because they had sacrificed to idols in the previous reign. The rest did not show the zeal one would have expected on such an occasion. They may have thought the king was too eager, or that there was no need to open the temple so quickly. So they did not take care to consecrate themselves. Then, because they were not prepared, they used that as an excuse to stay away, as if their fault could defend them. This is recorded to the priests’ lasting shame. Though they were well supported by the offerings made to the Lord, they still did not attend to their duty. There was work to do, but there were not enough willing hands.

The Levites, by contrast, were eager. They had been more ready than the priests to consecrate themselves (2 Chronicles 29:34). They were better disposed toward the work and better prepared for it. This was their credit, and in return they were honored with work that usually belonged to the priests, helping them skin the offerings. This was not according to the law (Leviticus 1:5, 6), but the need of the moment allowed it. In this way, the faithful and zealous Levites were encouraged, and the careless priests were rightly put to shame. What the Levites lacked in birth and ceremonial rank was more than made up for by their skill and willingness to serve.

Everyone was pleased.

The king and all the people rejoiced in this blessed change and in the new shape of religion the kingdom had taken (2 Chronicles 29:36). Two things pleased them especially. First, it happened quickly. It was done in a short time, with little trouble and no opposition. Those who go to God’s work in faith and with firm resolve often find that it is not as hard as they feared, and they are gladly surprised at how soon it is finished.

Second, they could clearly see God’s hand in it. God had been preparing the people through the hidden work of his grace, so that many who had loved the idolatrous altars in the last reign now loved God’s altar instead. This change in their hearts made the work move forward much more easily. Let rulers and ministers do their part in reforming a land, and let them give God the glory for what is done, especially when it happens suddenly and brings joy. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous.