2 Chronicles 31:1 – 21 The Destruction of Idols
“When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.
Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.
Contributions for Worship
The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD. Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.
In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps, and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”
Hezekiah Organizes the Priests
Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so. And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God.
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts. Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.
In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions— and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their duties and divisions. The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters in the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.
As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.
So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God. He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.”
“When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all.”
WOW! What happened? Some of these people were likely the same people who had been worshiping at these places before they came to Jerusalem. What changed? God moved in these people’s lives, cleansing them, purifying them, and placing the fear of God in their hearts. These people even tore down high places that had been there for centuries. What a cleansing of the land! All these actions stemmed from praise and worship.
Next, God began blessing the land so that it yielded abundantly, and the people began bringing tithes of their produce. These donations flowed into the temple, making it possible for the priests to concentrate on their work instead of struggling to feed their families. Once more, there were resources sufficient to maintain the temple.
APPLICATION: Part of this passage might seem pretty tedious as Ezra lists names of all those charged with receiving donations, storing donations, and disbursing donations. But wait! All these men died thousands of years ago, and yet, we still remember them. God has made sure that Ezra recorded the names of the faithful for all posterity as a memorial to their honesty and integrity.
Why should we take encouragement from what seems like an ancient accounts book? Many times, we work, wondering if anyone is paying attention to our efforts. Perhaps you are caring for a handicapped child, an aged parent, or a child with ADHD or who is on the spectrum of autism. A superficial glance at your life will certainly fail to communicate all your struggles, your tears, and your sheer exhaustion. Or perhaps you work in a large corporation where backstabbing among workers is commonplace. You strive to remain uninvolved and to simply fulfill your duties, but you wonder if anybody really cares that you are not contributing to the seething chaos.
Take heart! God sees, God knows! God cares! God knows your name and all of your trials. Nothing is hidden from God. Those cries of anguish that you smother in a pillow, those doubts and fears that rob you of sleep – God knows all of them. Luke 12:6- 7 tells us: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW – CIVILLA D. MARTIN
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You know everything about us, all our trials and all our struggles. Help us to praise you in the midst of our problems, realizing that when we praise You, You can transform our situations or give us grace to go through them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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