"When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property." (2 Chronicles 31:1)
Hezekiah reinstates the priestly divisions appointed by David in 1 Chronicles 25 so that orderly and continuous worship can be carried out at the temple. "Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions---each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites---to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the Lord's dwelling." (2 Chronicles 31:2)
The men who serve at the temple are to be supported by tithes and offerings; this is what the Lord commanded earlier in the Bible. Hezekiah sets an example for the people of Judah by being the first to bring a contribution. "The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 31:3-4)
We sometimes hear the opinion expressed that a minister should perform his duties simply out of love for the Lord, not expecting to be paid a salary for his work, but that is not a Biblical principle. In the Old Testament the Lord makes it clear that those who minister at the temple are to be supported by the offerings made at the temple so they can devote themselves to their work without needing to hold a full time job out in the world. In the New Testament we find the Apostle Paul discussing this subject at length, regarding Christian ministers, in 1 Corinthians 9 and in 1 Timothy 5. Christian ministers are to be supported by their congregations so they can devote themselves fully to studying the word of God, to preparing sermons, to counseling parishioners, and ministering to the needs of the congregation.
When Hezekiah calls upon the people to bring their offerings, they answer wholeheartedly. "As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps. They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed His people Israel. Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, 'Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed His people, and this great amount is left over.'" (2 Chronicles 31:5-10)
The abundance is so great that the storerooms of the temple, which have gone unused for some time since they will need to be "prepared", are put back into use. "Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts." (2 Chronicles 31:11-12a) The Lord loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) He blesses the desire of the people to do what is right and He blesses the desire of the men at the temple to be good stewards of this wonderful bounty. They faithfully store the excess, not being wasteful with it.
In tomorrow's study we will finish Chapter 31 with a look at the people placed in charge of the duties of the temple and of the distribution of the goods. We will be told that because Hezekiah does what is right in the eyes of the Lord, the Lord causes him to prosper. Because Hezekiah sets such a godly example for the people, they also do what is right and they also prosper. Their obedience and their faith will serve them well when a formidable enemy comes against them in Chapter 32.
Why does trouble come upon the nation of Judah now that they are experiencing a great revival? The Lord does not promise us that in this world we will never have troubles. Even when we are living according to His will, problems arise and enemies attempt to get the upper hand over us. What the Lord does promise us is that He will be with us and be our helper. We will find Him helping the nation of Judah against one of the most powerful adversaries of the ancient world: the kingdom of Assyria.
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