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2 Chronicles - Study 9

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2 Chronicles 28-31; Psalms 92, 94; Proverbs 27

Study 9 of 12

 

One recognizes throughout the Bible that the inspired writers employed literary techniques so as to make the greatest impact with their words. In these chapters of 2 Chronicles, history itself provided a literary ‘foil;’ the evil of Ahaz provided a dark background for the brightness of King Hezekiah. In accord with previous chapters, the Chronicler emphasized the affiliation of each in relation to the temple.

 

In parallel with the previous royal introductions, here the Chronicler set out the general evaluation of Ahaz: “He did not do what was right in the LORD’s sight like his forefather David, for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel” (28.1-2). The LORD justly responded to Ahaz’ rebellion, handing the king and Judah over to their enemies (28.3-27). Aram (v .5), Israel (vv. 6-15), Edom (v. 17), the Philistines (v. 18), and the Assyrians (v. 20) all had their way with Judah; “For the LORD humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the LORD” (v. 19). Even though, “Ahaz plundered the LORD’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him” (v. 21). He was a pragmatic, unfaithful, man:

“At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the LORD. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, ‘Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.’ But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel” (vv. 22-23). 

 

But Ahaz’ wickedness went further:

“Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the LORD’s temple, and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem. He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he provoked the God of his ancestors” (vv. 24-25). 

 

The message for the chronicler’s audience? No matter what success the Persians enjoy from their gods, they must remain devoted to the LORD alone! While it would not be difficult for one to excel Ahaz’ level of loyalty, Hezekiah went far beyond the faithfulness of his father (chs 29-31; cf. 2 Kgs 18-20). Of him the Chronicler said, “He did what was right in the LORD’s sight just as his ancestor David had done” (29 2). Not without precedent, the Chronicler immediately evaluated Hezekiah in relation to a “temple-centered” reign:

  1. “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the LORD’s temple and repaired them” (29.3)
  2. He commanded the Levites to consecrate themselves and remove the detestable things from the holy place (29.5)
  3. In Hezekiah’s mind, the demise of Judah’s military and political strength was not difficult to explain: “our fathers were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the LORD’s tabernacle, and turned their backs on Him” (29.6; cf. Ps 94)
  4. Hezekiah led Judah to renew temple worship, including sin offerings, burnt offerings, and musical worship—all under the administration of the Levites (29.12-35). The chronicler provides insight into the heart of the king, “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over how God had prepared the people, for it had come about suddenly” (29.35)
  5. He led Israel to observe the Passover. The couriers who went throughout Israel and Judah exhorted the people, “Serve the LORD your God so that He may turn His fierce wrath away from you, for when you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him” (30.8b-9). After the normal seven-day observation of the Festival of Unleavened Bread—which normally followed the Passover (cf. Ex 12)—“the whole congregation decided to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy” (30.23)
  6. Hezekiah’s spiritual devotion prompted great repentance among the people (31.1)
  7. “Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD, each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites. The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings of the Sabbaths, of the New Moons, and of the appointed feasts, as written in the law of the LORD” (31.2-4; cf. Ps 92)
  8. The Chronicler ended this section of Hezekiah’s reign with a noble epithet: “He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the law and in the commandment, in order to seek his God, and he prospered” (31.21). Many of these scenes are unique to the Chronicler; they fulfilled his purpose of motivating the returned exiles and their descendants to, like Hezekiah, diligently continue in the temple service they had begun
 

The Chronicler expended no small effort in detailing the renewal of the Passover under King Hezekiah. He sent couriers throughout Israel and Judah with letters saying:

“Israelites, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped from the hand of the king of Assyria…Serve the LORD your God so that He may turn His fierce wrath away from you, for when you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him” (2 Chron 30.6b, 8b-9).

 

For him, residence in the Promised Land was the fulcrum of God’s wrath. The Assyrians (and any opponent for that matter) were exalted over Israel because they were simply instruments of the LORD’s retributive anger against the idolatry of His people—and the Passover would appease His wrath, even bringing back home those who had been displaced because of these foreign invasions. In the storyline of Scripture, the means by which one appeased the wrath of God was advanced far beyond annual sacrifices at the temple, according to Passover regulations (cf. Ex 12); these were simply insufficient for the magnanimity of human sin. Even the Day of Atonement sacrifice pointed to something greater (cf. Lev 16; Heb 9). In time God sent His own Son as the sacrificial lamb, whose death would satisfy His wrath against the sin of His people, and secure them residence in Heaven. Just before Jesus was arrested,

“He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. Then He said to them, ‘I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you; I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’

     “And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me’

     “In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you’” (Lk 22.14b-20).

 
 

*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com