2 Chronicles 30:1-27

Return to the LORD

Keywords 30:6b

"People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.”

 

1. Hezekiah invites all people for Passover (1-12)

Hezekiah invited the people of Judah and Israel to celebrate the Passover to remember God’s grace of delivering them from slavery in Egypt and to renew their commitment to the LORD. He called the people of Israel to return to the LORD, worship, and serve Him. Many Israelites scorned and ridiculed the invitation, but some humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem, resulting in unity between Judah and Israel to carry out the Passover festival according to the word of the LORD.

  

2. Celebration of the Passover (13-27)

A large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover; the priests and the Levites carried out their duties as prescribed in the Law. Those not ceremonially clean had set their hearts to seeking God and thus were allowed to eat the Passover. Hezekiah prayed for them and the LORD forgave them. They celebrated the Passover with praise and great rejoicing and voluntarily extended seven more days of celebration. There was great joy in Jerusalem, for it was the first time since the division of the kingdom.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, the Passover Lamb. Help me remember your saving grace, return to you, and seek you every day.

One Word Remember God’s grace and return to him

2 Chronicles 29:20-36

HEZEKAIH RE-ESTABLISHED THE TEMPLE WORSHIP

Keywords 29:35b

So the service of the temple of the LORD was reestablished.

 

1. Sin and burnt offerings for all Israel (20-30)

When the temple was cleansed, Hezekiah commanded the priests to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. The king and the assembly laid their hands on the goats and the blood was presented on the altar to atone for all Israel. The law demanded sin to be atoned for by blood. This points to Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Through faith in Jesus’ blood, we are forgiven and reconciled to God. They sacrificed the burnt offerings and worshiped the LORD with songs of praises and musical instruments.

 

2. Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced (31-36)

When atonement was made and the covenant renewed, the assembly willingly brought sacrifices and thank offerings. However, the few priests could not handle them all and needed help from the Levites. When people worshiped the LORD wholeheartedly in the temple, the king and all the people rejoiced at what God had done for them.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus’ blood, which cleanses all my sins and enables me to serve the living God. Help me to joyfully dedicate my life to serve and worship you every day.

One Word Worship the LORD with joyful songs and thanksgiving

2 Chronicles 29:1-19

HEZEKIAH CONSECRATED THE TEMPLE

Keywords 29:5

and said: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

 

1. Hezekiah purifies the temple (1-11)

Hezekiah became king and did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, following in the ways of David. He recognized that God’s judgment fell upon his people because they became unfaithful to the LORD, forsook, and turned their backs on him. Hezekiah wanted to make a covenant with the LORD to restore a right relationship with Him as of first importance. The first thing he did was to reopen the doors of the temple of the LORD and repair them. Then he ordered the Levites to consecrate themselves as well as the temple of the LORD.

 

2. The Levites purified the temple (12-19)

By the order of the king, the Levites first consecrated themselves and began to purify the temple. Beginning with the sanctuary, they took out everything unclean and burned them. There were so many unclean things that it took 16 days to cleanse the temple. They not only removed unclean things, but also put all the consecrated articles in order. Now they were ready to worship the LORD.

  

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, who is the temple in whom we can worship you and find forgiveness of sins. Cleanse and purify my heart to come to your presence.

One Word Consecrate my heart for true worship

2 Chronicles 28:16-27

THE LORD HUMBLED JUDAH

Keywords 28:19a

The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,

 

1. Ahaz seeks help from Assyria, not from the LORD (16-21)

When the Edomites and the Philistines attacked Judah again, Ahaz sought help from the king of Assyria, rather than the LORD. However, it didn’t work, for the king of Assyria gave him more trouble. As a result, Judah’s situation became worse. Why? The LORD had humbled Judah because Ahaz promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. When God humbles us, it is time for us to repent of our unfaithfulness and seek God’s help.

 

2. Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD (22-27)

In times of trouble, Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, thinking that the gods of the kings of Aram were more powerful and beneficial than the LORD. Ahaz went further by shutting the doors of the temple of God and introducing pagan worship to every town in Judah, which provoked God to anger and caused Ahaz’s downfall and that of his people.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus’ faithfulness to you and to his unfaithful children. Help me be faithful to you and to those you brought into my life.

One Word Be faithful like Jesus

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

THE LORD KNEW MOSES FACE TO FACE

Keywords 34:10

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

 

1. The God of Moses; the God of Joshua (1-9)

Moses had led his people for forty years, and now they were near the promised land: the land promised by God on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s Spirit sustained Moses to serve his people with undiminished eyes and unwavering strength, but, now, his time was done. God allowed him to see the land from the mountain, and then Moses died and was buried. God’s Spirit now filled Joshua son of Nun. God led his people in every generation: Abraham believed God’s promises, Moses established the nation of Israel, and Joshua conquered the Promised Land. God is ruler over all history.

2. Moses was faithful to the LORD (10-12)

Moses was unique among all God’s people in the Old Testament, for he knew the LORD face to face. He was completely faithful to do all God sent him to do in Egypt as well as leading his people in the wilderness, performing God’s awesome deeds. How blessed Israel was to have such a shepherd! Yet, we are more blessed to have Jesus, who is worthy of greater honor than Moses (Heb 3:3-6).

Prayer Father, you have been faithful to your people in every generation, culminating in Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Help me give thanks today.

One Word Be faithful to God in our generation

Deuteronomy 33:1-29

“BLESSED ARE YOU, ISRAEL”

Keywords 33:29

Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD ? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places. "

1. Moses blesses the tribes (1-25)

Jacob prophetically blessed his sons and focused, on the Judah’s scepter and Joseph’s role (Gen 49) but Moses’ blessing focuses on God as their king, the importance of the law, and the priestly role of Levi. To be God’s blessed people and maintain his blessing is to listen and obey God’s words and precepts in covenant with him. Incense and offerings are the acts of worship and prayer. May God bless the skills of our pastors and priests today and be pleased with the work of their hands.

 

2. There is no one like the God of Jeshurun (26-29)

Moses blessed each tribe individually but also focused on God who blessed all of Israel as a whole. God is the eternal God, the source of blessing and security. He holds them in his everlasting arms. The most blessed people are those saved by the LORD. In Jesus, we are the most blessed people who belong to and are upheld by the God of Jeshurun.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for reigning over us in Jesus. We are most blessed to have your word of promise and covenant of grace. Help us remember how blessed we are each day.

One Word We are so blessed

Deuteronomy 32:28-52

“THERE IS NO GOD BESIDES ME”

Keywords 32:39

“See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.”

 

1. “Their rock is not like our Rock” (28-43)

God laments his people’s lack of discernment: They foolishly turn away from him, the Rock that shelters them unlike idols. But even the idolatrous enemies know the God of Israel is mightier than the idols they worship. Idolatry is deadly like poison, bringing bitterness. Unless their Rock had given them up, Israel could never be defeated. God’s use of foreign armies to subjugate his people was to help them see he is sovereign over the earth. There is no god besides himself, the living Creator God. He puts to death and gives life, and no one can deliver out of his hand. In contrast, idols are manmade.

 

2. They are not just idle words but your life (44-52)

This song, and all the law written before it by the hand of Moses, was to be kept and recited by his people regularly. Although Moses went up Mount Nebo and did not return, God’s law has been given to his people, personally and directly, through Moses. These are not just idle words but life! These words point to the Word made flesh, Jesus who is our life.

 

Prayer Father, you are the Rock, in whom we find salvation and shelter. Help me trust in you today.

One Word Jesus is the Word of Life