2 Chronicles 30:13-15 "And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. (14) And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. (15) Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD."
After the priests and Levites had sanctified themselves, King Hezekiah sent
letters throughout all Judah and Israel to come to Jerusalem and worship. The
letters spoke concerning the length of time since proper worship had taken
place. He spoke to their hearts concerning the fact other nations had come in
through that time to influence and eventually overtake some of them. There were
varying responses when the letters were read. Some of the people laughed the
idea to scorn that Hezekiah would imply their need for worship; but thankfully,
there were many who came to Jerusalem to present themselves before the Lord.
Our text tells us that the priests and Levites were ashamed when they saw the
great number of people who were so hungry to engage in worship. The people had
been neglected. God had been neglected. Worship had been put to the side. The
priests were content to let things continue in that mode. As that happened, the
inner need for worship came to the surface in other ways. They had erected
altars to other gods. They had burned incense to other gods. When proper
worship had been placed to the side, hearts were left wide open to receive and
engage in alternate forms of worship. Yes, the priests were ashamed when they
saw the hunger in the people and the need for true worship. They sanctified
themselves. That is, they cleaned their own hearts and minds and returned to
that which the Lord had ordained them to do.
I'm going to speak from my heart at this moment. I do not intend to offend
anyone, but as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ and as a watchman set upon
the wall, it is my responsibility to sound warnings. There is a great danger in
these past months for God's people to become settled. I am trying to be very
careful, but I know human nature is such that it is easy to replace actions
with other actions. Many, who have always been in the Lord's House are not
going to church on Sundays now. I'm not speaking of those who have physical
reasons for not being at God's House. I know I became very lax in those couple
months when worship services were cancelled. Even as a pastor, I found it would
have been very easy to continue with a thirty minute message by way of the
internet. At first, I even felt I could dress in a relaxed manner. But the Lord
convicted me that His worship deserves my very best. So I began to wear a suit
and tie. But it would still have been very easy for me to have just continued
in that venue. But the truth of God's Word says, "Forsake not the
assembling of yourselves together." There is much to be said for
being assembled with children of God who have a heart for worship.
May God help us to come back to that which He has instructed us to do. There
will be great joy in the camp when God's people return to that which He has
ordained us to do.