Shut Doors Opened

O. T. #983  "Shut Doors Opened"
Ma 17, 2017
2 Chronicles 29
And in every work he began in the service of the house of God in the law and in commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 
 2 Chronicles 31:21

LET IT GLOW

You will recall that the bad King Ahaz of Judah had turned to idolatry and shut the doors of the Temple of God and set up altars to the pagan gods at every corner in Jerusalem. Now we turn the page and read of a very different king, Hezekiah. Revival is just around the corner, folks.

What do we learn about this good king?

• He was 25 years old when Hezekiah became king, and reigned over Judah for 29 years. (v.1)
• He did what was pleasing in the sight of the LORD, just as his ancestor avid had done. (v. 2)
• During Hezekiah's rule, Samaria in Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. The Prophet Hosea continued his ministry then. Also, Isaiah and Micah prophesied during his reign.
• Hezekiah's trust in the Lord had not been equaled by an king who preceded him or by any who followed. (31:21) 
• Hezekiah addressed the spiritual problem first which reflected his life priorities. His diagnosis was correct-Judah had abandoned the worship of God.
• He reversed the policy of his father and repaired the temple and He returned the Levites to their duties as well as priests to the Word of God and offerings.
• King Hezekiah's story is told in 2 Kings18-20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles 29-32.
• Proverbs 25-31 were collected by Hezekiah's advisors. The first section was written by Solomon and the other two were written by others. (Life Application Study Bible)

Life Application Study Bible lists the great revivals where large numbers of people gave up their ways of living in sin. Each period had its leaders who took action without fear to make his desires known to the people:
Moses, Samuel, David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

What a testimony of Hezekiah's life of faith, trusting and obeying God more than any of the 21 kings of Judah. This outstanding man turned to God.
Can it be said of us in our community? in our church?

A devotional, Experiencing God Day by Day, written by the Blackabys encourages us:

Hezekiah live in a dangerous and tumultuous time. He faced powerful enemies. Idolatry was the popular religion of the day. His parents had rejected God and encouraged people to worship gods. Hezekiah had the opportunity to reject God as well, yet he chose to serve God with all his heart. God honors the heart that commits to follow Him. God is pleased to prosper those who strive to please Him rather than seek the approval of people (1 Sam. 2:30). 

Will we be like Hezekiah and open the doors of the Temple, our heart? When we do, Jesus will enter in. Or have we been hurt so badly that we keep it bolted to everyone, including Jesus, so we don't get hurt anymore? Fiends, Jesus loves us so much. He knocks at the door and asks us to let Him come in.

LET IT GROW

What were some of the details of Hezekiah' reform of Judah?

• He called the Levites to meet with him in the courtyard of the Temple, telling them to purify themselves and the Temple of the LORD; remove the defiled things from the sanctuary.
• Their ancestors had abandoned the LORD a His dwelling place; they turned their backs on Him; they shut the doors, snuffed out the lamps; they stopped burning incense and presenting burn offerings at God's sanctuary. (verse 1-3)
• That is why the Lord's anger had fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He made Judah an object of dread, horror, and ridicule.(verse 8)
• That is why fathers were killed in battle and children were captured.
• Now Hezekiah made a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, so His fierce anger would turn away.
• The king told the Levites to not neglect their duties any longer.
• The Lord had chosen them to stand in His presence, to minister to Him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to Him.

I would say that was a good start, wouldn't you?
What has God chosen us to do? Are we ministering to others? What about leading others to worship Jesus, the Savior? Do we present Him with offerings?
Do we know people who have shut the door of their heart to the Lord because of sin and rebellion? Will we try to help them open it again?

LET IT GO

I open the door of my heart to You, Jesus.

Be the light of my life.

Here is my life to be used for Your honor and glory.