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Bible reading: 2
Chronicles 29:1-9
1 Hezekiah began to
reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he
reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s
name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And
he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that David his father had done. 3 He in
the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the
doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. 4 And
he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them
together into the east street, 5 And said unto them, Hear
me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house
of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness
out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have
trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of
the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away
their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their
backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch,
and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered
burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.
8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and
Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to
astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 9 For,
lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our
daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
When Hezekiah
came to the crown, he applied at once to work reform.
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Those who
begin with God, begin at the right end of their work, and it
will prosper accordingly.
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Those that
turn their backs upon God's ordinances, may truly be said to
forsake God himself.
There are still
such neglects, if the word be not duly read and opened, for that
was signified by the lighting the lamps, and also if prayers and
praise be not offered up, for that was signified by the burning
incense.
Neglect of God's worship was the cause of the calamities they had
lain under. The Lord alone can prepare the heart of man for vital
godliness: when much good is done in a little time, the glory must
be ascribed to him; and all who love him or the souls of men, will
rejoice therein.
Let those that do good work, learn to do it well.
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