Focus Chapters:
- 2 Chronicles 29:3-36
- 2 Chronicles 30-31
Standout Verse(s):
THE ACTION
2 Chronicles 30:6-9 NLT
At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said:
“O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings. Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
“For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.”
THE REACTION
2 Chronicles 30:10-11 NLT
The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them. However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
Observation (s):
- Hezekiah sent runners out to his people urging them to return to God and come and worship at His Temple in Jerusalem.
o not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
- The majority of the people laughed and made fun of Hezekiah’s runners and their message.
The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
- The minority listened and heeded Hezekiah’s urgings.
The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them. However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
Application:
When you begin to do God’s work, don’t expect everyone to be on-board.
King Hezekiah started a good work. He reopened the Temple and urged the Levites to purify themselves and take up the role that God had set out for them. Together, they got the representation of God’s presence in order. Hezekiah’s next step was to urge his people to return to God and come and worship at the restored Temple. He sent runners out with a powerful message: “Turn away from the sinful path of your ancestors. Return to God and avoid His wrath!
The runners’ delivery of Hezekiah’s message was met with two varying responses:
- The majority laughed and made fun of them.
- Some persons humbled themselves and returned to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
Based on the responses, Hezekiah could have thrown in the towel and bowed to the pressure and swaying of the majority. Instead, he continued on the path that God has set him on and later on, receives a great blessing that blesses him personally and his nation.
When you are doing God’s work, do not be dissuaded by the negative response of the majority. They can block your blessing and the blessings of those that would be impacted by your work.
