2 Chronicles 29:20-36 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 29:20-36. Let’s go!
2 Chronicles 29:30 (NIV)
30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
On verses 20-33: Hezekiah, the priests and the Levites reopen the temple and hold the very first worship service at the temple in years. Sacrifices are made (v21-24), music is played (v25-28), and the people worship the Lord together. The famous old worship songs of David and Asaph are sung for the first time in what seems like forever (v29-30), and the worship of the Lord is Judah is renewed.
What can we learn from this? Once my son Bradley and I were having our GAME time together and he suggested that we listen to a worship song. So I got on my phone and played an old album that I used to listen to many years ago. As we listened to these old but beautiful worship songs, I not only remembered the lyrics, but the places where I was at spiritually when I first heard those songs. It brought joy, comfort, and peace to my heart, to think that the same God to whom I sang those songs many years before is still here. Funny how God can use an old worship song to renew us. Is there an old worship song you used to sing or listen to a lot? Try singing it or listening to it again in this current season. You may find that God uses that old song to renew your life in Him and broaden your perspective.
2 Chronicles 29:31 (NIV)
31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the LORD. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
On verses 31-33: After the first sacrifices are made in recognition of the people’s sins (v23-24), Hezekiah invites the people to bring their thank offerings to God (v31-33). First came the sin offering, then comes the thank offering.
What can we learn from this? Remember that Jesus offered Himself as a sin offering for us, so that we could be forgiven. The sin offering was done, and can only be done, by Jesus the only perfect lamb of God. Now it’s our turn to offer God an offering – not an offering that atones for our sin once more, but a thank offering to thank God for all that God has done. May your life – how you live, give and serve – be a thank offering to God for all that He has done.
2 Chronicles 29:34 (NIV)
34 The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their kinsmen the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.
On verses 34-36: Notice that the Levites, who were related to the priests but not necessarily priests themselves, were spiritually more ready to serve than the priests! They were more careful and conscientious about preparing themselves to worship and serve God. So God used the Levites that day more than He used the priests.
What can we learn from this? You may be chosen by God, but how much God actually uses you depends on how ready you are to be used. If you are lazy, hard-hearted, too busy or distracted by sin, you limit how much God can use you, and God will end up using others who may be less experienced or qualified but who are more ready and willing. Don’t just be chosen. Be ready – ready to serve, ready to give your life for His glory.
Jesus, thank You for being my sin offering so that I could be forgiven and reconciled to God. May I live this life as a thank offering for all You have done. Thank You for choosing me. May I be conscientious like the Levites in getting myself ready to serve You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
