His Cleansing Work

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-31

Today’s devotion is an excert from my new book (being released in September), Jesus, Day by Day. Hope you enjoy…

“And Hezekiah appointed…the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 31:2

Hezekiah was only twenty-five years old when he was appointed king of Israel (2 Chron. 29:1). He inherited nothing but devastation and wickedness from his father, King Ahaz, who was the ruin of all Israel (2 Chron. 28:19–20, 22–23). But upon becoming king, Hezekiah immediately began to undo the blasphemous work of his father (2 Chron. 29:2–11).

Where Ahaz found fellowship with false gods and wicked Assyrian kings (2 Chron. 28:16), Hezekiah turned to the prophet Isaiah and listened to what the Lord was saying. There is no doubt that his relationship with Isaiah is one of the reasons why Hezekiah was such a good king.

Now Hezekiah found the temple in ruins. The doors had been shut, the lights had burned out, and it was filled with just a bunch of junk and debris. The priests were not fulfilling their role, daily offerings were not being made, and there were no songs of praise filling its gates.

Hezekiah made it his purpose to re-establish the temple and turn the people back to the true and living God. He reinstated the priests, had the temple walls cleansed, and ordered that the piles of junk be hauled away. Finally, praise and worship filled God’s temple once again.

The picture here mirrors Jesus Christ’s work in the believer’s life and heart. Being born again begins the beautiful work of sanctification—the rebuilding of one’s life, the establishment of praise, and the cleansing work by the Word of God (John 17:17).

Take a look around the walls of your heart. Is it in need of some cleansing or repair? Is there junk that needs to be taken out? Is praise filling the gates of your life? This is the work Jesus desires to do in you. 

by Sharon Kaselonis / All rights reserved ©