Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Chronicles
Book: 2 Chronicles
Chapter: 29
Overview:
Hezekiah's good reign in
Judah.
(1-19) Hezekiah's
Sacrifice of
Atonement.
(20-36)
1-19 When
Hezekiah came to the
Crown, he applied at once to
work reform. Those who begin with
God, begin at the right
End of
their work, and it will prosper accordingly. 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.
20-36 As soon as
Hezekiah heard that the
Temple was ready, he
lost
No time.
Atonement must be made for the sins of the last
reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they
brought a
Sin-Offering. Our
Repentance and reformation will not
obtain
Pardon but in and through
Christ, who was made
Sin, that
is, a
Sin-Offering for us. While the offerings were
On the
Altar, the Levites sang. Sorrow for
Sin must not prevent us from
praising
God. The
King and the
Congregation gave their consent
to all that was done. It is not enough for us to be where
God is
worshipped, if we do not ourselves
Worship with the
Heart. And
we should offer up our spiritual sacrifices of praise and
thanksgiving, and devote ourselves and all we have, as
sacrifices, acceptable to the
Father only through the
Redeemer.