Sun.’s Devo - Hezekiah’s Reform

Read: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12 Hezekiah summoned the people to the Temple and explained that because Ahaz had led the nation into idolatry and abandoned the Lord, they had become on object of dread and ridicule. They had lost many men in war and their women and children had been taken captive. He led the people in a covenant to the Lord. He called the priests and Levites back to service. The Levites responded immediately. They began cleansing and repairing the Temple and had it back in working order in 16 days. They had it ready for sacrificing two days after the Passover. Hezekiah offered seven bull, seven rams, and seven male lambs. Satan’s number is 666. God’s number is 777. Singers were stationed at the Temple with their instruments just like it was in David’s day. Everyone sang songs of praise were sang and they bowed down in worship as the priests ordered their sacrifices. Then the Levites sang and the people offered their sacrifices to the Lord. Almost 4,000 animals were sacrificed that day. They had so few priests that they had to let relatives of the Levites help. Everyone rejoiced that the restoration could happen so quickly. Turning from the Lord usually takes a process of time but repentance is immediate and God restores quickly. In Romans, Paul was speaking to the mature believer. He told him to not judge or condemn a weaker Christian because of their beliefs about what it right and wrong. We have all been given a conscience and we must obey it. All consciences are not alike. Arguing over what to eat and not eat is a waste of time and effort. Everyone will answer to God for their own lives. We have enough to worry about ourselves to worry about what others think. God is so much more interested in our hearts and the way we worship him than what we eat or don’t eat. Lord, help us to prioritize things in our lives according to your standards. May we hold up the mirror to our own faces and not play God for others. We thank you for your great mercy and grace.