Mar 13

2 Chronicles 29:36
Memorise Exodus 34:14-15
“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people”

God’s Word clearly states “thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Hezekiah understood this, which was why he gathered the priests and Levites and asked them to sanctify themselves, and restore the temple for the worship of the LORD. His father Ahaz was a terrible king who introduced the worship of false gods, but Hezekiah brought Israel back to the right path, to worship only the one living and true God.

But Hezekiah did not simply obey God’s Word on the surface; he did it with all his heart. We see this in 2 Chronicles 29:36 when he “rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly”. Even though Ahaz had left the worship of God in a terrible state, the people were able to quickly cleanse themselves and all the temple instruments and make themselves ready to worship God in accordance to His will. Everything was done speedily, and according to the law that God had given to Israel in the book of Leviticus. Hezekiah saw all this and rejoiced that the proper worship of God had been restored, and that the people were prepared to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Worship of God was precious to Hezekiah, and he felt great joy when they were able to do so once again.

Do we, like Hezekiah, understand the need to obey and worship the LORD, and Him alone? Are there idols in our hearts that have replaced God? When we come to church to worship Him, it is possible for us to not truly be worshipping God alone if we simply go through the motions without really meaning it. We may sing hymns and be present in the worship service, but our minds can be fixed instead on the things that we treasure more, or are more concerned about. May this not be so! Let us learn from Hezekiah, so that we are able to worship God with great joy, and in accordance to God’s Word.

Thought: Am I truly worshipping God alone, or do the idols in my heart distract me during worship service?
Prayer: Lord, help me not to simply worship only Thee, but to do it with joy as well!