2 Chronicles 29:27, commentary and pictures

The verse stands in the historical book of Chronicles in the portion running from Joash to the Babylonian captivity, within the account of the reigns of Judah's kings, and is made fuller by comparison with the parallel account in 2 Kings. It belongs to the reign of Hezekiah, who is counted among the good kings. Hezekiah began to reign at twenty-five years old after a season of great decline in temporal affairs and in morals, following the bad influence left upon the people by his father Ahaz and his grandfather Jotham, yet having been given a pious mould through the influence of his mother. He immediately made restoration his first work as the son of a bad father.

That restoration was the reopening of the temple and the restoring of the work of the temple and the worship of Jehovah after idolatry and years of neglect that left accumulated rubbish to be cleared. He cleansed and purified God's house, revived the ancient worship of the true God and returned the priests and Levites to service, acting for God's glory. It was a work requiring ability and determination because evil beliefs and practices still held the people strongly though they were dissatisfied. At Hezekiah's command the burnt offering was offered upon the altar in the cleansed temple, and when it began the song of the Lord began also with trumpets and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. The singing and instrumental music accompanied the offering until it was finished, marking the renewed worship of God.

The offering belongs to the great fourteen-day Passover festival at Jerusalem that followed Hezekiah sending messengers with letters from city to city throughout the northern kingdom inviting all to forsake idols and return to the true God, to which some came while others mocked and laughed. The many sacrifices were offered with great gladness in the greatest revival Israel had known since Solomon, followed by the people under the king's direction going through the city breaking down idols, cutting down groves, and destroying high places and altars. The verse shows Hezekiah taking the initiative in a national revival, illustrating the king's active role in religious life and the cooperation of civil rulers and prophets. The passage is plain enough to be understood without detailed explanation and gives a concrete example showing the working out of God's principles. It teaches that doing duty brings blessing and that God willingly helps His people when they seek Him with all their heart, showing His earnest regard for man and His searching for those whose heart is perfect toward Him and who long to do His will.