2 Chronicles 30:14
“They got up and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the brook Kidron.”
King Hezekiah brought the his people through national repentance. He invited his brethren to the north to join in. Today’s verse is part of their response. This action is quite bold.
Our present culture would demand these be kept as they are historical artifacts. While these weren’t that to those people there were plenty who wanted them. They may be the families that funded or did the building of them. Like the silversmiths in the book of acts that saw their livelihood threatened by the gospel. We don’t see any resistance, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any.
We will see resistance when we go back to God. Someone might be married and the spouse isn’t on board with the conversion. That one may lose the marriage. Coworkers may offer resistance. Someone may lose a promotion. We will lose friends.
Jesus spoke of counting the cost in Luke 14:28, 29, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sitdown and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him.”
The people in today’s scripture are serious about getting back to God. It’s more than lip service. When the pharisees came out to hear John the Baptists message he said the them, “Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance”, (Matthew 3:8). God will change a person when He becomes their lord. It’s a beautiful thing. At times it’s painful, but it’s healing and cleansing.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a says, “He makes all things beautiful in His time”. Most of us are surprised at the direction our lives take. I Corinthians 2:9 says, ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”’ The wishes I had for myself were superficial and hollow. What God has done has been valuable and lasting. Psalm 23 says, “He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” He has given respect. He has also made us people worthy of respect. It’s all God.
Hezekiah and his people did a good thing. God responds with blessing. Thank You, Lord for You and all the blessings You’ve given. I feel like there is little that remains of my damaged self. Some memories remain. They serve as a contrast to what He’s done. Thank You for that. You have truly taken us beggars and dusted us off and adopted us as Your children.