2 Chronicles 31:1
“Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the memorial stones in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.”
The previous chapter documented a revival in the land. King Hezekiah sent messengers throughout Judah and Israel inviting all to visit Jerusalem and celebrate the Lord. This had been a very long time for the people of the north. Probably centuries. Not so much for Judah. Many came.
They tore down a big idol in Jerusalem. The priests called for the people to consecrate themselves. Many didn’t and got sick. Hezekiah prayed for them and they recovered. This was so special they remained and extra eight days.
Then comes today’s verse. They all had to go home and resume their lives. This reminds me of coming home from a retreat. In the fall and spring the retreats were for a weekend. But in the summer they were for a week. At least that’s my recollection. We had learned so much and were challenged in our faith. The worship was awesome. But they all ended and we had to return to work or school.
It reminds me of Amy Grants song, Mountain Top. It’s about those spiritual highs. A couple of times in the song it says that we have to reach to people below. “Worship is more than singing a song… It’s letting God’s Spirit live through you.”
Those mountain top experiences are great. However it’s in the trenches below where our faith really grows. The mundane of day to day life is an important time to live for God. The day to day is common to all. We can have God’s joy there.
Thank You, Lord for the highs, but thank You for walking with us in the ordinary times.