2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 29: The LORD's house is cleansed again

Begin in prayer

Before you read how Hezekiah reopened the LORD's house, ask God to show your family why sin must be paid for. Ask Him to show you Christ, whose blood cleanses.

Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.

Psalm 85:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that sin must be paid for, and show us Jesus, whose blood makes atonement once for all. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Hezekiah becomes king at twenty-five, and in his first month he opens and repairs the doors of the LORD's house. He tells the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and carry the filth out, because their fathers were unfaithful. They cleanse the house in sixteen days and bring all the uncleanness out to the brook Kidron. Hezekiah brings seven bulls, rams, lambs and male goats as a sin offering, and the priests make atonement for all Israel. The Levites sing with the instruments of David. When the burnt offering begins, the song of the LORD begins with the trumpets. Hezekiah and all the people rejoice because of what God had prepared for them.

As you read 2 Chronicles 29, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's house was cleansed and atonement was made, and the people rejoiced in what God had prepared.

Hezekiah's first act in his first month was to open the doors of the LORD's house and repair them (verse 3). Under Ahaz the doors had been shut and the lamps put out (verses 6 and 7). Hezekiah told the Levites to sanctify themselves, which means to set themselves apart for God (verse 5). The priests brought out all the uncleanness, and they finished cleansing the house in sixteen days (verses 16 and 17). Then Hezekiah brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering (verse 21). The assembly laid hands on the goats, and the priests made atonement for all Israel with their blood (verses 23 and 24). Atonement means that a sacrifice stands in the place of the guilty. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began, and the people brought thank offerings (verses 27 and 31). They rejoiced “because of that which God had prepared for the people,” so the joy came from God (verse 36).

How does 2 Chronicles 29 show us that the LORD's house was cleansed and atonement was made, and that the people rejoiced in what God had prepared?

Hezekiah opened the LORD's house and called the Levites to cleanse it.

In his first year Hezekiah opened the doors of the LORD's house and repaired them (verse 3). He told the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and carry the filth out of the holy place (verses 4 and 5). The priests brought out all the uncleanness to the court, and the Levites took it to the brook Kidron (verse 16). They cleansed the house in eight days after the porch, and finished on the sixteenth day (verse 17).

A sin offering was made to make atonement for all Israel.

Hezekiah brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering (verse 21). The priests killed them and sprinkled the blood on the altar (verse 22). The king and the assembly laid their hands on the male goats (verse 23). The priests made a sin offering with their blood to make atonement for all Israel (verse 24).

The song of the LORD began, and the people rejoiced.

When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD also began, with the trumpets (verse 27). All the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang until the offering was finished (verse 28). The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and those with a willing heart brought burnt offerings (verse 31). Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had prepared (verse 36).

The blood of Jesus makes atonement once for all.

Hebrews says Jesus entered the holy place once for all with His own blood, and gained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9 verse 12). It also says the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins (Hebrews 10 verse 4). The blood of Christ cleanses the conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9 verse 14). The goats and bulls of this chapter could not do what Jesus did once for all (Hebrews 10 verses 10 to 12).

Memorise

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, because of that which God had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 29:36

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who can cleanse the sin inside me, and have I gone to Jesus?

The priests carried the filth out of the LORD's house. The blood of the sin offering was shed “to make atonement for all Israel.” Hebrews says Jesus entered the holy place once for all with His own blood (Hebrews 9 verse 12).

Our sin is guilt that no priest could carry away, for the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins (Hebrews 10 verse 4). Jesus gave His own life at the cross for His sheep, and His blood cleanses the conscience (Hebrews 9 verse 14). One offering was enough, and no goat or bull needs to be brought again. On the third day He rose.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven and cleansed.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's house was cleansed and atonement was made, and that the blood of Jesus cleanses sinners. Parents, verses 21 to 24 describe animal sacrifices, and Hebrews says such blood could never take away sins. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that atonement was made, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 52:9

Father, thank You for all You prepared for Your people. Thank You for Jesus, whose blood cleanses sin once for all, and who rose from the dead. Please cleanse each of us as we turn from sin to Him. Amen.