2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 31: The LORD blesses His people

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how the people filled the LORD's house with gifts, let us pray. Ask God to show us that every good thing comes from Him, and to lead us to Jesus.

The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.

Psalm 67:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that every good thing comes from You, and show us Jesus, who gave Himself for sinners. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

After the Passover, all Israel breaks the pillars and destroys the high places throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. Hezekiah sets the priests and Levites in their divisions for the offerings, the thanks and the praise. He tells the people to give the priests' portion, and they give the first fruits and the tithe in great heaps. Azariah the chief priest says the people have had enough to eat and plenty left, for the LORD has blessed His people. Hezekiah has rooms prepared in the LORD's house, and faithful men give out the portions. Hezekiah does what is good, right and faithful, and in every work he seeks his God with all his heart.

As you read 2 Chronicles 31, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD blessed His people, as Azariah said, and in Hezekiah's day there was plenty left over.

The Passover was over, and the people of Israel went out and broke the idols throughout the land (verse 1). Then Hezekiah set the priests and Levites in their divisions, for the offerings, for thanks, and for praise (verse 2). He told the people to give the priests' and Levites' portion, so they could give themselves to the LORD's law (verse 4). The people gave first fruits of grain, wine, oil and honey, and the tithe of all things, in heaps (verses 5 to 7). Hezekiah and the princes saw the heaps and blessed the LORD and His people (verse 8). Azariah said they had eaten and had plenty left over, “for Yahweh has blessed his people” (verse 10). This was said of Hezekiah's day, and the chapter makes no rule that giving always brings plenty. The gifts supported the priests and Levites, so that worship could go on in the LORD's house (verses 4 and 19). This shows a God who blesses His people, and a king who sought his God with all his heart (verse 21).

How does 2 Chronicles 31 show us that the LORD blessed His people, as Azariah said, and that in Hezekiah's day there was plenty left over?

The people broke the idols and gave their first fruits.

All Israel who were at the feast broke the pillars and destroyed the high places and altars (verse 1). Hezekiah commanded the people to give the portion of the priests and Levites (verse 4). As soon as the command went out, the people gave the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil and honey (verse 5). They also brought the tithe of cattle and sheep and laid it in heaps (verse 6).

The great heaps showed that the LORD had blessed His people.

The people began to lay the heaps in the third month and finished in the seventh month (verse 7). Hezekiah and the princes saw them and blessed the LORD and His people (verse 8). Azariah said that since the people began to bring offerings, they had eaten and had plenty left over (verse 10). He said it was because the LORD had blessed His people (verse 10).

Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful, seeking his God.

Hezekiah had rooms prepared in the LORD's house, and the gifts were brought in faithfully (verses 11 and 12). Men were set over the stores to give to their brothers by divisions, great and small (verses 14 and 15). Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful before the LORD his God (verse 20). In every work he began, he sought his God with all his heart (verse 21).

Jesus became poor for His people, and through His poverty they become rich.

Paul says that Jesus, though He was rich, became poor for the sake of His people (2 Corinthians 8 verse 9). Through His poverty they become rich. Paul gives thanks to God for His gift that words cannot describe (2 Corinthians 9 verse 15). The heaps in the LORD's house were large, but Jesus is the greatest gift.

Memorise

for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

2 Chronicles 31:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what is my greatest need, and have I asked Jesus to meet it?

Azariah said, “Yahweh has blessed his people.” The great heaps in the LORD's house showed what God had given. Paul says that Jesus, though rich, became poor for His people, so that they might become rich (2 Corinthians 8 verse 9).

Our greatest need is forgiveness, and no heap of gifts can buy it. Jesus gave Himself at the cross for His sheep, and He paid for their sin fully, once for all. He rose from the grave alive, and in Him His people are given what money cannot buy.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and will find in Him more than any store can hold.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD blessed His people, and that Jesus gave Himself for sinners who come to Him. Parents, verse 10 was said in Hezekiah's day, and it is not a promise that giving always brings plenty. 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 for all His good gifts, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.

Psalm 41:13

Father, thank You that You blessed Your people and gave them more than enough. Thank You for Jesus, who gave Himself for sinners and rose again. Please make each of us glad to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.