Second Chronicles 31 Commentary
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.
This is Hezekiah. Why say more? The connection is there for us all to see. Obedience has brought prosperity. There is no other way to God-prosperity other than obedience. Back in the Garden of peace and tranquility, Adam’s disobedience wiped out God’s prosperity, and confusion reigned. So only obedience would bring back God-prosperity.
The message of Chronicles is that ungodly kings brought about strife and instability to the community of God’s people. While godliness, albeit imperfect, in kings like Hezekiah, not only brought prosperity to the community but also added buoyance to a sinking ship. The saint is left to gaze at the God-prosperity on the body of Christ because of one perfect king who reigned in perfect obedience.
But today we are looking at Hezekiah’s works as they still hold great value to our own pilgrimage. He is concerned about the well-being of the clergy. When godliness reigns, everything else flows smoothly. The people give willingly and there is enough food for the priests. It is a moment of great joy.
We learn two things from Hezekiah’s church. One: Our giving must serve a purpose. Our giving is meant to supply enough food for the priests, not just one priest.
Two: There comes a point when the giving should be considered enough for the entire clergy. The High Priest Azariah informs the king that the priests had enough and there was excess. There are many big churches today with many pastors but only one pastor eats and he, unsurprisingly, is never satisfied. Satisfaction comes from obedience.
It is a shame before the LORD that in the same congregation the top priest owns a private Jet, while the lowest serving priest hardly affords a meal. And when God-prosperity means material possession and improved social media ranking, in the manner of the world, then you know trouble is in the house.
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