Template:DOD protected/May 16

May Scripture Portion for Bible Commentary : 1 Chronicles 7 - Job 11 including the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

• 1 Chronicles 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

• Book of Ezra 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

• Book of Nehemiah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

• Book of Esther 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

• Book of Job 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Chapters 29 and 30 record the reign of Hezekiah. The people of God had gone through a long spiritual famine. King after king had gone in the ways of idolatry and sin. But suddenly Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, appears on the scene. Like a fresh breath of God's air, revival immediately begins to sweep the nation. Why? Verse 2 of chapter 29 tells us, "And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done." In the records of most of the former kings, this phrase is missing. But it shows that Hezekiah followed the ways of David, the man after God's own heart. His father, Ahaz, had shut up the doors of the house of the Lord. The first thing Hezekiah did was open the doors and repair them. And notice that he did this in the very first month of his reign. He acted with haste. There was no delay in his dealing with sin. He realized that all revival must begin at the house of God. Verse 36 of chapter 29 says, "And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.".

Chapter 30 also records the observance of the Passover. There is rejoicing in all of Israel. True worship was restored and great offerings were brought. God blessed all the efforts of Hezekiah.

In chapter 31 we read, "And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered." Hezekiah was a man dedicated to serving God with all his heart. Note particularly in chapter 31 that he rooted out idolatry and restored the Temple ritual.