A Restoration that lasts!
Destroyed in seconds! Destroying something does not take so much effort or time but rebuilding something that is broken requires a lot of courage and heart apart from time and effort.
Is there something broken in your life? If yes, then you would know what I meant above.
2nd Chronicles 29 brings before us King Hezekiah. He inherits a legacy of disobedience and bad governance yet Hezekiah is described as faithful and even compared to David. What follows is his attempt to turn back from the past disobedience and to once again worship the Lord.
Recognising the guilt
The path of this return or in other words repentance starts with realisation or recognition of guilt.
He reflects on what his ancestors had done and recognises the evil in their actions. This is extra special because Hezekiah is just a young guy of 25 yet God helps him to recognise the inherited guilt.
Recognising the need is one thing but responding to the need is the thing that matters. Many a times we recognise our mistakes but then we just leave it at that. Hezekiah is different, he does not want leave things in the middle.
Preparing by Repentance
King Hezekiah realises that the guilt has damaged their relationship with God and thus mere recognition of guilt is insufficient. What is needed is repentance and restoration.
He prepares his people by first asking the Levites to consecrate themselves. Now consecrate means to be dedicate something or someone for a sacred purpose. This involves repentance, seeking forgiveness for sin and submitting to God.
Further he prepares the temple for sacrifice. It had gone into disuse and even endured misuse. When it is all done the king is informed.
The Sacrifice involved
The next day Hezekiah brings a sin offering and the sacrifice is made to atone for the sins of all Israel.
Interesting to note here that a mere recognition of the guilt and the resulting repentance is not enough for restoration. The atoning sacrifice is necessary. Quite like the atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In-fact if you note we see a pattern emerge that is quite similar to what we see in the New Testament presentation of salvation. Repentance does not lead to restoration without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
A Restoration Hezekiah desired
After the sacrifice is made we see a restoration, the assembly worships the Lord, they sing praises to the Lord. The worship and levitical roles are all restored to how it was during David’s reign. The assembly then comes forward with their own offerings just like it was before the fall of the Kingdom Israel started.
Yet this restoration is not The Restoration that God promised. This is mere ritualistic yet it reveals to us many things about God’s pattern of restoration.
This restoration based on human desire and effort is insufficient and temporary.
The Restoration we recieved
The Restoration you and I have now recieved is different. The recognition of guilt and the resulting repentance is not out of our moral understanding rather it is the work of the Holy Spirit who worked in us while we were still sinners.
It helps us to look at Jesus Christ and his finished work on the Cross. Upon his sacrifice is built our Faith that we recieve by Grace. His sacrifice is necessary and sufficient because he is the True Lamb and the Perfect Sacrifice.
Thus we have now been restored with God, the Father in a manner that is complete and eternal. It has restored our meaning and purpose of our existence. It has restored the loving relationship that we share with our Creator. It enables us to be the Salt and the Light of the World and be part of the restoring mission of God.
Hezekiah had the courage to recognise the guilt, he had the heart to rebuild the broken. God has now done even more for us, He sent his Son to save you and me, His Spirit to equip and empower you and me — have we responded?
Do let me know your response, feel free to share this with others as well.
