HEZEKIAH RE-OPENS THE TEMPLE.

(2 Chr. xxix:18-31.)

I. The Analysis.

1. Cleansing of the Vessels (verses 18, 19).—The special form of consecration here is the restoration to the divine service of that which belonged to Him.

2. Sacrifice in View of the Sin of Judah (verses 20-24). —The law required sacrifices such as these to be oft repeated—we have "one sacrifice for sins forever" (Heb. x:12).

3. The Praise of a Cleansed and Restored People (verses 25-28).—This is the order of Psalm li (see below).

4. The Worship of a Praising People (verses 29, 30.) — (See below.)

5. The Gifts of a People Right with God (verse 31).— (See below.)

II. The Heart of the Lesson.

So intimately connected are the parts of this precious lesson that they must be considered together. The lesson is all heart; and it is found in the moral order of the return to God of His own people who have become backslidden through sin. Very much superficial and therefore unsatisfying work is done along this line. Conscious of a loss of communion and so of joy and power, we come to God with general and indefinite confessions of coldness and sinfulness, but without deep searching of heart and exercise of conscience, and we find ourselves soon back on the old ground of failure. Here thorough work was done, and the divine order of restoration is here illustrated. Let us mark the steps.

1. Cleansing of the vessels. For the Christian this takes two forms, (1) The cleansing of the ways of the daily walk. This is illustrated by John xiii:4-10, and is performed according to 1 John i:9; for confession is just bringing the defiled feet to the Lord Jesus to be made clean. (2) The second form of cleansing is separation from vessels unto dishonor according to 2 Tim. ii:20, 21. This makes us "vessels unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use."

2. The acknowledgment of the efficacy of the "one sacrifice for sins forever"—the restoration of the Cross to its right place as the sin offering which has settled forever the whole sum of our guilt and demerit before God; and the burnt offering in which Jesus Christ "offered Himself without spot unto God" in our stead and behalf. Faith, dimmed by backsliding and sin, once more sees that as all our demerit was borne by Christ, so all His glorious merit is accounted to us. What inevitably follows is:—

3. The praise of a cleansed and restored heart, now again rejoicing in God through Jesus Christ. In the tabernacle the incense which was burnt on the golden altar was kindled by a live coal from the brazen altar where sacrifice was offered, so true praise like true worship is set aflame by the sacrifice of Christ. Then follows something deeper, higher than praise:—

4. The worship of cleansed, restored, and singing hearts. Praise is vocal, expressive, a testimony. David said that many should hear his new song. Worship is "in spirit"; the bowing of the whole inner self in adoration, wonder and love before the Father. Note this order in 1 Tim. i:12-17. Paul breaks into praise in verse 12, into worship in verse 17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

5. And now the heart, cleansed, restored, filled with the new song, and bowed in adoration, is ready for service. "Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings unto the house of the Lord."