2 Chronicles 31:1-4 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

A religious reformation in the days of Hezekiah.

I. A POPULAR CRUSADE AGAINST IDOLATRY . ( 2 Chronicles 31:1 .)

1 . When begun. "When all this was finished," i.e. after the temple had been purified and rededicated ( 2 Chronicles 29:1-36 .), and the Passover celebrated ( 2 Chronicles 30:1-27 .). Everything in its order. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;" "a time to pluck up that which is planted;" "a time to break down;" "a time to rend" ( Ecclesiastes 3:1 , Ecclesiastes 3:2 , Ecclesiastes 3:3 , Ecclesiastes 3:7 ). This time had arrived in Judah, and partially also in Israel, in the days of Hezekiah.

2 . By whom undertaken. "All Israel that were present," i.e. all the members of the two kingdoms (Judah and Israel proper) that were in the metropolis observing the Passover. That they felt themselves stirred to such a vigorous assault upon the instruments and institutions of idolatry was an indication of the depth to which they had been moved by the high ceremonial in which they had borne a part. A pity was it that the nation's zeal for the true religion was so evanescent, not in Judah alone ( 2 Chronicles 33:2 , 2 Chronicles 33:9 ), but also in Ephraim ( Hosea 6:4 ). It is no contradiction to this that the Book of Kings ascribes this destruction of the altars, etc; to the king ( 2 Kings 18:4 ).

3 . To what extent carried.

II. A KINGLY ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUE RELIGION . (Verses 2-4.)

1 . The public ordinances of religion arranged.

2 . The state service of religion provided for. The expense of keeping up that part of the temple-worship which was, properly speaking, national, i.e. the morning and evening burnt offerings, with the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the set feasts prescribed in the Law of Jehovah ( Numbers 28:1-31 ; Numbers 29:1-40 .), the king took upon himself and discharged out of his own possessions ( 2 Chronicles 32:27-29 ). As the crown wealth was, to all intents and purposes, the nation's property, the act of the king was right; still, in. so far as the national wealth was under his control, his act was a deed of liberality. Whether Mugs or parliaments under the Christian dispensation are required or permitted to allocate national wealth to the support of religion may be open to debate; there is no room for doubting that neither kings nor statesmen are hindered from devoting portions of their own wealth to the cause of Christ, i.e. to the up-keep and propagation of the true religion.

3 . A maintenance assigned to the ministers of religion. The portion which belonged to the priests and Levites by the Law of Jehovah, i.e. the firstfruits ( Exodus 23:19 ; Numbers 18:12 , Numbers 18:13 ; Deuteronomy 26:2-4 ), and the tithes of land and beast (Le 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24 )—the firstfruits being assigned specially to the priests, and the tithes to the whole tribe of Levi—the king commanded the people residing in Jerusalem to render. Under the Christian dispensation the support of the ministers of religion devolves exclusively upon believers ( 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 ; 2 Corinthians 11:7-12 ; Galatians 6:6 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:6 ). Kings and parliaments in their official capacities have not been charged with the duty of supporting ministers of religion out of public revenues.

LESSONS .

1 . It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing, such as the suppression of idolatry.

2 . It is not permissible under the gospel to suppress idolatry by violence, but only by argument and the force of truth.

3 . The lawfulness of state establishments of religion in Christian times cannot be inferred from the existence of such an institution among the Hebrews.

4 . Compulsory payments in support of Christ's religion are indefensible.

5 . It is open to all to practise Christian liberality.—W.