Aug 7, 2010
2 Chron. 29, 30, 32-34
Purpose Today – What doctrine if understood would motivate us to work towards receiving the promised blessings that come from temple work and scripture study?
When 25 year old Hezekiah came to the throne, he had his priorities straight. He understood the plan of salvation. His mother Abijah, was a daughter of a prophet named Zechariah, who “had understanding in the visions of God.” (29:1-2, 26:5)
Doctrine of the plan of happiness. Principle obedience. Principle faith. Principle preparation. Principle sanctification.
Application: “He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.”
What scriptural gems did you notice that teach entire sermons?
V 2 he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord
V3 he in the first year of his reign in the first month – opened the doors of the temple and repaired them
V5 – Sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of the Lord
V24 – make an atonement for all Israel
V30 – sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped
V31 – as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings
Background – 29:6-9
Fathers trespassed and did evil in eyes of Lord and have forsaken him
Result - the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem
Exactly the same consequences await us if we become lax and negligent in our prayers, in our repentance and in our duty to God? How do we fend off the encroaching evil of the empire of this world?
Cleansing the House of the Lord is symbolic of cleansing the heart, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Like Hezekiah, we must sanctify ourselves and purge ourselves of the filthiness of this world. We do this by sincere repentance and through the atoning ordinances of the priesthood.
V 31 the gift of a free heart, liberated from the heavy weight of sin is perhaps the sweetest blessing of the atonement.
Turn Again Unto the Lord
30:1, 9, 10 – Hezekiah wanted all Israel to enjoy the blessings of the temple. The temple is always the focus of mockery in the world…they were laughed to scorn and mocked –
30:18-19 – the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God…and the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
30:17 – many were not sanctified – Levites had the charge to bring the ordinances of salvation to them that were not sanctified - (to do the work of salvation for those who could not do it for themselves.
The evil one wanted to stop this progress
Sennacherib was the mightiest king of the mightiest empire in the history of the world to that time Hezekiah prepared the people. President Kimball said “Perspiration must precede inspiration; there must be effort before there is the harvest.”
32:3 stops the fountains of waters so the Assyrians have nothing to drink
v 5 fortifies the city, building a wall and towers
v5 made weapons and armed the people
v6 set the military in order, organizing captains of war
v7 there be more with us than with him – learned the lesson of Elisha’s servant
2 Kings 18:13-16 – sent tribute to Sennachrib
Sennacherib responds with campaign of psychological warfare
(like DMZ in Korea – like opponents to Prop 8 – like antis in front of our temples)
Conclusion
What can we do to bring the temple more into our lives?
How can we make temple worthiness and attendance a priority in our lives?
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