2 Chronicles 31
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CHAPTER 31
Contributions for Worship (31:1–21)
1 After the Passover celebration described in the preceding chapter was completed, the assembled Israelites (from both north and south) went out and destroyed all sites and objects related to the worship of pagan gods. Their two weeks of joyful celebration and worship in Jerusalem was now translated into action. Worship must always be accompanied by action, by obedience; otherwise it is not true worship.21
2–13 In these verses, the writer describes Hezekiah’s program for ensuring that the spirit of worship manifested during the Passover celebration would continue throughout the year and on into future years. His program consisted of organizing the priests and Levites, providing for their on going support, and encouraging the people to give generously to the work of the Lord.22 As the people gave, the Lord continued to bless them, so that they always had a great amount . . . left over (verse 10).
14–21 In these verses, the writer describes Hezekiah’s plans for distributing all the offerings to the priests and Levites. The people not only presented the required offerings at festival times, but they also gave freewill offerings and other contributions such as consecrated gifts (verse 14)—gifts of property or other valuable assets which people could consecrate or dedicate to the Lord. All these various contributions were then distributed to the priests and Levites for their support.23
In verse21, the writer concludes the chapter by saying that Hezekiah sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. Yes, prosperity usually does result from wholehearted devotion to the Lord; but it is not an automatic rule. In the first verse of the next chapter, the writer says: After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. Even when we are faithful to the Lord, He still may want to test us further in order to strengthen our faith and prepare us for new and greater service.24 Through Sennacherib’s invasion, Hezekiah reached new heights of faith and leadership, and God was glorified because of it (see 2 Kings 18:17–37; 2 Chronicles 32:2–8,20–23).