The first thing Hezekiah did after the death of his father was to open the doors of the house of the Lord, repair them, and call the priests and Levites to sanctify both themselves and the house of the Lord. Hezekiah confesses that their fathers had been unfaithful and had done evil in the sight of the Lord. Now he wanted to make a covenant with God, “so that His burning anger may turn away from us.” He then personally encourages the priests and Levites not to be negligent, as the Lord had specifically chosen them to stand before Him, serve Him, and be His ministers.

What a call to diligence we have in the promptness with which Hezekiah acts, and in his words! Do we have the things of God at heart like Hezekiah did? All those who are in Christ have been made kings and priests, and we are also called to be diligent!

If things are broken in Christiandom, we must not point an accusing finger at the previous generation. Are we not the same? Let us judge ourselves. We certainly must learn from the past and do what is good and pleasing before God. What Hezekiah did is also appropriate for us. First, to remove all uncleanness from our lives, all that is unfit for the temple of God—for we are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16). Then, let us remind ourselves not to be negligent in the service of the Lord in giving testimony of our Lord Jesus, serving Him as members of His body, and, through Christ, continually offering up “a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name” (Heb. 13:15).

“For zeal for Your house has consumed me” (Ps. 69:9).