Title: The Congregation That Worships
Bible Book: 2 Chronicles 29 : 28-30
Author: David E. Owen
Subject: Worship; Church, Worship
Objective:
Introduction
We have been looking in our Sunday morning services at the subject of “Worship.” From Genesis 22, we talked about “The Concept Of Worship” and how the word “worship” is used for the first time in that passage. From Exodus 34, we dealt with “A Call To Worship,” and how we should “worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Last week, we saw “Some Components Of Worship In Isaiah 6.”
This morning, it’s on my heart to talk about “The Congregation That Worships” from 2 Chronicles 29. The Bible says in verse 28…
(2 Chronicles 29:28) And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
I read about a Sunday school teacher who asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” And one little girl named Annie replied, “Because people are sleeping.”
Well, we have not come to sleep, but we have come to worship Almighty God and His Son the Lord Jesus.
One of the great kings of Judah was a man named Hezekiah, and he became interested in worship at an early point in his reign. The Bible says…
(2 Chronicles 29:1-3) Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. {2} And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. {3} He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
Consider the meanings of the names here in this family…
Hezekiah – Hebrew 2396. Chizqiyah, khiz-kee-yaw'; or Chizqiyahuw, khiz-kee-yaw'-hoo; also Yechizqiyah, yekh-iz-kee-yaw'; or Yechizqiyahuw, yekh-iz-kee-yaw'-hoo; from H2388 and H3050; strengthened of Jah; Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Isr.:--Hezekiah, Hizkiah, Hizkijah. Comp. H3169.
Abijah – Hebrew 29. 'Abiyah, ab-ee-yaw'; or prol. 'Abiyahuw, ab-ee-yah'-hoo; from H1 and H3050; father (i.e. worshipper) of Jah; Abijah, the name of several Isr. men and two Israelitesses:--Abiah, Abijah.
Zechariah – Hebrew 2148. Zekaryah, zek-ar-yaw'; or Zekaryahuw, zek-ar-yaw'-hoo; from H2142 and H3050; Jah has remembered; Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Isr.:--Zachariah, Zechariah.
The names indicate that on his mother’s side, Hezekiah had some godly influence, but his father did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord…
(2 Chronicles 28:27) And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Ahaz – Hebrew 271. 'Achaz, aw-khawz'; from H270; possessor; Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Isr.:--Ahaz.
I. Let’s Consider The Servants Involved In Worship In This Congregation
A. Observe How The Leader Was Involved In Worship
1. He Was Walking In A Path Of Heritage
(2 Chronicles 29:2) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
Just as Hezekiah was walking in the path of David, as a preacher and pastor, I am walking in the path of those who have gone before me.
2. He Was Working In A Pattern of Helpfulness
(2 Chronicles 29:3) He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
opened – Hebrew 6605. pathach, paw-thakh'; a prim. root; to open wide (lit. or fig.); spec. to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-) grave (-n), loose (self), (be, beset) open (-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.
repaired – Hebrew 2388. chazaq, khaw-zak'; a prim. root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (fig. courageous, causat. strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengten (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
B. Observe How The Levites Were Involved In Worship
The Levites were the priestly tribe, and in that respect they are a microcosm of what God’s people are as a whole…
(Exodus 19:6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
(1 Peter 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1. They Were Responsive In Their Listening
(2 Chronicles 29:4-5) And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, {5} And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
(2 Chronicles 29:12-15) Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: {13} And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: {14} And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. {15} And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.
2. They Were Responsive In Their Laboring
(2 Chronicles 29:34) But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
help – (same as the word “repaired” in verse 3) Hebrew 2388. chazaq, khaw-zak'; a prim. root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (fig. courageous, causat. strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengten (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
C. Observe How The Laypeople Were Involved In Worship
1. The Congregation Was Worshipping
(2 Chronicles 29:28) And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
congregation – Hebrew 6951. qahal, kaw-hawl'; from H6950; assemblage (usually concr.):--assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
worshipped – Hebrew 7812. shachah, shaw-khaw'; a prim. root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (espec. reflex. in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
2. The Consecration Was Whole
(2 Chronicles 29:31) Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
consecrated – Hebrew 4390. male', maw-lay'; or mala' (Esth. 7 : 5), maw-law'; a prim. root, to fill or (intrans.) be full of, in a wide application (lit. and fig.):--accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, X draw, give in, go) fully (-ly, -ly set, tale), [over-] flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a [hand-] full, + have wholly.
The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament said…
The whole assembled congregation, including the priests and Levites … had consecrated themselves anew to the service of the Lord as their God, and had anew made a covenant with the Lord (v. 10); so that only the sacrificial meal was wanting to the completion of this celebration of the covenant
The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says of the term consecrated (Hebrew OT:3027) that…
Consecration was depicted by the idiom “fill the hands.” Some suggest that the sense of filling means the hands were full and had no time for other business, though others think that “filling” was with a sacrificial portion since this phrase was predominately used in the commissioning of priests
The IVP Bible Background Commentary says that …
The thank offerings were types of fellowship offerings. Portions of this offering were consumed on the altar, while the worshiper ate the remainder.
All of this presents the idea that these people were completely consumed by the worship they were involved in. There was no “half-heartedness” in it.
II. Let’s Consider The Situation Involved In Worship In This Congregation
A. There Was A Situation Of Transgression Leading Up To The Time Of Worhsip
(2 Chronicles 29:6) For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.
1. There Had Been Deception (And Displeasing) In Their Relationship With God
trespassed – Hebrew 4603. ma'al, maw-al'; a prim. root; prop. to cover up; used only fig. to act covertly, i.e. treacherously:--transgress, (commit, do a) tresspass (-ing).
evil – Hebrew 7451. ra', rah; from H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (nat. or mor.):--adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Incl. fem. ra'ah; as adj. or noun.]
2. There Had Been Departure In Their Relationship With God
forsaken – Hebrew 5800. 'azab, aw-zab'; a prim. root; to loosen (they had become loosened in their living), i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.
turned – (first occurrence in the verse) Hebrew 5437. cabab, saw-bab'; a prim. root; to revolve, surround or border; used in various applications, lit and fig. (as follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
B. There Was A Situation Of Trouble Leading Up To The Time Of Worhsip
(2 Chronicles 29:8-9) Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. {9} For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
1. This Trouble Was The Result Of God And His Rage
wrath – Hebrew 7110. qetseph, keh'-tsef; from H7107; a splinter (as chipped off); fig. rage or strife:--foam, indignation, X sore, wrath.
As the literal meaning of the word would suggest, God had a chip on His shoulder towards His people.
2. This Trouble Was The Result Of God And His Response
delivered – Hebrew 5414. nathan, naw-than'; a prim. root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
trouble – Hebrew 2189. za'avah, zah-av-aw'; by transp. for H2113; agitation, maltreatment:-- X removed, trouble.
astonishment – Hebrew 8047. shammah, sham-maw'; from H8074; ruin; by impl. consternation:--astonishment, desolate (-ion), waste, wonderful thing.
hissing – Hebrew 8322. shereqah, sher-ay-kaw'; from H8319; a derision:--hissing.
8319. sharaq, shaw-rak'; a prim. root; prop. to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn):--hiss.
Cf. (2 Chronicles 28:1-5) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: {2} For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. {3} Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. {4} He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. {5} Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
C. There Was A Situation Of Transformation Leading Up To The Time Of Worhsip
1. Notice The Change That Hezekiah Desired
(2 Chronicles 29:10) Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
fierce – Hebrew 2740. charown, khaw-rone'; or (short.) charon, khaw-rone'; from H2734; a burning of anger:--sore displeasure, fierce (-ness), fury, (fierce) wrath (-ful).
wrath – Hebrew 639. 'aph, af; from H599; prop. the nose or nostril; hence the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire:--anger (-gry), + before, countenance, face, + forbearing, forehead, + [long-] suffering, nose, nostril, snout, X worthy, wrath.
turn away – Hebrew 7725. shuwb, shoob; a prim. root; to turn back (hence, away) trans. or intrans., lit. or fig. (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); gen. to retreat; often adv. again:
2. Notice The Charge That Hezekiah Delivered
(2 Chronicles 29:11) My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.
negligent – Hebrew OT:7952. be at ease, then be careless, thoughtless, go astray; forgetful, neglectful, content, free (from anxiety) – 2 Chronicles 29:11 be not negligent (easy-going).
(From Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon)
chosen – Hebrew 970. bachuwr, baw-khoor'; or bachur, baw-khoor'; part. pass. of H977; prop. selected, i.e. a youth (often collect.):--(choice) young (man), chosen, X hole.
III. Let’s Consider The Stages Involved In Worship In This Congregation
A. Notice The Sanctification Stage (Before The Worship Experience)
(2 Chronicles 29:5) And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
filthiness – Hebrew 5079. niddah, nid-daw'; from H5074; prop. rejection; by impl. impurity, espec. personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest):-- X far, filthiness, X flowers, menstruous (woman), put apart, X removed (woman), separation, set apart, unclean (-ness, thing, with filthiness).
1. There Was A Cleansing
(2 Chronicles 29:15-19) And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. {16} And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron (means a dusky place or place of mournfulness). {17} Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. {18} Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof. {19} Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.
cleanse – Hebrew 2891. taher, taw-hare'; a prim. root; prop. to be bright; i.e. (by impl.) to be pure (phys. sound, clear, unadulterated; Levit. uncontaminated; mor. innocent or holy):--be (make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge, purify (-ier, self).
2. There Was A Covenant
(2 Chronicles 29:10) Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
covenant – Hebrew 1285. beriyth, ber-eeth'; from H1262 (in the sense of cutting [like H1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):--confederacy, [con-]feder[-ate], covenant, league.
He wanted to get in agreement with God.
B. Notice The Singing Stage (During The Worship Experience)
(2 Chronicles 29:28) And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
1. There Was A God-Centeredness In Their Singing
(2 Chronicles 29:30) Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
praise – Hebrew 1984. halal, haw-lal'; a prim. root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causat. to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.
They were singing a song that was bragging on God!
2. There Was A Gladness In Their Singing
(2 Chronicles 29:30) Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
gladness – Hebrew 8057. simchah, sim-khaw'; from H8056 blithesomeness or glee (delight and excitement), (religious or festival):-- X exceeding (-ly), gladness, joy (-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice (-ing).
C. Notice The Sharing Stage (After The Worship Experience)
1. They Were Sharing In Their Rejoicing
(2 Chronicles 29:36) And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
rejoiced – Hebrew 8055. samach, saw-makh'; a prim. root; prob. to brighten up, i.e. (fig.) be (caus. make) blithe or gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
prepared – Hebrew 3559. kuwn, koon; a prim. root; prop. to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causat.) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether lit. (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or fig. (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous)
The word indicates that God had helped them to stand again. And before they could stand, they had to kneel.
2. They Were Sharing In Their Reaching Out
(2 Chronicles 30:1) And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
The sequence should be the same for us …
We prepare for worship in a sanctification stage
We participate in worship in a singing stage
We proceed from worship in a sharing stage
(In other words, as I have seen written over some entry doors into and out of church auditoriums, we “Enter To Worship” and “Leave To Serve.”)
Conclusion
I thought it was interesting that the “Our Daily Bread” devotional for today, August 17, 2008 said…
Tobias, who recently turned 3, loves to go to church. He cries when he isn’t able to attend. Each week when he arrives for the children’s program of Bible stories, games, singing, and dinner, he runs into the building and enthusiastically announces to the leaders and other children: “Let’s get this party started!” The Lord must smile at this child’s excitement about being in what he thinks is God’s house.
The author of Psalm 84, one of the sons of Korah, also had a love for God’s house. Some commentators have speculated that for a time he, a temple singer, was unable to go to the temple—either because of sickness or circumstances. So as he wrote this psalm, his soul was especially longing and crying out to be in “the courts of the Lord” (v.2). He believed that one day of worship in God’s house gave more satisfaction than a thousand days spent anywhere else (v.10).
There’s something special about praising God together with His people, and we should take every opportunity we can to do so. But if we can’t, like the psalmist, we can still express our love for the living God and our longing to know Him (v.2). The Lord is pleased and we’ll be blessed when our heart’s desire is to be with Him and His people. — Anne Cetas
One day that’s spent with You, O Lord, In worship and in praise
Is better than a thousand spent In less important ways. —Sper
A good indicator of our spiritual temperature is our eagerness to worship God.
I pray that ours will be a congregation that worships God!
