All This... Until

by McIlree, A. | Category: General | Apr 1974

Hezekiah, the new king, ascended the throne with the desire to impart to the people what God had first put into his own heart. He was determined, with God's help, not merely to stem but rather to turn the tide of his father's ruinous ways (2 Chron. 28:23). He desired to reverse the former course, and this required closing the door on the profane associations of Ahaz involving many altars (2 Chron. 28:4) and opening the doors of the house of God for worship before one altar; doors that needed to be repaired (Heb. strengthened). Hezekiah (Heb. Jah is strength) was a man of godly character who doubtless held dear the command

"Offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: but in the place that the Lord shall choose" (Deut. 12:13,14).

Ahaz had ignored this command as is seen in the foreign altars which, in his reign, had dotted the landscape.

As Hezekiah reviewed these earlier days of darkness inside the house of God he saw a people in darkness facing the wrong way (2 Chron. 29:6); a people who had turned (Heb. nathan - to give)

their backs on the place of God's pleasure, and had set their face to the world, thus choosing to lose the vision of God's house. How unlike the Lord, who gave (Heb. nathan) His back to the smiters of this world (Isa. 50:6) and set His face (Luke 9:51) to accomplish the pleasure of His God. The flame on the lamps within the house had been long extinguished (2 Chron. 29:7), yet Hezekiah knew that the flame had earlier gone out in their hearts. Longing for days of revival and return he proclaimed, "It is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD" (2 Chron. 29:10).

How different is the king who yearns for the burning altar where hearth and heart are on fire for God, releasing a sweet savour for His pleasure! But how can this be? Cleansing must first take place. Days of uncleanness inside and outside must be acknowledged and dealt with before a people can enjoy the blessing of worshipping and walking in concert with the will of God. The greatest to the least must be atoned for and so, in anticipation of being associated with the joy of the burnt offering, they came in readiness to be identified with the shame of the sin offering (2 Chron. 29:23).

From being in a very low spiritual condition the people were led by Hezekiah to the pinnacle of worship:

"When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also ... and all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; ALL THIS ... UNTIL the burnt offering was finished" (2 Chron. 29:27,28).

Thus God directs our attention to a rejoicing people: not to the song but to the singers; not to the trumpets but to the trumpeters. Readily He welcomed the worship of His returned people through the means of song and trumpet. Yet behind it all lies His own great purpose, in type. There could be no song without sacrifice. As long as there was sacrifice there was cause to sing. This typifies the coming One through whose sufferings and death we are united to bear testimony and to sing because He is our true Sacrifice. The sufferings He endured at the hand of God were with the intention of providing a continual testimony formed through suffering. Wondrous it is to sing because of Him; and yet, that special word from the former day has something for us, too,

"ALL THIS ... UNTIL the burnt offering was finished."

Shall not we, having been joined with Him who gave Himself to His God and Father in the sweet savour of the burnt offering, rejoice in the fact that the effect of His one offering is eternal? Knowing then that the burnt offering is eternal so also must the song be; the great unending song because of the eternal value of Calvary's sacrifice:

On earth the song begins,

In heaven more sweet and loud.

We, too, are identified with the altar, even Christ, and we long that the fire might also inflame our hearts and release from us the savour of a praising people. So we cry,

Though high above all praise,

Above all blessing high,

Who would not fear His holy name,

And laud and magnify?

Oh, for the living flame

From His own altar brought,

To touch our lips, our minds inspire,

And wing to heaven our thought!

Can we know such a blessed experience? Can there be days of reviving for us as a people? Yes! But firstly, there must be the confession that comes through searching and trying our ways and turning again to the4Lord. For we who are joint-heirs with Him, able to be made full in Him, able also to have all things and abound, have greater cause to sing. Will the joy of the coming of the Lord not compel us to swell the song, as on earth we catch the opening strain of the great eternal theme? Whilst our vision may be restricted let our hearts be stirred to go forward - at His bidding. Bring an offering... Sing unto the Lord... Blow the trumpet in Zion.

ALL THIS ... UNTIL

Until then, our hearts will go on singing,

Until then, with joy we'll carry on.

Until the day our eyes behold the city,

Until the day God calls us home.

McIlree, A. | Apr 1974
General