2 Chronicles 31:21

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God,.... In cleansing the temple, providing sacrifices, placing the priests and Levites order, taking care of the maintenance of them: and in the law and in the commandments; in the observation of all the laws, statutes, and judgments of God, moral, ceremonial, and judicial: to seek his God; and serve and worship him, and therein his honour and glory: he did it with all his heart; in the most cordial, sincere, and upright manner: and prospered; he succeeded in all he undertook, God being with him, and blessing him in his civil and religious concerns.

31:1-21 Hezekiah destroys idolatry. - After the passover, the people of Israel applied with vigour to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us up to cleanse our hearts, our houses, and shops, from the filth of sin, and the idolatry of covetousness, and to excite others to do the same. The after-improvement of solemn ordinances, is of the greatest importance to personal, family, and public religion. When they had tasted the sweetness of God's ordinance in the late passover, they were free in maintaining the temple service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry, will not grudge the expense of it. In all that Hezekiah attempted in God's service, he was earnest and single in his aim and dependence, and was prospered accordingly. Whether we have few or many talents intrusted to us, may we thus seek to improve them, and encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincere regard to the glory of God, will succeed to our own honour and comfort at last.

(21) Commandments. —Heb., commandment. To seek his God.—In order to seek, or by way of seeking. He did it with all his heart.—Comp. the frequent phrase, “with a perfect heart” (1Chronicles 28:9, and elsewhere); also “and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,” &c. (Deuteronomy 6:5).

2Ch 31:20, 21. His Sincerity of Heart. 20. Hezekiah … wrought that which was good and right—He displayed the qualities of a constitutional king, in restoring and upholding the ancient institutions of the kingdom; while his zealous and persevering efforts to promote the cause of true religion and the best interests of his subjects entitled him to be ranked with the most illustrious of his predecessors (2Ki 18:15).

Thus the reign of idolatry being completely overthrown and the pure worship of God re-established throughout the land, the people returned every one to his own home, in the confident expectation that, through the divine blessing, they would enjoy a happy future of national peace and prosperity.The people forward in destroying idolatry: Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites; and provideth for their work and maintenance, 2 Chronicles 31:1-4. The people forward in offerings and tithes, 2 Chronicles 31:5-10. Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of the tithes, 2 Chronicles 31:11-19; his sincerity, 2 Chronicles 31:20,21. In Ephraim also and Manasseh; either, 1. In those cities belonging to Ephraim and Manasseh, which the kings of Judah had formerly taken from the kings of Israel. Or, 2. In the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

The conclusion of this account. Thus did Hezekiah in all Judah, and wrought in general that which was good and right and האמת before the Lord his God; and in every work that he commenced for the service of the house of God, and for the law and the commandment (i.e., for the restoration of the law and its commands), to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

When we consider the heavenly influences which many receive who draw back to perdition, and the good fruits which for a time they bore, it is blasphemy to say they2 CHRONICLES had no genuine or saving grace; they had it, they showed it, they trifled with it, sinned against it, continued in their rebellions, and therefore are lost. [ 2 Chronicles 31 ]2 CHRONICLES 2CHRONICLES 31: 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. The people destroy all traces of idolatry throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, 2 Chronicles 31:1. Hezekiah reforms the state of religion in general; and the tithes are brought in from all quarters, and proper officers set over them, 2 Chronicles 31:2-13. They bring to also the freewill-offerings, and regulate the priests and Levites and their families, according to their genealogies, 2 Chronicles 31:14-19. Hezekiah does every thing in sincerity and truth, and is prosperous, 2 Chronicles 31:20, 2 Chronicles 31:21.