Bird's-eye view
After decades of apostasy under Ahaz, his son Hezekiah undertakes a swift and thorough reformation. This passage details the heart of that reformation: the restoration of true worship at the temple. But this is no mere redecorating project. The entire affair is saturated with blood, centered on substitutionary atonement, and governed by the Word of God. Hezekiah leads the nation in a great sin offering, recognizing that before any acceptable praise can be offered, the filth of their sin must be dealt with. Only after the blood is splashed on the altar does the music begin. The worship that follows is not innovative or man-centered; it is a return to the pattern established by David and the prophets. The result is an outpouring of joyful generosity from the people and a pointed lesson about heart-holiness being more important than official position. The chapter concludes with gladness, attributing the sudden and wonderful restoration entirely to the preparatory work of God.
A Reformation Centered on the Altar
2 Chronicles 29:20-24
20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and gathered the princes of the city and went up to the house of Yahweh.
True reformation begins with leadership, and it begins without delay. Hezekiah "arose early." He does not procrastinate. Having opened the doors of the Temple and consecrated the priests and Levites, he now moves to the central business of restoring the nation's relationship with God. Notice that he gathers the "princes of the city." This is not just a clerical affair; the civil magistrate has a crucial role to play in leading the people back to God. This is a civic action, a public repentance, led from the top.
21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
The number seven throughout Scripture signifies completion or perfection. This is a complete offering, intended to deal with the full scope of the nation's sin. The offering is specified for three entities: the kingdom (the civil realm), the sanctuary (the ecclesiastical realm), and Judah (the people themselves). Sin had corrupted every aspect of their national life, and so the atonement must cover every aspect. This is a corporate sin offering. Before there can be any celebration, there must be a solemn recognition of guilt and a bloody sacrifice to cover it.
22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and splashed the blood on the altar.
The language is stark and repetitive for a reason. They slaughtered the animals. The priests splashed the blood. This is the gruesome, bloody business of atonement. There is no cleansing, no forgiveness, without the shedding of blood. This is the central lesson of the Old Testament sacrificial system, and it all points forward to the one true sacrifice of Christ. The altar, which had been defiled, is now being reconsecrated and purged by the blood of the substitute.
23 Then they had the male goats of the sin offering approach before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them.
This is a critical step. The laying on of hands is an act of identification. The king and the representatives of the assembly place their hands on the heads of these goats, symbolically transferring the guilt of the nation onto the animal. This is my sin, on this goat's head. This is imputation. The goat is now bearing the iniquity of the people, and it will be slain in their place. This is the gospel in picture form.
24 And the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.
The purpose is stated plainly: "to atone for all Israel." The blood purges the altar, making it fit for service again. Hezekiah's vision is not limited to Judah. He sees this as an act for "all Israel," calling back to the covenant unity of the twelve tribes. The problem of sin is universal, and the remedy of atonement must be applied comprehensively.
2 Chronicles 29:25-28
25 He then caused the Levites to stand in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from Yahweh by the hand of His prophets.
Once the foundation of atonement is laid, the structure of worship can be erected. But this worship is not a spontaneous free-for-all. It is carefully ordered "according to the command." Hezekiah is not an innovator; he is a restorer. He goes back to the pattern established by David, Gad, and Nathan. And lest anyone think this is just a matter of human tradition, the text clarifies that the command was ultimately "from Yahweh by the hand of His prophets." This is what we call the regulative principle of worship. We are to worship God in the way He has commanded, not according to our own bright ideas.
26 And the Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
The instruments are specified, the personnel are in their proper places. This is orderly, disciplined worship. The priests with the trumpets and the Levites with the stringed instruments and cymbals are ready.
27 Then Hezekiah said to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to Yahweh also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel.
Here is the key theological connection. The song begins precisely "when the burnt offering began." The praise is tethered to the sacrifice. Our worship does not float in a vacuum of good feelings; it is grounded in the substitutionary death of the offering. The cross is the reason for the song. The atonement is the foundation of our praise. You cannot have one without the other. As the smoke of the offering ascended, the sound of praise ascended with it.
28 While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was completed.
This was a corporate event. "The whole assembly worshiped." There were no spectators. Everyone was engaged in this great work of praise, and it continued for the entire duration of the offering. This was not a quick, perfunctory nod to God. It was a sustained, focused, and joyful celebration of the atonement God had provided.
2 Chronicles 29:29-30
29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped.
The central act of sacrifice is complete, and the immediate response is humility and adoration. They bowed down. Having been cleansed and having offered their praise, they now assume the posture of humble servants before their great King.
30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and bowed down and worshiped.
Again, the content of the worship is specified. They were not singing sentimental choruses they had just made up. They were commanded to sing "with the words of David and Asaph the seer." They were singing the Psalms. They were using God's inspired hymnbook. When you use God's own words to praise Him, the result is authentic joy. "So they sang praises with gladness." True, biblically-grounded worship is never a grim duty; it is a glad-hearted privilege.
2 Chronicles 29:31-36
31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have become ordained to Yahweh, approach and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing of heart brought burnt offerings.
Hezekiah's invitation is based on what has already been accomplished. "Now that you have become ordained," or literally, "you have filled your hands." Because of the great atoning sacrifice, the people are now consecrated and fit to approach God with their own offerings. Grace always precedes our response. The people respond generously, bringing sacrifices and thank offerings. But there is a special note about the burnt offerings, which were entirely consumed on the altar and represented total dedication. These were brought by "all those who were willing of heart." True consecration cannot be coerced; it flows from a willing heart.
32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh. 33 And the holy things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.
The response was not token but overwhelming. These are huge numbers, representing a massive outpouring of wealth and devotion from the people. When God's grace touches the hearts of a people, their hands and wallets are opened wide. This is the joyful, lavish generosity that always accompanies genuine revival.
34 But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had set themselves apart as holy. For the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests.
This is a fascinating and instructive detail. The system breaks down under the sheer volume of blessing. The priests, the designated professionals, couldn't keep up. So their brothers, the Levites, stepped in to help. The reason given is a sharp rebuke to the priestly class: "For the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests." God's work will not be stopped by a shortage of qualified personnel. He values a consecrated heart far more than an official title. This is a permanent warning against clericalism and a reminder that God uses those who are zealous for Him, regardless of their station.
35 There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of Yahweh was established again.
The summary statement is one of profound satisfaction. The machinery of worship, long dormant and rusted, was now running again. The relationship between God and His people, mediated through sacrifice and praise, was "established again." Order, beauty, and faithfulness were restored.
36 Then Hezekiah and all the people were glad over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.
The chapter ends with joy. But notice the source of the joy. They were glad "over what God had prepared for the people." They did not pat themselves on the back for their great reformation. They recognized that God was the author of it all. He had prepared their hearts. He had moved the king. He had provided the means. And it all happened "suddenly." Revival is not the predictable result of a five-year strategic plan. It is a sovereign and often sudden work of God's Spirit. We are to be faithful in our duties, but the glorious result is always a gift of His grace.