3 In the first year of his reign , in the first month , he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east . 5 Then he said to them, "Listen to me, O Levites . Consecrate yourselves now , and consecrate the house of the Lord , the God of your fathers , and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6 "For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God , and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord , and have turned their backs . 7 "They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps , and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel . 8 "Therefore the wrath of the Lord was against Judah and Jerusalem , and He has made them an object of terror , of horror , and of hissing , as you see with your own eyes . 9 "For behold , our fathers have fallen by the sword , and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this . 10 "Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel , that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11 "My sons , do not be negligent now , for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 29:3-11
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 29:1-19
(Read 2 Chronicles 29:1-19)
When Hezekiah came to the crown, he applied at once to work reform. Those who begin with God, begin at the right end of their work, and it will prosper accordingly. Those that turn their backs upon God's ordinances, may truly be said to forsake God himself. There are still such neglects, if the word be not duly read and opened, for that was signified by the lighting the lamps, and also if prayers and praise be not offered up, for that was signified by the burning incense. Neglect of God's worship was the cause of the calamities they had lain under. The Lord alone can prepare the heart of man for vital godliness: when much good is done in a little time, the glory must be ascribed to him; and all who love him or the souls of men, will rejoice therein. Let those that do good work, learn to do it well.