God had prepared …

II Chronicles chap. 29 describes a wonderful revival. The spiritual situation in Judah was terrible: Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah, “made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord” (28:19), going so far as to close the doors of the Temple (28:24). Then Hezekiah appears on the scene, and begins the work of restoration on the first day of his reign (compare vs. 3 and 17 of this chapter). Just slightly over two weeks later (29:17), everything is ready — what had been broken is restored, and everything cleansed and sanctified — and the people of Judah gather before the Lord to serve Him according to His will (29:25).

The chapter ends telling us that “Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly” (29:36). They understood that the revival was possible only because God had prepared the people for it.

May we also be able to see the good hand of our God preparing us for every good work we do for Him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17) — all glory and all merit are always (and exclusively) God’s.

The Shepherd of High Degree

Praying to God, David said: “Thou … hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God” (I Chr 17:17). He recognized the enormous grace that took him “from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that [he] shouldest be ruler over … Israel” (I Chr 17:7) — not treating him according to his merits, but filling him with blessings he never expected to receive.How like him are we! Deserving death, we received life. Being worthy of eternal damnation, we were made sons of God and “blessed … with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. Yes, God has certainly regarded us according to the position of great ones! To Him be all the glory.

Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Only a sinner, saved by grace!
This is my story, to God be the glory,
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!