True repentance and turning to God should ALWAYS BRING JOY AND REJOICING – it’s not a religious exercise, but we should experience JOY IN OUR HEARTS.
Hezekiah began worship by cleansing the Temple, all the filth had to be removed and the building purified. Sometimes we may have to repent/turn away from wrong things as a first step. Our Temple is internal, it’s our hearts. Confession, repentance and pleading the blood of Jesus is much easier for New Testament believers, provided it’s genuine.
The beginning of worship after such a long time wasn’t straight forward with every detail correct and in place, but it was sincere and Hezekiah prayed to God and asked forgiveness for the people.
18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. (PEOPLE FROM ISRAEL HAD BEEN IDOLATROUS FOR GENERATIONS) But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God – the Lord, the God of their ancestors – even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.’ 20 And the LORD HEARD HEZEKIAH AND HEALED THE PEOPLE. 2 Chronicles 30
God saw the hearts of the people and they meant more to Him than the sacrifices which were offered. He blessed and encouraged the reopening of His Temple and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem.
What were the immediate results of turning back to the true God and worshipping Him alone?
21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with GREAT REJOICING, while the Levites and priests sang to the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.
23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; (REAL DESIRE TO ENJOY WORSHIP) so for another seven days they CELEBRATED JOYFULLY.
25 The entire assembly of Judah REJOICED, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, INCLUDING THE FOREIGNERS who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah. 26 There was GREAT JOY IN JERUSALEM, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
THE MAIN EVIDENCE OF TURNING BACK TO GOD WAS JOY AND CELEBRATION! It wasn’t just for a few people, but for all the people who’d gathered to worship God. Such Outpourings of God’s Spirit are going to happen again in long dry places. In the meantime we can appropriate His blessings for ourselves by turning our hearts back to Him.
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.