Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 31

Verses 20-21

2 Chronicles 29:1-2 ; 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

I. Studying the life and reign of Hezekiah, we discover, first, that he is an illustration of the sovereignty of God in conversion. He was the son of one of the most impious monarchs that ever sat on the throne of Israel. Parental and royal influence combined to make him a bad man and a worse king.

II. The conversion of Hezekiah, therefore, should give encouragement to the children of unchristian parents. It is the way of God to save men when to human view their salvation is incredible. He delights in miracles of grace.

III. The upright character of Hezekiah illustrates also that the conversion of men is often assisted by their natural recoil from extreme wickedness. Sin is often used to defeat itself.

One of the reasons why it is permitted to run its course and come to a head is that men may see it in its hideous maturity.

IV. The narrative illustrates the fact that when God converts men from amidst surroundings of great depravity, He often has some great and signal service for them to do for Him. He summoned Hezekiah to the reformation of a kingdom.

V. The work of Hezekiah illustrates the moral power of one man in effecting a great work to which God has called him.

VI. The work of Hezekiah illustrates also the suddenness with which God often achieves by the hand of such men great changes in the progress of His kingdom.

A. Phelps, The Old Testament a Living Book, p. 111.

Verse 21

2 Chronicles 31:21

The text speaks of work. Only adopt Hezekiah's plan, and "in every work that you begin do it with all your heart," and you may prosper as well as he.

I. We learn from Hezekiah a lesson of concentration of energy. He did not begin half a dozen things at once, and drivel away his energy upon them; he did not commence one thing till he had finished another.

II. Method and punctuality, too, seem to be indirectly hinted at in the text; and they are almost indispensable to prosperity.

III. But the great lesson we learn from the text is the value of thoroughness in doing whatever we undertake with our whole heart, and doing it well. Do nothing as if it were trifling; if it be so, it is unworthy of you.

IV. Emulate Hezekiah's ardent and consistent piety. He stands in the front rank among the saints of Scripture as a man of prayer. Every difficulty and trouble he took straight to God, and spread it out before Him.

J. Thain Davidson, Talks with Young Men, p. 189

References: 2 Chronicles 31:1 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. v., No. 238. 2 Chronicles 31:21 . F. W. Farrar, Silence and the Voices of God, p. 135; Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. viii., No. 433; Ibid., Evening by Evening, p. 75; Preacher's Monthly, vol. iv., p. 49. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 . H. Thompson, Concionalia: Outlines for Parochial Use, 2nd series, p. 41. 2 Chronicles 32:25 . S. Baring-Gould, One Hundred Sermon Sketches, p. 103. 2 Chronicles 32:28 . H. Thompson, Concionalia, 2nd series, p. 356. 2 Chronicles 32:30 . Christian World Pulpit, vol. iv., p. 203. 2 Chronicles 32:31 . Spurgeon, Evening by Evening, p. 182. 32 Expositor, 2nd series, vol. ii., p. 437. 2 Chronicles 33:11 . Preacher's Monthly, vol. iv., p. 55; Expositor, 2nd series, vol. iv., pp. 450, 452. 2 Chronicles 33:12 . J. Keble, Sermons for Christian Year: Lent to Passiontide, p. 270.