Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 30, 2025

“I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 29:12-36.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 2 Chronicles 29 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the Levites arose:  Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites;  and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel;  and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;  and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel;  and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;  and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei;  and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.  They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD.  So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out to the court of the house of the LORD.  Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley.  Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the LORD.  Then they consecrated the house of the LORD in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.  Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils.  Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated;  and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”

Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of the LORD.  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 the LORD.  …

…  There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings.  Thus the service of the house of the LORD was established again.  Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.”   2 Chronicles 29:12-21 and 35-36.

———-

Why does Scripture give such detail about the Levites?  There are three verses of their names along with the names of their fathers.

Verse 15 shows their unity and intention “to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD.”

This is all the more amazing when we consider the context of the wickedness under the recent prior reign of King Ahaz.

So, in summary, the LORD not only raised King Hezekiah, but all these Levites to do this work!  Praise be to the LORD for His sovereign power and intention to raise up individuals all throughout history to accomplish His purpose when there seems to be no hope!  

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.  Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people:  “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them;  behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.  “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.  I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them;  and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.

6 “In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
‘The LORD our righteousness.
’” Jeremiah 46:9-11.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure
’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.
” Isaiah 46:9-11.


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