2 Chronicles 29

As I read this chapter, I couldn’t help but notice the emphasis on music. Particularly this verse: "Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel." (vs 27)

Among other things, I believe this chapter acts as a metaphor for the cleansing of our hearts—our inner lives that are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, dwelling place of the Lord. And often, because of this crisis or that sorrow, the song of our hearts is silenced. Somehow, we drift away from the important task of attending to the presence of God and eventually find that, within us, there is no offering, no sacrifice, no song.

But I like the hope this chapter gives—that even if the temple of our hearts has been abandoned for a long time, it doesn’t have to remain barren. When we turn back to God and seek Him, there is cleansing and restoration. The things that have been neglected or destroyed can be brought back and rededicated. God is not too proud to return to a house that has been long-abandoned. He will gladly meet us in any temple we open to Him.

I also love that the idea of sacrifice is linked with music. It is offering ourselves to God and engaging in self-sacrifice that causes the music to begin again. This must mean that sacrifice and offering are the sweet things in life. We usually think of them as the hard things, but here, they are the very things that give rise to beauty, joy, and praise. They are the things that make our heart sing.

And so I wonder once again if it isn’t self-sacrifice that is the music of God’s kingdom. For if God is a song, it is certainly a love song about humility and servanthood. And when we also humble ourselves to take part in that kind of self-sacrifice, we begin to hear the music.

How long has it been since the song played in your heart? Has it been barren for some time? Are there weeds growing in the courtyard? Stagnant water in the basins? It is never too late to have a fresh start. As it says in Malachi 3, "the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple." When we fling open the doors to Him, He will appear. And as we offer ourselves to Him once more, we will hear the beautiful, familiar melody of His song in the temple.