What steps can we take to "make a covenant" with God like Hezekiah? Setting the Scene — 2 Chronicles 29:10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger may turn away from us.” Why Hezekiah’s Example Matters • Judah had drifted into idolatry; Hezekiah resolved to reverse it. • His covenant began privately (“in my heart”) and moved outward into decisive public action. • The pattern still guides any believer who wants to bind himself afresh to God. Step 1: Cultivate a Heart That Longs for Renewal • Admit the need for change (2 Chronicles 29:6–9). • Allow the Spirit to place desire in you as Hezekiah did: “It is in my heart…” (v. 10). • Psalm 139:23–24 reminds us to invite God’s searching and leading. Step 2: Reopen the Doors of Worship “He opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.” (2 Chronicles 29:3) • Re-establish personal time in the Word and prayer. • Restore corporate worship attendance; covenant life is never isolated (Hebrews 10:24-25). Step 3: Remove What Defiles “Remove from the Holy Place everything impure.” (2 Chronicles 29:5) • Identify idols—habits, relationships, media—that crowd out God. • 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Step 4: Consecrate Ourselves Fully “The priests went into the house of the LORD to purify it…they brought out all the impurities.” (2 Chronicles 29:15-16) • Confess specific sins (1 John 1:9). • Present your body “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1) Step 5: Restore Biblical Worship & Sacrifice “They made offerings to the LORD…and worshiped.” (2 Chronicles 29:25-30) • Offer praise and thanksgiving, not empty ritual (Hebrews 13:15). • Give materially and serve practically; covenant always costs something (2 Samuel 24:24). Step 6: Declare the Covenant • Speak your commitment aloud, as Hezekiah proclaimed to the Levites (29:11). • Share it with trusted believers for accountability (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Step 7: Walk in Ongoing Obedience “Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly, and so he prospered.” (2 Chronicles 31:21) • Daily obedience proves the covenant is real (John 14:15). • Periodically renew and celebrate the commitment (Joshua 24:24-27). Putting It All Together 1. Long for God’s renewal. 2. Reopen every avenue of worship. 3. Purge defilement. 4. Consecrate yourself. 5. Worship through sacrifice. 6. Declare the covenant. 7. Persevere in obedience. Follow Hezekiah’s roadmap and discover the joy of a fresh, binding, wholehearted covenant with the living God. |
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