Set Apart but Set Within

 “He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.”          

II Chronicles 29:4-5

Yesterday we read how Hezekiah, King of Judah, established priorities in his kingdom by beginning to repair the Temple of the Lord. Our text today continues to show Hezekiah zeal for the Lord as he brings together the priests and Levites and instructs them in three actions to take. He tells them to:

1.      Consecrate themselves

2.      Consecrate the temple of the Lord

3.      Remove all defilement from the sanctuary

Hezekiah desired to restore the ways of the Lord which his predecessors had abandoned. 

This meant that those who were called to serve the Lord in the temple with the sacrifices would need to consecrate themselves.

Consecrating themselves meant devoting or setting themselves apart to serve the Lord in this way. They were to dedicate themselves to the work of the Lord.

As believers in the New Covenant made through Christ’s work we are called a royal priesthood and a holy nation in I Peter 2:9

The need to devote and consecrate ourselves to His service is no less needed today than it was when Hezekiah reigned.

Have you consecrated yourself for God’s service?

Have you set yourself apart in devotion and dedication to Him?

We need not serve God in isolation and detachment from the culture.

Instead He sends you to but inserted in it as salt and light.

Set apart but set within.