26So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments, and the priests with their trumpets.
Worship in the Temple was a noisy affair. I am sure it was organized and was probably awe-inspiring. Imagine hundreds of musicians playing at church, and then add in the hundreds of singers. That would be an event worthy of the God we worship. Hezekiah has become king. The previous several kings have led lives and led the people in ways that did not honor the LORD. In fact, they were in outright rebellion against Him. The king led the way in the rebellion, promoting the worship of idols and desecration of the Temple. As a result Judah’s enemies have run rampant in their conquests. But one of the first things the newly crowned king Hezekiah does is clean up the Temple and reestablish the proper worship practices. He knows, and so do the people, that the reason they are in such trouble is because the LORD is disciplining them. He wants them to return so He is making it very difficult for them. He is putting pressure on them in an attempt to get them to turn and surrender to Himself. Sin brings pressure. Obedience brings pressure as well, but the pressures are different. Sin’s pressure brings a darkness and ever increasing doom. Obedience’s pressure offers the reward of further positive benefits if obedience is continued. It feels good to tell the truth. There is a lifting of a burden when the truth is told, rather than making up the lie. The lie carries a negative weight. The truth lifts a weight. Both have their pressures.
The Arnold Journey 