Prayer and Giving: A Biblical Connection (2 Chron 31:2, 8)

Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, everyone according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, to minister in the gates of the camp of the LORD and to give thanks and praise.

When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people, Israel.

When you give money to a church or other organization, do you consider prayer part of that act? In this passage, prayers of praise and thanksgiving are connected to God’s blessings and giving to support those who work in God’s ministry part- or full-time. Our attitude towards giving makes a difference—and prayer can help us focus on what matters.

Background

After these lengthy celebrations of renewal and praise, the people go back to their towns and destroyed all the pagan idols. Hezekiah appoints ranks of priests and Levites, just as David and Solomon did, to reinstitute the sacrificial system and other religious activities that had so long been neglected. Part of their duties were to offer daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices, all prescribed by the law of Moses, and to offer praises and thanksgivings to God. To support the work of this continual worship, Hezekiah asked the people to begin giving of their own means, just as they had in the past as required by the Law. The people responded with great generosity—overwhelmingly so, far beyond what was required of them: grain, wine, oil, honey, produce, cattle, sheep, and much more poured into the Temple storehouses.

These goods were collected and used for four months, then used monthly: first, when it was reopened, then the next month for Passover. The third month saw the grain harvest celebration (Feast of Weeks), and then the end of the grape harvest (Feast of Tabernacles), seventh month (5-7).

At the end of that time, Hezekiah and the officials visited the Temple and, upon seeing the generosity of the people, offered a blessing on God and upon the people. Hezekiah asked the chief priest why there was so much left after the months of celebrations, and he told the king that the people had been blessed by God so much that they responded in kind. All the priests and Levites not only had enough for sacrifice and to support them and their families, but also a surplus.

Meaning

In the Law of Moses, the first harvests of grain, wine, and oil are to be given to the priests, who are responsible for the sacrifices (Num 18:12–13). A ten percent tithe goes to the Levites, who were responsible for worship (Num 18:21).