2 CHRONICLES 31

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

Stirred up to a high pitch of zeal, all the assembled congregation dispersed throughout all the land, both Judah and Israel, and destroyed all the images and groves and high places,

"until they had utterly destroyed them all."

This would of course be under the guidance and inspiration of Hezekiah, and in Kings briefly it is said that he is the one that did this, or caused it to be done. He took advantage of this period of zeal to cleanse the land completely.

Quite often zeal for destruction does not always mean zeal for subsequent reconstruction, for the flesh enjoys destroying things. It regards it as righteous zeal. But very often, it goes no further than the destruction of the fault.

It takes a lot more determination and patience to build the Truth, and we find that, unfortunately, this did not happen here. We are reminded of Jehu,

"Come and see my zeal for the LORD."

Very effective in destroying the wicked predecessors, but no better himself.

Bro Growcott - Hezekiah