Read 2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
30 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecratedthemselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5 They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.
6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:
“People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecratedthemselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the Lord.18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord heardHezekiah and healed the people.
21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.
22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully. 24 Hezekiah king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of priests consecrated themselves. 25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah. 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
Go Deeper
In 2 Chronicles 29, we saw Hezekiah come to power and clean house–specifically God’s house. Once the Temple, the Levites, and the priests were re-dedicated to God, it was time to invite the guests to a very special party: the Passover. God gave specific commands to the Israelites about celebrating the Passover following their escape from Egypt (Exodus 12), but the division of kingdoms and unreliable kings brought periods of neglect from this practice. Hezekiah sought to reinstate the proper worship of God, including the proper observance of the Passover.
Hezekiah also saw this as an opportunity to bring peace to Israel. He sent invitations throughout both the northern and southern kingdoms. While some mocked the messengers, many attended the celebration. This Passover serves as a unique moment of unity and cooperation among the tribes as they came together to celebrate the Passover.
From Hezekiah’s example, we can learn how to facilitate unity and cooperation in our divided world. He invited all the people: those he disagreed with, those his kingdom fought against, those who kept the commandments, and those who didn’t. This open invitation to come near to God is reflected in 1 Timothy 2:3-4: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Hezekiah and the messengers persevered through ridicule and doubt to share the good news that the Temple was restored and all were welcome to come. First Corinthians 15:58 encourages us: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Hezekiah focused on the people’s sincere hearts and desire to seek God. Many of the visitors had not purified themselves according to the prescribed laws. Nevertheless, Hezekiah interceded on their behalf through prayer, and the Lord demonstrated His willingness to give grace to those who set their hearts on seeking Him.
Questions
- Do you have any reservations or hesitations when it comes to inviting certain people to experience a closer relationship with God?
- What are some reasons or concerns that contribute to your hesitation?
- What distracts you from focusing on people’s sincere desire to seek God?
Pray This
Gracious God,
Thank you for preserving this scripture so we can learn from your servant Hezekiah. May your Spirit press into our hearts and bring it to mind so we can be encouraged by Hezekiah’s kingdom work to press on in our own work for the kingdom, knowing that you are compassionate and merciful towards those who seek Him with genuine hearts. May we be inspired to persevere in sharing the good news of Your son Jesus Christ, relying on Your grace and the power of prayer to impact lives for Your glory.
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2 thoughts on “2 Chronicles 30”
Once King Hezekiah discerned a plan to reunite the people and reinstate the Passover nothing could stop him. It had been more than 200 years since this sacred celebration had occurred in Jerusalem, the hub of the people. His level of commitment was second to none as he issued an invitation to all who would come and then set forth proper preparations. Scripture reveals that Hezekiah’s heart and motives were pure before the Lord and as a result, “God heard them from his holy dwelling in heaven.” My takeaway from today is the posture of our heart matters most to God. May the zeal of our faith drive us into deeper obedience to be bearers of the gospel to this world.
People divided. Even in the division there are those who still believe. Hezekiah hoped that coming back to “the roots” where God had brought them out of would help them become more obedient again. Being told, taught and shown a way that oppressed, depressed, and repressed that their way is the right way. BUT GOD has a better way. I get convicted of something but do not make it right but I still expect God to bless me. That is not how it works. Full obedience, not almost or a little but full on is where life is at. We just have to be aware of the desensitization that happens, creeps in, and takes us on a path of disobedience. Even in the middle of our storms, God is for us, with us and will help us endure the race set before. Hebrews 12
God thank You for Your better way. Thank You for Holy Spirit to hear Your voice to know that better way. God help me to identify the things that creep in to desensitize me. Show me, guide me, let me hear You clearly and then be obedient in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!