NOVEMBER 14, 2022 ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ISRAELITES PART TWO #32 2 CHRONICLES 30:1 – 27 WHEN A NATION PRAISES THE LORD, HE HEALS THEM AND EVEN FREES CAPTIVES!
Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover
“Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.
This proposal pleased the king and all the assembly. So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.
So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.
Now do not stiffen your neck as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them. Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Also, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley. And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.
A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”
And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD. And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy. For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.
Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and all the assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah. So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.
Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.”
King Hezekiah is continuing to bring revival and renewal to Judah; however, there is a problem. For years, Hezekiah’s predecessors have failed to celebrate Passover at all, despite the commands of the Lord given in the Law of Moses. Passover should have been celebrated starting on the fourteenth day of the first month, the month of Nisan; however, many of the priests have been lax in consecrating themselves, so there aren’t enough priests to properly handle the sacrifices. In addition, the Israelites have gotten out of the habit of assembling in Jerusalem for Passover and must be summoned. A lesser person would have shrugged his shoulders and ignored this problem, but Hezekiah and his elders choose to celebrate during the second month, rather than not celebrate at all.
Even though ten of the tribes have been separated from Judah and Benjamin since the time of Rehoboam, Hezekiah still sends invitations throughout all of Judah and Israel, from Dan in the northeast corner, down to Beersheba in the south. Sadly, many Israelites mock the messengers, refusing this divine opportunity in doing so. But there are those who are still faithful who rejoice and come from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulon.
Hezekiah’s message is worth close study as it makes several points: 1. “Return to the Lord, that He may return to you.” Many of these people have been serving Baals, Asherah, and all kinds of other demons. 2.” Do not be like your fathers and brothers.” The Assyrians have already carried many into captivity because the Israelites have failed to worship the Lord. 3. “Submit to the Lord and come to His sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever.” Jeroboam created two altars to lure the Israelites away from worshiping in Jerusalem. 4. “Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” Amazing! Hezekiah is predicting that if the Israelites will worship God in Jerusalem as He has commanded, God can deliver the captives from Assyria.
The rest of the passage gives details about this fantastic celebration. Before the celebration began, the people gather up all the altars that King Ahaz erected throughout Jerusalem, including all the incense altars, and dump them in the Kidron valley. With Jerusalem cleansed from this filth, the celebration can begin. People are so thrilled to be worshiping God that they extend the celebration to two weeks. King Hezekiah and other officials donate sufficient animals so there are plenty for sacrifices as well as enough meat to feed those celebrating. The priests and Levites finally consecrate themselves so that they are able to perform the ritual slaughter for the Passover lambs for anyone who has failed to consecrate himself. At this point, there are some Israelites who are so ignorant of the Law that they have no idea what they should do. Hezekiah begs God to overlook these failings and to heal anyone who is suffering because of them.
APPLICATION: What happens when a nation sets itself to praise God? God responds! As this grand Passover celebration continued, people become increasingly joyful and the praises become increasingly fervent. Hezekiah is carrying out God’s commands and God is pleased. Obedience is the key to God’s heart. When we obey God’s commands, we honor Him and He blesses us in return. Hezekiah throws open his invitation to anyone who will show up, even to the extent of asking God to forgive those who have not consecrated themselves out of ignorance. This is a ruler who truly wants to lead his people closer to God and is doing everything in his power to accomplish that.
Ahaz led people into idolatry, and the people followed. Now Hezekiah is leading people back to God, and the same people are following. The sad thing is that if a new ruler arises who turns his back on God, those same people may swing back to idol worship. What’s the problem? These people are double – minded. The Book of James tells us that “a double – minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
What about us? How closely do we respond to the spiritual currents swirling about us? Recently, a Christian baker in California won a lawsuit against a gay couple who tried to force her to create a wedding cake for them. Although the baker was finally granted the right to exercise her religious beliefs as she chose, she suffered five years of emotional abuse, death threats, and all kinds of other persecution. This woman could have folded at any time, but she chose to hang on because she felt that to give in would be dishonoring to God. May God help us to remain true to Him, no matter the trials and struggles that we face!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Hezekiah’s example and to honor You, following Your commands. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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