2 Chronicles 30:1-27 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 30:1-27. Let’s go!
2 Chronicles 30:5 (NIV)
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.
On verses 1-9: Hezekiah is getting ready to lead his people in celebrating the Passover Feast (also known as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread) for the first time in many years. In doing so, Hezekiah reaches out not just to his own people of Judah but to all of Israel. Notwithstanding the previous tensions between the people of Judah and the Israelites living to the north of them, Hezekiah invites all the Israelites to assemble together to celebrate the Passover and to worship the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem.
What can we learn from this? God’s love has this way of causing us to love beyond our borders, to extend an olive branch to those with whom we may have had past hostility. That’s how God loved us. Despite our history of rebellion against God and hostility toward Him, God sent His Son Jesus Christ past the borders of heaven into our world. He invites us, His long-time enemies, to live at peace with Him and worship Him again. Who is someone God wants you to forgive and to extend peace toward?
2 Chronicles 30:10-11 (NIV)
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and ridiculed them.
11 Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
On verses 10-11: King Hezekiah sends messengers to various places, inviting them to celebrate the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. But some people scorned and ridiculed them. What can we learn from this? When you’re doing your best to run the race God has called you to run, there will be those who will laugh, ridicule and criticize you. Don’t focus on them. Don’t get tripped up by them. You just keep running your race, and God will be faithful to provide and give you everything you need. Even while the critics talk, God continues to work.
2 Chronicles 30:18-19 (NIV)
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 his heart on seeking God–the LORD, the God of his fathers–even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.”
On verses 12-21: Perhaps because the people had not celebrated the Passover in a long time, or perhaps for some other reason, there were a number of people present at the Passover celebration who, despite wanting to celebrate the Passover, did not meet the ceremonial requirements to allow them to celebrate the Passover with the rest of the assembly. Hezekiah prays on behalf of those people, asking God to have mercy on them, and verse 20 says, “And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”
What can we learn from this? When we were not just ceremonially unclean, but completely disqualified to enter God’s holy presence because of our sin, Jesus our King and Great High Priest stood in the gap and prayed on our behalf, asking God to “forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His intercession on our behalf, God had mercy on us and allows us to joyfully enter His presence and celebrate with His people. It’s all because of Jesus our King and Great High Priest.
2 Chronicles 30:22 (NIV)
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 theLORD, the God of their fathers.
On verses 22-27: The Levites were in many ways the unsung heroes of this passage, for they were ready, willing and able to serve, while the priests were not fully ready at the start to serve (v24). Once again it shows that God doesn’t use the ones who are the most qualified, but the ones who are the most ready. Regardless of your background, God can and will use you if you come with a willing, humble attitude to serve Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are not just the chosen one but You are also the One who is always ready and willing to serve. Thank You that it is only because You courageously crossed the border between heaven and earth and humbly gave Yourself as a sacrifice that I can even enter God’s presence. Likewise, may I serve You with focus and courage, not easily distracted or tripped up by critics. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
