Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—March 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ

March 12, 2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to all Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. - 2 Chronicles 30:1

When Hezekiah restored the temple and resumed worship and sacrifice at Jerusalem, it created another opportunity for the king to bless God's troubled people. The division between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah had been long and bloody. For over 200 years, the nation had been divided. The two nations of brothers had fought many fierce battles among themselves. The cost of human lives and resources had been too high.

Now the northern kingdom of Israel had been taken away into Assyria. The people who had been left behind by the Syrians were from several different tribes that had been part of the northern kingdom. Hezekiah used the occasion of reopening the temple to revive and reinstate the practice of the Passover. The long- neglected feast would be a powerful demonstration of unity restored between the factions of the once united kingdom.

Hezekiah invited all Israelites of every tribe to come to Jerusalem for Passover. As you might expect, some of the tribes mocked and scoffed at the king's invitation. These people were raised in idolatry, and had practiced its pagan rituals all their lives. They could not remember a time when they were free (or welcome) to go to worship the LORD in Jerusalem. It seemed ridiculous to them. (There may have also been some reluctance to leave the sensual licentiousness of idol worship to go back to sanctify themselves to God.)

But others were hungry for the unity of the nation to be restored. They were eager to go to Jerusalem to worship the one true God as their ancestors had done.

The Passover observance and the accompanying feast of unleavened bread was scheduled a month late. The temple was not fully repaired and cleansed in time for the first month observance as required by the law. But many thousands of Israelites from most of the tribes came to Jerusalem. Some of the pilgrims who came from far away did not have time to complete the ritual of purification. So, Levites took their sacrifices and offered them on behalf of the ceremonially unclean worshipers. Many worshipers ate the Passover without being ceremonially clean, as all who partook of the holy sacrifice were supposed to be.

In light of the imperfect observance, Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, asking him to look on their hearts and pardon the worshipers who had not done all according to the law, and to accept their offerings. And the LORD heard and did as Hezekiah asked.

Such a Passover had not been observed since the days of David and Solomon. The people were full of joy, and the king and some of the princes gave them additional animals so the sacrifices and feasting could go on for a second week.

Passover had begun as a ritual observed across the nation, but in individual families. As it expanded to become a national event with the sacrifices being offered at a central location, it became a powerful statement of the people's unity and devotion to God.

The ceremonial restrictions and procedures of the Law of Moses are not part of the New Covenant of Christ. Jesus was the once for all sacrifice for sin. All who are united with him are priests with access to God through the true high priest, Jesus. Our lesson to remember from this account is not about the particulars of what they did, but the heart with which they did them. Is our worship today offered with joy for the opportunity? We should be thankful that the yoke of the Law's requirements has been lifted in Christ. But we should savor the beautiful

mercy shown these people who were not perfect in their offerings, because we’re not perfect ourselves. Let's admire their strong desire and commitment to return to God, and never let anything from the past or in the present hinder us from gathering with God's people to share the joy of salvation.

Are our hearts prepared to worship when we come together? Take for instance our observance of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week. Do we really, sincerely focus our minds and hearts on the cross? Do we discern the body and the blood of Christ in the bread and fruit of the vine? Are we sincere about communing with one another? Are we in awe of the privilege to commune with the Lord himself? Let’s guard against going through the motions without engaging our hearts and minds in this solemn event.

I also hope we find and experience the joy of obeying God when we worship him and as we live our lives. Rational people want to be happy. But the real path beyond happiness to genuine joy is obeying God in every particular of life. It glories him and blesses us when we obey from our hearts and commit our whole hearts to the Lord.

Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.