2 Chronicles 30

2 Chronicles 30:21-27

We have here, 1. A solemn passover appointed to be observed, vers. 1—5. 2. The invitation Hezekiah sent to Judah and Israel to come to keep it, vers. 1, 6—12. 3. The joyful celebration of it, vers. 13—27.

1. AND Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. 2. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4. And the thing pleaded the king, and all the congregation. 5. So they established a decree, to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-theba even to Dan, that

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They should come to keep the pailover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such fact as it was written. 6. So the poets went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, ’turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,’ and he will return to the remnant of you, ’that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Affyria. 7. And ‘be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which treipalled against the LORD God of their fathers,’ who therefore gave them up to defolation, as ye see. 8. Now be ye not stiff-necked ‘as your fathers were, but ‘yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the threecest of his wrath may turn away from you. 9. For ‘if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children’ shall find compaition before them that lead them captive, in that they shall come again unto this land: for ’the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10. So the poets passed from city to city, through the country of Ephraim and Manaffeh, even unto Zebulun: but ’they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11. Nevertheless, ‘divers of After and Manaffeh, and of Zebulun, humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12. Also in Judah, ’the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king, and of the princes,’ by the word of the LORD.

9. 1—12. The engagements which employed them in the first ordering the service, the fewests of the priests which were prepared, and the diffuses of the people to whom proper notice could not be given, caused the time appointed for the pailover in the first month to elapse. But Hezekiah was very unwilling to neglect the tolerant ordinance, and therefore, as the law had made provision, Næst. ix. 11. that those parties with were unavoidably prevented, might keep it in the second month, he thought, with the advice of his nobles, that this was equally applicable to the whole congregation. Therefore,

10. He sends messengers with circular letters, not only through Judah, but the cities of Israel. He wanted them not to return under his government, but to seek the favour of that God whom they had forsaken. He eshorts them to embrace the present opportunity, and by an unfeigned surrender of themselves to God, continue no longer rebellious and stiff-necked as their fathers, left their obstinacy should issue in their man. Severe had been the corrections that for their apology they had endured; a small remnant of them only now remained. Their fudferings at least should make them wise, and engage them to seek the slightest sanctuary of God: and highly it was their interest, as well as duty, for by no other means could say hope to avert the fierce wrath of God gone forth against them. But if now they humbled themselves, God would remember his covenant with their fathers, and show himself gracious and merciful according to the promises, and not turn his face from them in anger, but lift up the light of his countenance to comfort them, and restore their brethren from captivity. Næst. (1.) It is not too late for the sinner to return, whilst the calls of grace sound in his ears, and the promises afford a ground of hope. (2.) Nothing can prove the desperate fludberments of the sinner’s heart, to much as his insensibility to the glorious invitations of God. (3.) Impenitence perished in, must necessarily be fatal. (4.) When we have done all we can to believe, turn by the mercies of God to return to him, if they obstinately refuse, their blood then is on their own heads; we are free.

11. The messengers meet with very different entertainment. The king of Israel gave them no obstruction in the execution of their commission; but the people of Ephraim and Manaffeh, and the rest in general, not only slighted the message, but decided the messengers. Some however felt the weighty contents of the letters, and with deep humiliation before God for their full abominations, gladly embrace the opportunity of coming to Jerusalem to keep the pailover. The men of Judah were happily more unanimous; God bowed their hearts, as the heart of one man, to come according to God’s word, and the king’s command, to the solemn festival. Næst. (1.) It is no uncommon thing for the messengers of God to be mocked for their message take. (2.) Their dismay from very despotous, who thus impiously reject the only method of cure. (3.) Of the multitudes to whom the gospel is preached, few, comparatively, receive it. (4.) It is a comfort to God’s maidens, that flour at least hear and fear. (5.) When God brings a sinner to humiliation, then there is hope. (6.) If any man is inclined or enabled to return to God, this must be acknowledged as his gift.

12. ¶ And there assembled at Jerusalem much people, to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14. And they arose and took away ’the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15. Then they killed the pailover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burns-offerings into the house of the LORD. 16. And they stood in their place after their manner, ‘according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17. For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: ’therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the pailovers, for every one that was not clean, to identify them unto the LORD. 18. For ‘a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manaffeh, lifeficant, and Zebulun,’ had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the pailovers, otherwise than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one to ‘flad prepared his heart to feed God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not clumsy according to ’the purification of the sanctuary. 20. And the LORD hearkned to Hezekiah,’ and healed the people.

13. 13—20. A vast congregation being assembled on the fourteenth day of the second month.

14. They prepared for the celebration of the pailover, by removing every idol altar that was found in Jerusalem. Næst. When we truly return to God, it will be our care to put away iniquity from us.

15. The zeal of the people blamed the priests and Levites, and stirred them up with earnestness to identify themselves, that they might be ready for their work; the Levites to bring, and the priests to sprinkle the blood of the fasteners. Næst. (1.) The hope of the sinner is this blood of sprinkling. (2.) Others zeal should provoke us to jealously.

16. Because many matters of families were ceremonially unclean, the Levites killed the pailover for them; yet were they admitted to eat it, though they were not prepared according to the divine prescription.

17. Hezekiah, who observed the irregularity, failed not to cry to God to pardon it. The shortness of the notice permitted not those who in sincerity desired to please God, to be cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary; therefore he prays the good Lord that it might be forgiven. Næst. (1.) If our souls are simply desirous to seek God, he will pay and pardon our infirmities. (2.) In our best approaches to God, something will be wanting: we attain not to all that measure of love, and zeal, and purity, which God’s service requires. (3.) Therefore, amidst all our other petitions, we should never forget to beg forgiveness for the evil which cleaves to the best things we do.

18. In answer to Hezekiah’s prayers, God healed the breach there for his name, and graciously embraced them in the arms of his pardoning mercy.

19. And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem, ‘kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, saying with ’loud instruments unto the LORD. 22. And Hezekiah ‘spake: comfortably unto all the Levites: that taught the good knowledge of the LORD; and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace-offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23. And the whole assembly took counsel to keep ‘other seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness. 24. For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25. And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwell in Judah, rejoiced. 26. So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27. ¶ Then the priests the Levites said, and ‘hears’d the people; and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling-place, corn unto heaven.

vi. 21—27.

The seven days of unleavened bread followed the pailover, and they were spent in sacrifices and holy joy before the Lord. Hezekiah nobly supplied the altar with a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep, for peace-offerings, and the people with provision; and the princes, quickened by his zeal, emulated his example. The Levites, comforted and encouraged by the king, diligently instructed the people in the good word of God, shifted them in their devotions, whilst they confessed their sins, and acknowledged the undeserved mercy they now experienced; and every day they praised God in plains, and made melody in their hearts unto God. Great was the joy of all the assembly; and, happy in the service, they prolonged it down days more, and then parted, after the pride had pronounced the benediction, and God from heaven ratified the blessing. Note, (1.) They who are great, are called especially to be generous. (2.) When we appear before God, it becomes us to rejoice in his mercy. (3.) A word of comfortable encouraging spirit is the wages due to faithful labours. (4.) In all our approaches to God, confession of sin ought never to be forgotten. (5.) They who truly love God’s service, will not think any time spent in it long. (6.) When God’s ministers bled in his name, he will confirm their word, and betlow the benediction they pronounce.