Hezekiah Calls The Nation to Celebrate The Passover
March 6, 2022
Commentary
This passage finds Hezekiah calling the whole nation back to the celebration of the Passover, the feast that depicts Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. It had been delayed because many of the priests were still unclean and not everyone in Judah had come to Jerusalem for the festival (vv. 1-4). It was tragic that the spiritual leaders were responsible for delaying this event. Everyone from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north were invited.
It had been a long time since the people had celebrated the Passover (v. 5), so Hezekiah sent his messengers everywhere in Israel and Judah commanding the people to come (v. 6). He told them not to follow their ancestors who were unfaithful to the Lord and had been punished by Him because of it (v. 7). He said for them not to be stubborn but to decide now to obey the Lord and worship Him in the temple (v. 8). For if you return to the Lord your brethren and your children will find compassion with their captors and be returned to this land (v. 9).
The messengers went to every town in Ephraim and Manasseh and as far north as Zebulun, but everyone laughed and mocked them (v. 10). However, a few of the people humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem (v. 11). God also made everyone in Judah eager to do what Hezekiah and his officials had commanded (v. 12).
Application
The people who turned down the invitation missed a special opportunity. When God invites me to be a part of what He is doing I want to be a part of it.
2 Chronicles 30:1– 12 (NET)
1 Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem and observe a Passover celebration for the Lord God of Israel. 2 The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month. 3 They were unable to observe it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The proposal seemed appropriate to the king and the entire assembly. 5 So they sent an edict throughout Israel from Beer Sheba to Dan, summoning the people to come and observe a Passover for the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they had not observed it on a nationwide scale as prescribed in the law. 6 Messengers delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah.
7 Don’t be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their ancestors, provoking him to destroy them, as you can see. 8 Now, don’t be stubborn like your fathers. Submit to the Lord and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the Lord your God so that he might relent from his raging anger. 9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you if you return to him.”
10 The messengers journeyed from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but people mocked and ridiculed them. 11 But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 In Judah God moved the people to unite and carry out the edict of the king and the officers in keeping with the Lord’s message.