The Passover is Celebrated

II Chronicles 30:13–27
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A large crowd gathered in Jerusalem in the second month to celebrate the Passover (v. 13). They took all the foreign incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley (v. 14). Then on the 14^th day of that month, the Levites began killing the lambs for Passover as many of the worshipers were unclean and not allowed to kill their own lambs (vv. 15-17). Some of the priests and Levites were ashamed because they had not gone through the cleansing ceremony. They immediately went through that ceremony and went to the temple where they offered sacrifices to please the Lord. Then they took their positions according to the law of Moses. As the Levites killed the lambs, they handed some of the blood to the priests who splattered it on the altar. Most of the people who had come from Ephraim, Issachar, West Manasseh, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean, but ignored God’s Law and ate the Passover anyway (vv. 18-19). Hezekiah prayed to God for these unclean people. He also asked God to please be kind and forgive them for worshiping just like their ancestors did. The Lord answered Hezekiah’s prayer and did not punish them (v. 20).

The time set by the law for the celebration of the Passover was seven days (Ex. 12:15; Lev. 23:6) but because it had fallen into such irregularity, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it 14 days with great satisfaction and joy. Materials for additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the King and the priests. Hezekiah thanked the Levites for leading the celebration and doing such a good job (v. 22). Hezekiah gave the people 1000 bulls and 7000 sheep to be offered as sacrifices and to be used as sacred food for the meals. The princes also gave 1000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and a great number of priests sanctified themselves for service (v. 24). Everyone in attendance was very happy (v. 25). It was the biggest celebration in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon (v. 26). The priests and Levites asked God to bless the people and their prayer was heard in heaven (v. 27). 

Application

This passage reminds me of communion in our churches and the warning that we have in scripture that if we take the bread and the juice unworthily, we can bring damnation in our lives. But the reverse should be true too. Communion should remind us to celebrate God’s grace and love.