2 Chronicles 30:1–12

Read the passage.

Normally, the Passover was to be celebrated in the first month of the Hebrew calendar. However, the temple was cleansed and restored in the first month of that year. When an Israelite was unclean or on a long journey and could not celebrate the Passover at the appointed time, he could instead take a lamb and eat the feast in the second month. Since the temple itself was unclean in the first month, they interpreted this exception to mean the whole nation could celebrate in the second month.

When Hezekiah sent out the proclamation to invite the people to attend the Passover, he sent it not only to Judah, but also to the now-conquered kingdom of Israel. The king admonishes all the people to turn back to following the God of their fathrers, to humble themselves before Him so that His “fierce anger may turn away”. (v. 8) The northern kingdom had been overrun by Assyria and most of the population had been carried off because of their generations of unfaithfulness to the Lord. Hezekiah recognized that Judah had been going the same way, if at a slower pace than their northern brethren. He hoped that that the repentance of the people would mean that the Lord would bless those who had been captured and allow them to be returned to their homeland.

Many of those who remained in the northern cities mocked and ridiculed the messengers who brought the king’s invitation, but a few “humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem”. (v. 11) In contrast, the whole of Judah was blessed by God to do what He had commanded, even though they had not been faithful to His covenant with them in previous years. It is because of the hand of the Lord upon us that we give up our pride to say that we wrong and that He is right, and to turn away from what we want to do so that we can follow His commands.

Grant to us repentance so that we may feast with You.