2 Chronicles 30:13–27

Read the passage.

Even though the hand of the Lord was on the people, not everything went smoothly at this Passover celebration. The people came from across the land and removed the altars to false gods (and possibly illegitimate altars to Yahweh) that were in Jerusalem. When it came time to slaughter the Passover lambs, we find that the priests and Levites “were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves”. (v. 15) What had they been doing? They should have been consecrated the month prior when the temple was cleansed and rededicated. Now, a month is a long time, and if one reads Leviticus, there are a myriad of ways someone can become unclean and in need of consecration before worshipping the Lord. But why wouldn’t these priests and Levites take care of that as a matter of course, especially when they knew this great assembly was going to show up for the celebration? Daily sacrifices ought to have been made ever since the temple was reopened, so who was offering them if the priests and Levites weren’t fit for that duty? Clearly, there were great problems with Judah’s spiritual health at this time, and Hezekiah was attempting to address them.

Once the priests and Levites were consecrated, they were able to offer the sacrifices the people brought. Normally, the one who brought the offering would be the one to kill the animal after symbolically transferring their sins to it, but because many of the people were themselves unclean, the Levites stepped in to do it. The people still ate of the Passover meal, despite being unclean, because Hezekiah petitioned the Lord for a pardon. Many of them were from the northern kingdom, where worship of the Lord had not been practiced for quite a long time. They were unfamiliar with the details and minutiae of the ceremonial Law, but their hearts had been softened and they wished to worship the Lord regardless. This is our story too, even 2,500 years or so later. We are covered in iniquity, and have no right to approach the throne of the Almighty. But He grants to us a desire to be close to Him and He makes us clean through His grace. By His own will and actions, the Lord heals us just as he healed them. (v. 20)

The Passover marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which goes on for seven days. The revival of the people continued unabated as they praised the Lord with song, sacrifices, and feasting. By the end of the seven days, the mood was so high that the people did not want it to end, so they extended the Feast for another week. Hezekiah brought in thousands of animals from his own flocks and herds to feed the people, and yet more priests consecrated themselves to keep up with all the sacrifices that were brought. Great joy filled Jerusalem because the people were right with their God once again.

It is good to worship You, O Lord, who grants us life, and breath, and godliness.