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Royalty and Ruin
2 Chronicles 7:14
. These promises met abundant fulfillment during
the reformation under Hezekiah.
Celebrating the Passover
In his zeal to make the temple services a real blessing, Hezekiah
determined to gather the Israelites together for the Passover feast.
For many years the Passover had not been observed as a national
festival. The division of the kingdom after Solomon’s reign had
made this seem unachievable. But the stirring messages of the
prophets were having their effect. Royal messengers heralded the
invitation to the Passover at Jerusalem “from city to city through the
country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun.” The bearers
of the invitation were usually repulsed; nevertheless some “humbled
themselves and came to Jerusalem.”
2 Chronicles 30:10, 11
.
In Judah the response was widespread, for God gave “them sin-
gleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders”—a
[123]
command in accord with the will of God as revealed through His
prophets.
Verse 12
.
The desecrated streets of the city were cleared of the shrines to
idols placed there during the reign of Ahaz. The people observed
the Passover and spent the week in offering peace offerings and in
learning what God would have them do. Those who had prepared
their hearts to seek God found pardon. A great gladness swept the
multitude. “The Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day,
singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.” All were
united in their desire to praise Him.
Verse 21
.
The seven days of the feast passed all too quickly, and the wor-
shipers determined to spend another seven days in learning the way
of the Lord more fully. The teaching priests continued their instruc-
tion from the book of the law. Daily the people assembled to offer
praise and thanksgiving. And as the great meeting drew to a close, it
was evident that God had worked marvelously to convert backslid-
ing Judah. “There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of
Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing
like this in Jerusalem.”
Verse 26
.