The Pilgrim Path---Second Chronicles 30: 10—23, 26

So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulon, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the LORD. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to SEEK GOD, the LORD, the God of his Fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” And the LORD heard Hezekiah and HEALED the people. And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might to the LORD. And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for ANOTHER seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness…

So 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.

HEZEKIAH: Passover Occurs / MORE Than Passover!

Hezekiah the Reformation King consulted with his Princes and his Spiritual Leaders and determined that the time was right for the resumption of Passover. Couriers went through the land advising the people of the appointed time for this Sacred Season. Just a few notes from this most intriguing passage:

---Some few inhabitants within the tribal regions of Ephraim and Manasseh, “laughed and scorned” the king’s messenger. Know this: Passover was not instituted by man---but by the LORD. Only fools make a mockery of that which is Holy. The awful remnants of the reign of King Ahaz were long and deep (leaders do influence people). When you encourage unbiblical behavior, the results are “bad fruit” in the lives of others. God Help Us ALL.

---Still---A GREAT majority arrived in Jerusalem: setting themselves to remove the pagan altars that were in the city! In revival you are first concerned to remove what has offended God from your own personal life (you start there---See II Chronicles Chapter 29). Since Israel was a theocracy---the people knew that all these idols must be removed from the Holy City. Their obligation was clear.

---Stirringly---MANY people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun--- do arrive for Passover! Problem: They had not ritually cleansed themselves. King Hezekiah asks the LORD to pardon them and “accept” them all. WOW---verses 18, 19---“May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to SEEK God---even though we broke the rules….The LORD heard Hezekiah and HEALED the people.” Powerful! Can you imagine? Hezekiah’s attitude was something like this, “LORD---we’re NOT everything we should be---But we are trying to BE---for YOU. Please accept our feeble and sinful attempts at this very crucial and serious time.”

---Supreme gladness for seven days as they observe Passover!

---Surging Soul-enhancement: The Whole Assembly agreed to Keep the Feast for ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS. When you have finally made a connection with Jehovah—Jesus—Why not prolong the period of renewal and reflection for your soul--- and the strengthening of Kingdom endeavors?

---“See” what to Pray for: Second Chronicles 30: 12---“The hand of God was also on Judah to GIVE them ONE HEART to do what the king and the princes commanded BY THE WORD OF THE LORD.” We ask the Sweet Spirit of Heaven to Flood our midst so we might “walk” with the Living Christ---and walk His paths in This World. This is as Brian Edwards says, “God in the midst of His People.”

“Oh, it were well for us when we read Scripture to think of the eye of Christ and our eyes meeting on the Scripture.” John Duncan

“Among many marks that we are on the journey, and under sail towards heaven, this is one, when the love of God so filleth our hearts that we forget to love and care too much for the having or wanting of other things; as one extreme heat burneth out another.” Samuel Rutherford

HYMN

Savior, blessed Savior, listen while we sing;

Hearts and voices raising praises to our King:

All we have we offer, all we hope to be,

Body, soul, and spirit, all we yield to Thee.

Godfrey Thring, 1862, 1882

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason