Readings; 2 Chronicles 30:1-27, 31: 1-21

Come to the Party!

As I read today’s passages I cannot help but think about our current situation, the pandemic the last three years. We have lost so many to this terrible virus. The people of Israel that belonged to either kingdom from the north or from the south had endured horrible atrocities as their friends and families were captured and taken elsewhere. But the time had come for unification. Those separated whether it was from territories of land or political parties were being called to unify and worship the Lord, the Lord of their ancestors. The unification theme was the Passover celebration.

I can picture it in my mind, people coming together singing to the Lord, playing their loud instruments. ( See verses 30:23) The celebration continuing for seven days with so much joy in their hearts from the burdens they had withstood the past years. According to verse 26, “There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. ” Wouldn’t that be amazing? If we could come together, and as King Hezekiah reminded them in verse 8, “Do not be stubborn”.

The beautiful part of this story begins in verses 30:17. The people from the north come forth as broken people. They are invited to the party after complete defiance and denial of the Lord. They are the remnant that remains from the north. Many still refused and mocked the invitation, but some admitted their transgressions and took part in the renewal. What an analogy to the story of Christ. We all come to Christ as broken vessels. We don’t qualify to come to the celebration. We have not been purified and are unclean. But just as Hezekiah prayed to the Lord to intercede for these unclean people, so does Christ do the same for us today. In verse 17 it states, “King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. May the Lord, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the Lord, even those that are not properly cleansed for the ceremony. And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people. “

Christ will do the same for you today. We can be adopted into this southern kingdom. Remember Jesus was a southern man, from the southern kingdom of Judea. Most likely you were not born a Jew, an Israelite, a Judean. But you are still invited to the celebration. Leave behind your stubbornness. Do not worry about what you are to wear. Jesus has already said a prayer for your intercession, for your healing, your redemption.