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2 Chronicles Chapter 30 (ESV)
1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel…
10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 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.
13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 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…
25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 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. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.
REFLECTION:
- Hezekiah invited the people to come to keep the Passover but they mocked his officials while only a few accepted the invitation (30:10-11). Nowadays, we will encounter a similar response if we want to share about God with others. Many people will mock you if you persuade them to receive Christ. However, we cannot stop sharing the gospel because we are being obstructed. Remember it is the Holy Spirit who touches people and makes them know their sin. Our responsibility is to tell people God’s works and promises for them to make their own choice.
- All the good kings in Judah did not completely remove the pagan high places and idols. With the help of the people, Hezekiah finally accomplished this task and brought great joy to the people of Judah. Reflect whether your church has completely removed all the various visible and invisible idols. If not, how will you unite the strength of the congregation and encourage them to do so?
PRAYER:
Ask God to give you faith so that you will rely on God’s power and continue to share the gospel even if you encounter obstruction and mocking. Pray for the church leaders that they can learn from the example of Hezekiah in leading the whole congregation to remove all idols resulting in great peace and great joy.
HYMN:
May The Peoples Praise You – youtu.be/kBon_2QoRtI?si=6r2W_d9HzTBe4XNx
