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Bible Reading: 2
Chronicles 30:1-12
1 And
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 unto the LORD God of
Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his
princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the
Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep
it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified
themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased
the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established
a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from
Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the
Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had
not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 6 So
the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes
throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the
commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn
again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he
will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the
hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your
fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the
LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to
desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not stiff-necked, as
your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter
into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve
the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn
away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your
brethren and your children shall find compassion before them
that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this
land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will
not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10 So
the posts passed from city to city through the country of
Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulon: but they laughed them to
scorn, and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless divers of Asher
and Manasseh and of Zebulon humbled themselves, and came to
Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give
them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the
princes, by the word of the LORD.
Hezekiah made
Israel as welcome to the Passover, as any of his own subjects.
Let us yield ourselves unto the Lord. Say not, you will do what
you please, but resolve to do what he pleases.
We perceive in the carnal mind a stiffness, an obstinacy, an
unaptness to compel with God; we have it from our fathers: this
must be overcome. Those who, through grace, have turned to God
themselves, should do all they can to bring others to him.
Numbers will be scorners, but some will be humbled and benefited;
perhaps where least expected. The rich mercy of God is the great
argument by which to enforce repentance; the vilest who submit and
yield themselves to the Lord, seek his grace, and give themselves
to his service, shall certainly be saved.
Oh that messengers were sent forth to carry these glad tidings to
every city and every village, through every land!
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