2 chronicles 30 reminds me that God desires for all people to receive the gift of salvation. In the previous chapter King Hezekiah had reestablished the Temple in Jerusalem. The chapter begins, “Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and… inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover“. It is important to note the invitation was given to all. “They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel… calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover… couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials“. The letters said: “People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to you who are left… Do not be stiff-necked… submit to the Lord. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever… for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him“. God does not change. No matter how far you are from God the invitation is offered to you.
Just like today, the invitation is received differently by different people. We read, “People scorned and ridiculed them. Nevertheless, some men… humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem“. And notice what happens when people gather with the desire to receive forgiveness, “the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind… following the word of the Lord“. In spite of all the differences that had developed between the people of Judah and Israel, “a very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread“. Remember the Passover celebration commemorated the children of God trusting in the blood of the lamb to save them from death while captive in Egypt. The blood of the lamb was spread on the horizontal and vertical beam of the doorframe and anyone that trusted in the blood was saved. It was the very symbol of the “once and for all” sacrifice of Jesus that was to come. And the chapter explains, “Although most of the many people who came… had not purified themselves… Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God… even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.’ And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. Are you tired of trying to cleanse yourself?
Another thing that happens when we gather in the unity of God’s Holy Spirit, is we experience the joy of reconciliation. “The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing. Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all… The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully“. This celebration is not possible without the blood of the sacrifice. “Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). As the chapter ends, we again see no one was excluded. “The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the aliens… The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place“. Will you join the celebration?