In Second Chronicles 30, we read an amazing story of celebrating the Passover.  What makes this story interesting is that neither Israel (the northern kingdom after the split) nor Judah (the southern kingdom) had celebrated the Passover in a long time. Passover was a big deal. It was instituted by God on the very night that Israel would be delivered from the Egyptians. They were commanded to keep this feast every year. But, like so many other things, that eventually fell by the wayside–especially after the kingdom split after the death of Solomon.

Then along came King Hezekiah in Judah. The first thing he did was cleanse the Temple, which had been polluted by idols and fallen into disrepair. He ordered the priest and Levites to cleanse themselves according to the Law, and restart Temple worship. He was a man dedicated to obeying the commands of God. So, Hezekiah took the next step. He called for a celebration of the Passover. We read,

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. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month—for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly (2 Chronicles 30:1-4).

So, the king decided to keep the Passover, but he started off on a bad note. The priests and people had not consecrated themselves in time, so they decided to move the Passover to the second month of the year (the Passover was to be celebrated on the 14th day of the first month). Strike one?

Why did they choose to suddenly observe the Passover? The decree makes it quite plain:  O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria (verse 6). It was a call to return to the Lord, that He may return to them. Whatever their failings, Hezekiah reminded the people of this:  For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him (verse 9). It is God’s nature to be gracious and merciful and to bend His ear and heart to those who seek Him.

Not many people from the northern kingdom of Israel attended. Most laughed at Judah’s proclamation! Strike two?  But… some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem (verse 11). They “humbled themselves.” That is what attracts God’s attention.

Then we read this:   For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. . . . 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 (verses 17 and 18). So they, celebrated the Passover at the wrong time, didn’t get a lot of support, and ate the Passover while ritually unclean! Strike three?

Something must have happened, because they weren’t killed or cut off from before the Lord. What happened is that Hezekiah offered a heartfelt prayer to the God he knew to be gracious: 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 (verse 19) How did God respond? One simple sentence: And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people (verse 20).

Now, the question may be asked, “Of what did God heal the people?” The answer is obvious. He healed them of their uncleanness. They turned to Him in faith, believing that He is good and gracious, and He made up for their deficiencies. He restored them to a right standing with Himself. It is a picture of the New Covenant. Why is this story important to us? Today we are still so apt to try to get our lives right before coming to God. We are taught that sin is a barrier between us and God–even those of us who are Christians and have had our sin forgiven.

What if, just what if, that were not quite the case? What if, instead of standing on the other side of some sin barrier waiting for us to repent of our sin and get right, God is actually standing with us giving us His perspective on our sin? Jesus met the woman at the well where she was. He met the sinners and the tax collectors where they were. He wasn’t afraid to get His hands dirty, so to speak. Why should it be any different now?

If that perspective is true, then it changes everything! We are polluted with sin, and NOTHING we can do on our own can change that. We can’t cleanse ourselves. He must do it for us. Do you think He heard and responded to Hezekiah’s prayer because Hezekiah was super-spiritual, had his act together? No. He inclined His ear and heart because, as Hezekiah said, He is good and gracious.

We have forgotten the heartbeat of the Gospel. Jesus came to save sinners, those who know they are in need of Him. And He comes to meet us where we are: no matter where we are. As the old hymn says:

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!