2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 30: The good LORD heals His people

Begin in prayer

Before we turn to Hezekiah's Passover, let us pray. Ask God to teach us that He is gracious and merciful, and to lead us to Jesus, who came to call sinners.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Psalm 112:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are gracious and merciful, and show us Jesus, who calls sinners to Himself. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Hezekiah sends letters to all Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem and keep the Passover to the LORD. They keep it in the second month, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in time. The letters call the people to turn again to the LORD, who is gracious and merciful. Some people mock the messengers, but others humble themselves and come. They take away the altars in Jerusalem and kill the Passover, though many who come are not clean. Hezekiah prays that the good LORD would pardon all who seek Him, and the LORD listens and heals the people.

As you read 2 Chronicles 30, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is gracious and merciful, and He listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

Hezekiah invited all Israel and Judah to Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD (verse 1). The Passover remembered how the LORD saved Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12 verses 26 and 27). The letters said, “turn again to Yahweh,” for He is gracious and merciful (verses 6 and 9). Some people mocked the messengers, but some humbled themselves and came (verses 10 and 11). Many who came had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover in a way not written (verse 18). That was a real fault, for the Passover was to be kept as it is written. Hezekiah prayed for them, “May the good Yahweh pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God” (verses 18 and 19). The text says, “Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people” (verse 20). This shows that the LORD is good and gracious, and that He pardons those who set their hearts to seek Him.

How does 2 Chronicles 30 show us that the LORD is gracious and merciful, and that He listened to Hezekiah and healed the people?

Hezekiah called all Israel to keep the Passover.

Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel and Judah and to Ephraim and Manasseh (verse 1). They were to come to the LORD's house at Jerusalem to keep the Passover (verse 1). The letters said the LORD is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from those who return (verse 9). Some mocked the messengers, but some humbled themselves and came (verses 10 and 11).

Hezekiah prayed for those who were not clean.

They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month (verse 15). Many in the assembly had not sanctified themselves (verse 17). Many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun ate the Passover even though they had not cleansed themselves (verse 18). Hezekiah prayed that the good LORD would pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God (verses 18 and 19).

The LORD listened and healed the people, and there was joy.

The text says the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people (verse 20). The people kept the feast seven days with great gladness (verse 21). They kept another seven days with gladness (verse 23). There was nothing like it in Jerusalem since the time of Solomon (verse 26).

Jesus calls sinners to Himself, and pardons those who come.

Jesus said that sinners are the ones He came to call to repentance (Mark 2 verse 17). He said those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. Hezekiah prayed for the unclean, and the LORD listened. Jesus is the Savior of unclean sinners who come to Him.

Memorise

Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

2 Chronicles 30:20

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, I am not clean before God, so will I ask Jesus to pardon me?

Hezekiah prayed, “May the good Yahweh pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God.” Then “Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.” Jesus said that sinners are the ones He came to call to repentance (Mark 2 verse 17).

No sinner is clean enough by his own work, and God does not pardon sin without payment. At the cross Jesus gave His life for His sheep, and the payment was complete once for all. Then He rose from the dead.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, for the LORD is gracious and merciful.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD is gracious and merciful, and that Jesus pardons sinners who come to Him. Parents, please explain that the Passover remembered how the LORD saved Israel from Egypt. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is gracious and listens to His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalm 118:3

Father, thank You that You are good and gracious, and that You listened to Hezekiah. Thank You for Jesus, who calls sinners, died for them and rose again. Please bring each of us to repent and trust Him. Amen.