United in Faith – 2 Chronicles 27-30

February 16, 2007 in Bible Study

30:1 Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem¹ and observe a Passover celebration for the Lord God of Israel. 30:2 The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month. 30:3 They were unable to observe it at the regular² time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 30:4 The proposal seemed appropriate to³ the king and the entire assembly. 30:5 So they sent an edict⁴ throughout Israel from Beer Sheba to Dan, summoning the people⁵ to come and observe a Passover for the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they had not observed it on a nationwide scale as prescribed in the law.⁶ 30:6 Messengers⁷ delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah.

This royal edict read:⁸ “O Israelites, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may return⁹ to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria.¹⁰ 30:7 Don’t be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their ancestors,¹¹ provoking him to destroy them,¹² as you can see. 30:8 Now, don’t be stubborn¹³ like your fathers! Submit¹⁴ to the Lord and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the Lord your God so that he might relent from his raging anger.¹⁵ 30:9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you¹⁶ if you return to him.”

King Hezekiah of Judah could have easily lead his nation into repentance to God without including those from the nation of Israel.  However, Hezekiah knew that the brotherhood that was created by their mutual worship of the one true God was more important than their nationalistic tendencies.  It would have been easy for him to only invite his own countrymen, but he knew that God wanted all of his people to come back to him in real worship.

Often, Christians let nationalism and other forms of pride get in our way of doing God’s will.  Yet, our faith call us to a much higher standard.  We are to unite together to reach the whole world for Jesus Christ.  We cannot let petty squabbles about politics get in the way of giving the whole world the Gospel truth.  The catholics and protestants in Ireland must stop killing each other and start loving the world.  The true Christians in the United States must put aside petty theological differences and start to doing the Gospel, instead of arguing about the inconsequential.  We have been called to a higher standard and we have failed miserably to meet it.

Heavenly Father,

Your have given us a standard of unity and action.  Forgive us for our tendency to strife and complacency.  You have given us truth and life.  Forgive us for our triviality and mundane living.  Lord, help each of us who truly call on your name to learn to serve you with everything we are or ever will be.  I love you Lord.  Amen.