2Ch 30:2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month.
3 For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem.
They couldn't keep the passover because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves. This gives me pause to think. When I come into the presence of the Lord, have I consecrated myself first? Do I come into God's presence flippantly? Do I come with other things on my mind? Am I really ready to worship when I come to church or am I rushing in where angels fear to tread?
2Ch 30:8 "Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.
Do not be stiff-necked but yield yourselves to the Lord, enter His sanctuary and serve the Lord your God. This word picture speaks to me. My neck is often stiff literally. Perhaps when my neck is stiff, I should remember this command. Stiff and yield. These are two words with opposite meaning. Yield means to be pliable in the hand of God. Stiff-necked means one is stubborn and unwilling to change. Something for me to think about in relation to recent events of losing my long time physical therapist. I have been "stiff-necked" in refusing to let anyone but him treat me and now that he is gone, I am still having trouble being willing to go back knowing he will not be there and I will need to change therapists. This speaks to me.
2Ch 30:10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them.
2Ch 30:12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.
How often have the commands of God been laughed and mocked at? How often have God's ministers in pulpits today been laughed and mocked for the message they bring? These two verses underscore a very important point. It is not our responsibility to coerce people to obey God and yield their hearts to Him. Our responsibility is only to give the gospel to them. God is the one who, if He is pleased to do so, will give them a heart to obey Him. This takes a load off me. If those I witness to don't respond favorably, it's not my fault. I am only responsible to share the Gospel. God is the one who brings the increase and causes them to come.
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