9/14/25 Weekly Bible Lesson: Celebrating the Past

2 Chronicles 30:1-9, 26-27 ESV 

Background of Text — When Solomon died, Israel was split into two kingdoms – the Northern (Israel) and the Southern (Judah). Each kingdom had its own king. The ten Northern Tribes were destroyed by the Assyrians because of their idol worship. They had turned their backs on the Lord. Unfortunately, many of the kings of Judah who followed Solomon were taking the same path as the Northern Kingdom. Thankfully, as in the days of the judges, a leader was born. The leader was Hezekiah, a godly man. 

How could a man as corrupt as Ahaz be the father of a son who was as godly as Hezekiah? Hezekiah had no spiritual heritage from his father, yet Hezekiah “did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done” (2 Chronicles 29:2). Hezekiah understood that if there was going to be religious reformation, the leaders, the priests, and Levites had to set the example. Hezekiah gathered the religious leaders to him, opened the doors of the LORD’s house, and began to have it repaired and cleaned. What really set him apart from his father was that Hezekiah made a covenant with the Lord God of Israel. 

Verse 1 — King Hezekiah recognized the importance of following the sacred institutions, traditions, and worship of the past. Having restored the temple worship, it was only right to celebrate the Passover. Hezekiah sent to all Isarel and Judah an invitation to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Why did he send it to all of Israel and Judah? Hadn’t the Northern Kingdom been destroyed? 

First, according to historians, not all Israelites were destroyed or deported into Assyria. Also, the Assyrians caused many other Israelites to flee to Judah. Finally, the Assyrians allowed some Israelites to remain in Samaria where they intermingled with foreign settlers, forming the Samaritan people. 

Second, Hezekiah was trying to reestablish unity among the twelve tribes. Although there was little left of the Northern tribes, King Hezekiah was determined to try. Clearly, Hezekiah reasoned that by inviting all Israel to celebrate the Passover feast, it might lead to the rehabilitation and restoration of their national life. 

Verses 2-9 — The king, his princes, and all the assembly agreed to celebrate the Passover. Although it would be celebrated at a different place than had been designated by the Lord, the vote seemed unanimous! A spiritual revival was taking place in Judah. The excitement was contagious. An invitation was sent to all parts of Israel, even to Beersheba and to Dan, even to all the sons of Isreal! 

There was a message in the invitation; “O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God … that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers but yield to the Lord and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who lead them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD, your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” 

In reading these verses, you cannot help thinking about our own sinful world and those who once believed but  have fallen away, turning their backs on the Lord. Are we any different than the people of the Israelite nation? So many of us have been captured by the world and scattered. Some have just run away and hid, but all have turned their backs on the Lord. The invitation to the world and those that have fallen is always there. As Hezekiah said, “do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the Lord.” 

To those that have been captured by the world or have believed and fallen away, Paul says in Romans 3:22-25, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith.” God’s grace is universal, and He is always ready to welcome back the repentant sinner. 

Discussion question. Who do we know that has fallen away that we can encourage to return to the Lord? 

Verses 26, 27 — There was great joy in Jerusalem. Not only were those of Judah there celebrating, but those from the land of Israel and those who had escaped and were now living in Judah also celebrated. For this moment, they were not Judah or the Northern Kingdom; they were again all the sons of Israel! They were celebrating, and “their voice was heard, and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.” 

As the sons of Israel celebrated the Passover, so should we “as the children of God” be celebrating, continuously celebrating the love, grace, mercy, and our salvation through Jesus Christ! 

Discussion question. As children of God, how can we celebrate that Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us?