Hezekiah, Part 6
Rejoice, I said, rejoice
2 Chronicles 30:26-27
So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 30:26)
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven. (2 Chronicles 30:26)
Chapter 29 of 2nd Chronicles ends with for the thing was done suddenly. The chapter that is before us, Chapter 30 ends with and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven. Since the time of Solomon there had not been such a Passover; this Passover was done according to the word of God written by the hand of Moses, the servant of God. Even though they did not celebrate the Passover in the first month, Hezekiah had found a provision in the word of God that they could celebrate the Passover in the second month on the 14th day.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (Numbers 9:9)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. (Numbers 9:10)
The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Numbers 9:11)
They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. (Numbers 9:12)
They kept the Passover in accordance to the provision that God had given Moses for they were not all clean before the Lord; therefore, Hezekiah and the Levites would celebrate the Passover on the 14th day of the 2nd month. What joy in Jerusalem, although all the people were not clean nor sanctified, the king was not deterred, But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one; they, therefore, kept the Passover other than what was written, for the good Lord harkened unto Hezekiah, and healed the people. The word ‘healed’ in verse 20 of chapter 30, 2 Chronicles is not for physical healing, but for spirit felt healing of the Holy Ghost. This is the first time that representatives of the complete kingdom had been united in the Passover since the days that Solomon had dedicated the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. He dedicated the Temple in the year 1004 B.C., and now in Hezekiah’s day we have traveled all the way to 726 B.C. It was approximately 278 years till God raised up a godly king to unite his brethren, and celebrate such a Passover. Only the shadow of the memories of Solomon’s Passover lingered over the land.
After the days of Solomon the tribes had become divided. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam maintained rule over the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, and Jeroboam, the son of Nebat a servant of Solomon took control over the 10 northen tribes. Israel had become a divided nations of over 278 years. Then in the days of Hezekiah, this one king, through prayer and understanding of the blessings of God in the word of God, was able to unite a portion of all of Israel, so that they could be united as in the days of Solomon. This is why the Lord declared that there had not been such a Passover since the days of Solomon. All the previous kings for 278 years had not been able to unite the people of Israel in such a Passover.
We see unification brought about by the working of the Holy Spirit in the heart of this king. He had brought Jerusalem to a place that all Israel could embrace. It had been a long time, but now representatives from all the tribes were there to partake of the Passover. But before we continue, let us rejoice in the moment. This dedication of the people brought on more conviction; the high places of pagan worship were removed from the cities of Judah, the pagan altars were removed from the streets of Jerusalem, and the people from all over Israel had come to keep the Passover and to rejoice in the Lord. The king, the princes, the rulers, the Levites, and the people of Jerusalem and Judea, and of all Israel were rejoicing in the Lord. What a wonderful scene to behold. Can we drift on from here, just for awhile. Let’s turn to the Gospel of Matthew.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,(Matthew 21:4)
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5)
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, (Matthew 21:6)
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.(Matthew 21:7)
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. (Matthew 21:8)
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9)
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? (Matthew 21:10)
And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. (Matthew 21:11)
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (Matthew 21:12)
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:13)
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (Matthew 21:14)
And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, (Matthew 21:15)
And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? (Matthew 21:16)
In this section of Matthew we see another wonderful day for Jerusalem. It had been over 700 years since the days of Hezekiah, and yet in this wonderful day their promised King had come, and they would not receive their own day, or their own King. He came unto His own, and they received Him not. The true Passover was before them, and they could not discern their day, The King of kings had come riding into His city of blessing to establish His throne on Mount Zion, and they would not. Yet, from all Israel there were a few who recognized this wonder; their King coming riding on the foal of an ass in all humility to lead the people to righteousness. They laid their garments in His path, like David of old they were dancing before the Ark of the Covenant. All the fullness of their God was sitting upon the colt of an ass. The people were shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David, the people were shouting, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Did not their rejoicing come up to God’s Holy place in the heaven of heavens? Could not He see His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased riding into Jerusalem? Would not the words ‘hear ye him,’ resound and reverberate throughout all creation? But as a whole, Jerusalem would not. In the Gospel of Matthew from Chapter 21 to the end of Chapter 23, seems to cover a long period of time when you consider all the material that the Lord Jesus covered, and all the prophetic revelations that He gave, but it is really a short span of time from Hosanna, Hosanna, to ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.’ (23:37-39)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38)
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:39)
The presentation of their King, and the rejoicing that had taken place had been silenced by the leaders of the Jews. Their cry now became ‘we have no king but Caesar,’ for they had rejected the Son of God, and the King of kings. How sad, the Lord was ready to bless them, not only with His earthly presence, but also with His heavenly presence, and they would not. And even now in our day, the gates of Jerusalem are closed to their King. But we know that soon the Son of God will come. Jerusalem will open their hearts as in the days of Hezekiah and will receive their King. They will shout again, ‘Hosanna, Hosanna. . . Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, and the gates will be lifted up, and the everlasting doors will be opened wide, and the Lord of glory will come in. Psalm 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7)
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9)
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)
When the Lord of glory comes to Jerusalem to set up His millennial kingdom, that will truly be Israel’s year of Jubilee. All their sorrows will be taken from them, all their lands will be restored unto them, from the great river in Egypt to the Euphrates will be the borders of Israel. She will bow with a full heart to her Lord of lords, and King of kings. In that day there will be a resounding praise unto the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This praise will ascend as a sweet savor unto and up to God. The people will rejoice, the heavens will rejoice, all the holy angels will rejoice, and yes, we who have come at the end of the age through the blood of our Savior, we will rejoice in His victorious conquest over the evil heart of man.
As Christians we are blessed with the Word of God that enables us to see the whole span of time; we can look upon Jesus of Nazareth knowing that the man of sorrows will be triumphant as the Lord of lords, and King of kings. It does, however, sadden the heart to know that Israel has been blinded to these things, but one day He will anoint their eyes and the scales will fall to the ground, and they will see Him as He is. In that day, as we reside at His side, we will rejoice with all of heaven and earth. That will truly be the day that the Lord prophesied that the angels would be ascending and descending on the Son of man. (John 1:51) And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)
At that time the nation of Israel, and the city of Jerusalem will no longer be in captivity to this world. Jerusalem will be a city on a hill, shining forth the glorious light of the glory and righteousness of her King. She will dance and sing in the fragrance of frankincense, myrrh, and aloe with all the chief spices; the scent of His righteousness will fill mount Zion and all of Jerusalem, for now they have received their King. Oh, blessed day that awaits this down trodden city of the earth, sleep just a little while longer, your King is coming to awaken you with His tender kiss of grace. Sleep on then, O Jerusalem, soon your slumber will be past, and your King will ride into your city in all His glorious triumph over evil. Back to the days of Hezekiah . . .
This godly king had prepared the Temple, the house of God. He had instructed the priests and the Levites to sanctify themselves. He had gathered the princes, and the rulers in the spirit of repentance, he had gathered the people of Jerusalem, those of Judaea, and Benjamin; he had reached out to the ten northern tribes and now they were all together before the Lord in Jerusalem. They were going to keep the Passover as a united Israel as they looked back to the days of Solomon. Joy filled the city, a young king with a heart full of prayer and praise; O, Jerusalem, what glory filled your streets. How high did their glory reach, even unto heaven. (Verse 27)
A repentant heart, and a contrite spirit is the place all the people of God need to be in. This heart always brings forth praise for our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. As these praises from the people of Israel ascended up to heaven, Jehovah tips His ear and listens to the singers in His holy house. He hears the harp, the trumpet, the cymbals, the songs of the Lord course by course. These songs were sung in complete reverence to the most high God, Possessor of heaven and earth. O, that the sons of men could see the glory of the Lord, O, that the sons of men could repent and fall on their faces before the Lord, O, that the sons of men would come to the cross of Christ; but they would not.
Lord have mercy on this world, the candle is flickering, O, Lord just one more Samuel, don’t let the light go out today; just one more hour to bring them into your grace. Like Abraham, if there be 50, or 40, or 30, or 20, or 10, or 1, let the light keep burning so that some poor sinner can find his way to the Shepherd of the sheep, for He restoreth my soul. (Psalm 23) Amen.
© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)