Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 30:18-19 (New Living Translation)

18 Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those 19 who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.”

King Hezekiah wants to celebrate the Passover properly in Jerusalem. This had not been done for generations as the people had drifted away from God and followed other gods. At Hezekiah’s invitation, people came great distances. Many of these people did not fully understand the requirements of the celebration and were not purified or “properly cleansed.”

Following the requirements was important at this time. The requirements were clearly stated for those who had a copy of them and could read. Many at this time, however, didn’t have the requirements. Such was the drifting away from God. People lost touch and lost the knowledge of what to do.

King Hezekiah prays for these who were not properly cleansed in the physical sense. These people did, however, have the proper heart and mind. They had decided to follow the Lord and had shown their decisions by traveling great distances at great cost and hardship.

“Please God,” asked Hezekiah, “allow them in even though they are quite right.”

God heard the prayer, saw the hearts, and allowed them in.

Here is where we shift to today with these verses. Of course we can abuse the forgiveness and grace of God. We can utter little white lies and cheat God a little here and there. Well, we think we can, but God knows. Let’s forget those things for a moment.

God forgives. God allows us in despite us even when we are not properly cleansed. God allows us in when we are much worse than a little dirty. Praise God for forgiveness and grace.