We now get details on Hezekiah celebrating the Passover. Why does the writer focus so much on the religious aspects of Hezekiah's reign? It is to make the point that the returning nation of Israel needed to get their worship of God right. When faced with such a situation as they were it is so easy to think that we have to get all the practical things sorted out. The truth was that while these things do matter, the most important thing is to get our relationship with the Lord sorted out. We can all apply this to our lives. We need to be right with God.
Hezekiah set in train the plans for a celebration of the Passover, this previously having been impossible due to the shortage of consecrated priests.
A proclamation was sent throughout the land, and it made clear the reasons for the Passover, and in interpretation of past events. They needed to return to the Lord so that He would return to them. The nation was nothing if it did not live under God's blessing. This would even lead to further captives being set free. When we turn to God all sorts of things start happening.
The hand of the Lord was on the messengers to give them a favourable reception. The remnants of idol worship were cast away. Remember in the account of the Assyrian siege the army commander berates them for getting rid of the altars.
Verses 18, 19 also set the emphasis on the attitude of heart. So the celebration ensued and there was great rejoicing.
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