SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 30
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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 who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.” And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people. [2 Chronicles 20:18-20]
May the Lord, Who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the Lord!
Despite the fact that the Jewish religion was a system of rules and rituals, God was not interested only in slavish observance of rules and rituals – He was looking at the heart.
The many rules and rituals in the Law of Moses were designed to be symbolic reminders of deep spiritual lessons and truths, reminding the people about the importance of putting God first, of rejecting and repenting of sin, of the need for forgiveness, and the seriousness of sin, etc.
The Passover, something that had not been practiced for many years, was not just a ceremony that had to be observed because the rules demanded it, or because God said so; it was given as a symbol of grace and mercy, and of the goodness of God.
In this passage we see that goodness in action; though the people that gather do not meet the technical requirements of the Law (going through a symbolic purification, a sign of repentance), God forgives them because He sees their humble hearts, He knows their sincerity.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” [Luke 18:9-14]
The Pharisee (the name suggests “pure one”, one that observes the Law meticulously) does everything by the book, but his heart is far from the humility that God seeks; the tax collector is an impure one, one that has compromised God’s will and cheated his brothers, yet he is humbled and broken, and the Lord sees his heart!
He sees his humble heart, He knows his sincerity.

God is not a God of rules and rituals, He is a good God, a God of love and mercy and forgiveness.
When I think of my own experience of the Lord’s Supper (today’s equivalent to the Passover), of how many of the debates were about the technical correctness of the “celebration”, these passages remind me what it is that God is really concerned about.
The Lord’s Supper (like the Passover) is a symbol of His goodness and mercy.
We may not be purified, we may not be “by the Book”, but if we come at the invitation and want to participate, then we will be accepted by grace.
God can see into the heart; He knows those who are sincerely humble and those who are externally pure.
More and more I am convinced that our job is not to keep people out, but to invite people in.
Extend the invitation for people to come and receive the love and grace of Jesus; everyone who comes is welcome.
All we can do is pray, like Hezekiah, that God will welcome and forgive and heal them, as required!
He sees their humble hearts, He knows their sincerity.

PRAYER:
Lord, forgive us for putting up barriers to Your grace. Only You know our hearts! Help us each to be sincere, and to come humbly, like this tax collector, to celebrate and receive Your grace!