Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

2CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 30

30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.

Hezekiah had wanted everyone who named JEHOVAH as their God and that he could reach to come and worship at the "Passover." This, the greatest of feasts of the Hebrews, was to be observed on the 14th day of the 1st month (Nissan).
However, the temple had not been repaired and ready at that time; neither had the priests been consecrated.
So Hezekiah consulted with the "princes" (his advisors) and all the people. They realized that God had made provisions in the law for the Passover to be held in the 2nd month should it not be observable in the 1st month.
At this time in history, the kingdom of Israel had been demolished by Assyria. Most of the people had been carried away captive and scattered. But some of the people remained. Hezekiah wanted to reach those people.
Also, some of those who had been transplanted in Israel by the Assyrians had come to believe in JEHOVAH. Hezekiah also wanted to reach them.
So Hezekiah sent a "proclamation" through all of the nation for those who named JEHOVAH as their God, to come to Jerusalem for Passover.

6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Some have said that the greatest evangelistic opportunity lies within the roles of the church. And it is true that many of the people who's names appear on church rolls have never been truly saved. Some have come to a "mind-belief, and not a "heart-salvation." Some have come and had AN experience with God, but have not had a LIFE-CHANGING experience where they have truly surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Master.
Hezekiah realized that everyone who was a Jew by birth was not necessarily a believer.
His plea was totally evangelistic in nature. Obviously this plea had been somewhat influenced by Isaiah, who was in his latter years.
The plea that Hezekiah sent called for repentance of sin (verse 7) and surrender in obedience (verse 8). It was also coupled with a promise of God's "wrath" being turned away by these acts of submission (verse 9).
In every age, evangelism is the same. Man is a sinner by nature and choice. The judgment of God for sin is death (physical death, and in the case of unrepentant sinners - eternal death, or eternal separation from God for eternity).
God has supplied a REMEDY for the sin situation. That remedy is to "turn" (repent) and come to God in humble submission.
Salvation REQUIRES a genuine REPENTANCE!
When people genuinely repent from sin and submit to God's Divine authority, then they are received willingly by the Lord, and given protection from His Divine wrath.
See these Scriptures in succession for the evangelism of today:
1) Romans 3:23
2) Romans 6:23
3) Romans 10:9-10
4) Romans 10:13
5) John 3:16
6) John 20:31
7) 2Peter 3:18
Many of the people of Israel mocked and scorned Hezekiah's plea. It is the same today.

11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. 13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

Still, a "very great congregation" gathered to worship at the temple in Jerusalem.
Some of those from Israel (Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun) came. And in Judah there was a GREAT revival because God had moved on the hearts of the people.

14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.

The people willingly destroyed all the idols and groves in Jerusalem. This showed their allegiance to JEHOVAH only.
Then they began to bring their sacrifices. And the priests and Levites were ashamed because they had not sanctified themselves appropriately. Now they realized their sin, and willingly came to God for sanctification, and began to make the offerings of sacrifices.
Some, who had come repentantly (verse 17), were not properly sanctified. Therefore, instead of them killing their own sacrifices, the Levites performed the ritual FOR them.
We cannot come to God properly sanctified. Jesus must perform that FOR us! Only HIS blood is shed for "the remission of sin." (see Hebrews 9:22, Matthew 6:28)
The priests and the Levites at this time were acting on behalf of the Lord, Jesus. HE is the High Priest of ALL TIME!

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

For those who had genuinely sought God in their heart (verse 19), but weren't correctly sanctified, Hezekiah prayed that God would receive them.
He was the king. He was acting on behalf of the KING OF KINGS, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The intercessory prayer of Hezekiah was received by the Lord, and the people were accepted.
It is in the HEART that man must prepare himself to receive Christ. God Himself will take care of any OTHER cleansing that must be done!

21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.

For seven days, according to God's Word, they kept the feast of unleavened bread. They were praising God the whole time. Hezekiah was encouraging the priests and Levites.
Then they decided to continue the feast another seven days because Hezekiah and the princes of Judah had given so many bulls and sheep to sacrifice.
There is great joy in God's people when leaders willingly submit themselves to God.

26 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. 27 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.

There had not been a time of unified worship of all the Israelites since Solomon's day. There had been a divided kingdom up until this point. Now, those in the Northern tribes were reconciled with their brethren in the Southern tribes. Israel was once again in UNITY!
God saw, and God was pleased (verse 27).
God is pleased when His people gather TOGETHER in UNITY to give Him praise and worship. God is pleased when people gather TOGETHER and all have their "FOCUS" upon praising Him.
Let us, then, who are Christians today, remember that when we gather in the house of the Lord, we are there for ONE purpose: to praise and worship God.

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."(Ephesians 4:1-3)