2 Chronicles 30:1

2 Chronicles 30:1 says, 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.  Hezekiah sent word to all of Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim, and Manasseh and invited them to come to the Passover.  All of those who were called God's people were invited. Though they had revolted against God, Hezekiah invited them to return and worship Him.  We, who call ourselves followers of Christ need to be united in serving Him, and if some have strayed, we need to invite them back to worship and serve Him once more.  Verse two adds, For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.  Hezekiah is said to have asked all the princes and congregation in Jerusalem about keeping the Passover in the second month.  We need to listen to try to be united in what we do for God as Christians and not just make decisions on our own believing that what we think is always going to be right.  Verse three continues, 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.  It is said that they could not keep it until then because the priests had not sanctified themselves.  As a part of the priesthood of believers, we as Christians should always be sanctified, or set apart form the world, and ready to serve and worship God at any time.  Verse four states, And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.  Setting up a time for the Passover pleased both the King and the people.  We as believers should be pleased any time people are coming together to worship God.  Verse five adds, So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba 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.  A proclamation was made and sent throughout all of Israel to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover, which they had not done in a long time.  The people of Israel, the ten tribes that broke away, were invited as well, even though they often were at war with Judah. If we as Christians have been fighting against each other, we need to come together in unity to serving and worshipping God once more.  Verse six continues, 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.  Hezekiah did not invite the people of Israel to return to following him, but to return and follow God's commandments. They weren't invited for political purposes, but for spiritual ones. Hezekiah was not asking them to follow him, but to follow God. We don't need people to follow a particular leader but to follow God alone, then He will lead them to the ones they need to follow in the running of the country.  Verse seven says, 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.  Hezekiah asked them to not be like their fathers and brothers who had led them away from God, which resulted in desolation.  We as Christians need to pray that we never lead anyone away from God, either by our words or our actions.  Verse eight adds, 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.  The people of Israel, who once again we need to remember were a part of God's chosen people, were asked not to be stiff-necked, or set in their resolve to not listen to God.  People today often refuse to listen to the gospel because they will not turn away from their own desires.  Verse nine continues, 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.  Hezekiah said that if they returned to following God, He would be with them and bless them once more, setting them free from their captors.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He will set us free from the captivity of sin, and if we have put our faith in Him and strayed away, He will restore us to a right relationship with Him if we confess our sins and ask His forgiveness.  Verse ten states, 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.  The messages went out, but the people who received them laughed at it with scorn and mocked those who sent it.  When we share the gospel today, people are often going to laugh at us and mock us with scorn, but we are still called on to present the gospel.  It is then up to the individual how he or she receives it.  Verse eleven adds, Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.  Not everyone mocked the proclamation, because some of the people of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun heeded the call and returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  The gospel is going to be received by some people today even if it is being rejected by the majority and those who accept it will be restored to God.  Verse twelve continues, 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.  The people of Judah were united in heart to do the commandment of the king and princes, which was to repent and come worship God at the Passover.  We as Christians need to be united in heart as followers of God, and our hearts must be set on following and worshipping God.