8. Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.
2 Chronicles 30 tells the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah, calling the people to celebrate the Easter in the temple of Jerusalem. Hezekiah acknowledged that the people had moved away from God's ways and decided to renew Judah's commitment to the Lord. He sent messengers across the country, inviting the Israelites to join him at the Easter celebration in Jerusalem. Here are five verses related to the themes of this chapter:
Exodus 12:14: "This day shall be a memorial to you who shall celebrate as a solemn feast to the Lord; from generation to generation you will celebrate it by perpetual status." This verse talks about the celebration of Easter, which was a liberation memorial that God gave to the Israelites of slavery in Egypt. Easter was an important celebration for God's people, and Hezekiah wanted to renew his observance.
Deuteronomy 30:2: "And thou shalt return to the Lord thy God, and thou shalt hear to his voice according to all that I command you today, thou and thy children, with all thy heart and with all thy soul." This verse talks about repentance and the return to God, which was the goal of Hezekiah in convening the people to celebrate Easter. He wanted the people of Judah to renew his commitment to God and to turn to him with all his heart.
2 Chronicles 15:12-13: "And they have entered an agreement to seek the Lord God of their parents, all His heart and all His soul. from the little one to the big, both men and women. " This verse talks about the importance of seeking God with all his heart, which was exactly what Hezekiah was asking the people of Judah to celebrate Easter.
Psalm 34:18: "Near the Lord of those who have a broken heart and save the contrite of spirit." This verse talks about God's merciful nature to those who repent and have a broken heart before Him. Hezekiah knew that Judah's only way to reconcile with God was through repentance and humility.
Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord as long as one can find, invoke it while it is near." This verse talks about the need to seek God while He can be found. Hezekiah knew that the opportunity to repent and turn to God could be lost if the people of Judah did not respond to their invitation to celebrate Easter. He wanted the people to seek God while there was still time.
“Deus ama quem segue o caminho da virtude.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
