Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Chronicles
Book: 2 Chronicles
Chapter: 30
Overview:
Hezekiah's
Passover.
(1-12) The
Passover celebrated.
(13-20)
The
Feast of unleavened
Bread.
(21-27)
1-12 Hezekiah made
Israel as welcome to the
Passover, as any of
his own subjects. Let us yield ourselves unto the
Lord. Say not,
you will do what you please, but resolve to do what he pleases.
We perceive in the
Carnal mind a stiffness, an obstinacy, an
unaptness to compel with
God; we have it from our fathers: this
must be overcome. Those who, through
Grace, have turned to
God
themselves, should do all they can to bring others to him.
Numbers will be scorners, but some will be humbled and
benefited; perhaps where least expected. The rich
Mercy of
God
is the great argument
By which to enforce
Repentance; the vilest
who submit and yield themselves to the
Lord, seek his
Grace, and
give themselves to his service, shall certainly be saved. Oh
that messengers were sent forth to carry these glad tidings to
every
City and every village, through every land!
13-20 The great thing needful in attendance upon
God in solemn
ordinances, is, that we make
Heart-work of it; all is nothing
without this. Where this sincerity and fixedness of
Heart are,
there may yet be many things short of the
Purification of the
Sanctuary. These defects need pardoning, healing
Grace; for
omissions in duty are sins, as
Well as omissions of duty. If
God
should
Deal with us in strict
Justice, even as to the very best
of our doings, we should be undone. The way to obtain
Pardon, is
to seek it of
God By Prayer; it must be gotten
By petition
through the
Blood of
Christ. Yet every defect is
Sin, and needs
forgiveness; and should be matter to humble, but not to
discourage us, though nothing can make up for the want of a
Heart prepared to seek the
Lord.
21-27 Many prayers were
Put up to
God with the peace-offerings.
In these
Israel looked to
God as the
God of their fathers, a
God
in
Covenant with them. There was also abundance of good
preaching. The Levites read and explained the Scriptures.
Faith
cometh
By hearing, and true religion preaching has abounded.
They sang
Psalms every
Day: praising
God should be much of our
work in religious assemblies. Having kept the
Seven days of the
Feast in this religious manner, they had
So much comfort in it,
that they kept other
Seven days also. This they did with
gladness. Holy duties should be done with holy gladness. And
when sinners humble themselves before the
Lord, they may expect
gladness in his ordinances. Those who taste this happiness will
not soon grow weary of it, but will be glad to prolong their
enjoyment.