2 Chronicles 30:1-5: a reflection

1Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the LORD’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month. 3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. 5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.

King Hezekiah, in his reforms, wants to restore the celebration of the Passover, which had long been neglected. But there is a problem: at the proper time, the priests were not ready and the people had not gathered. Rather than cancel it, Hezekiah and the assembly decide to keep the Passover a month late, at an irregular time, so that it could be done. The important thing was that the people come to the LORD; the imperfect timing was not allowed to prevent it.

Notice the wisdom and grace in Hezekiah's decision. The Passover could not be kept properly at its appointed time; and rather than let that stop it altogether, he made a way for the people to come, even imperfectly, even late. He did not stand on the exact letter of the timing when doing so would have meant not keeping the feast at all; he cared more that the people come to God than that every detail be perfect.

That is a gracious principle worth taking to heart. We can be kept from coming to God by the sense that we cannot do it properly, at the right time, in the right way; and so, feeling unready or imperfect, we do not come at all. But God welcomes the sincere heart that comes to him, even imperfectly, even late; it is better to come imperfectly than not to come at all. Do not let the fear of doing it imperfectly keep you from coming to God. If you cannot come as well as you would like, come as you can; God receives those who turn to him sincerely, even when the timing or the manner is not perfect. Better a late and imperfect coming to God than none; come to him as you are able.

Lord, when the Passover could not be kept properly at its appointed time, Hezekiah made a way to keep it late, caring more that the people come to you than that every detail be perfect. Thank you for that gracious principle. I can be kept from coming to you by the sense that I cannot do it properly, at the right time, in the right way; and so, feeling unready or imperfect, I do not come at all. But you welcome the sincere heart that comes to you, even imperfectly, even late. Keep me from letting the fear of doing it imperfectly stop me from coming to you. If I cannot come as well as I would like, help me come as I can, trusting that you receive those who turn to you sincerely, even when the timing or manner is not perfect. Better a late and imperfect coming to you than none; help me come to you as I am able, and receive me graciously.