2 Chronicles 30:6-12: a reflection

6So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Israel, turn again to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9For if you turn again to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.” 10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them. 11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the LORD’s word.

King Hezekiah sends couriers throughout the land with an invitation: Return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD. And he gives the reason they can return with hope: the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn his face from you if you return to him. Some who received the invitation mocked and scoffed; but some humbled themselves and came.

Notice both the invitation and the two responses to it. The invitation is to return to a God who is gracious and merciful, who will not turn his face away from those who come back to him; the door is open, and God is ready to receive the returning. But the responses differed: some mocked and dismissed the call, while others humbled themselves and came. The same gracious invitation was met with scorn by some and humility by others.

That invitation, and those two responses, are set before us as well. God calls us to return to him, and he is gracious and merciful, ready to receive us, not turning his face from those who come back. But we can respond to that call as some did, with mockery or dismissal, treating the invitation lightly; or we can respond as others did, humbling ourselves and coming. When God calls you to return to him, do not be among those who mock or dismiss the invitation. Humble yourself, and come, as those who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The God who calls you is gracious and merciful, and will not turn his face from you if you return; respond to his invitation with humility, not scorn, and come back to the God who is ready to receive you.

Lord, King Hezekiah's couriers called the people to return to you, the God who is gracious and merciful, who will not turn his face from those who come back; and some mocked the invitation, while others humbled themselves and came. Set that invitation, and those two responses, before me. You call me to return to you, and you are gracious and merciful, ready to receive me, not turning your face from those who come back. But I can respond to that call as some did, with mockery or dismissal, treating the invitation lightly; or I can respond as others did, humbling myself and coming. When you call me to return to you, keep me from being among those who mock or dismiss the invitation. Help me humble myself, and come, as those who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. You who call me are gracious and merciful, and will not turn your face from me if I return; help me respond to your invitation with humility, not scorn, and come back to you, who are ready to receive me. Thank you for so gracious a welcome.