2 Chronicles 30
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Following the restoration of temple worship King Hezekiah took counsel with his princes and the congregation in Jerusalem. They agreed to invite all Israel to come and keep the passover in the next month. Letters were sent out throughout the land encouraging the people to turn again to the LORD God and come to the temple for worship. Some recipients of the letters just laughed and mocked the messengers, but many assembled at Jerusalem.
After getting rid of the many heathen alters spread throughout Jerusalem, the passover sacrifices and procedures were followed as set out by Moses. Because of the suddeness of this worship, and perhaps because the people had become unfamiliar with its practices, many were not 'cleansed' or 'purified' according to the rules. But Hezekiah prayed to God to forgive all those that came with a willing heart given the circumstances, which he did.
The remainder of the chapter describes the gladness and joy with which the passover was kept, concluding with the acceptance of their prayers in heaven.
I noticed how in verse 8, Israel were exhorted that rather than being 'stiffnecked' or rebellious, to 'yield' themselves unto the LORD and come and worship him.
This 'yielding' immediately reminded me of Romans 6, where Paul speaks about not yielding yourself to sin and unrighteousness but rather yield yourself to God. I have often felt my inability to do this - my own way and wants just seem too powerful for me to resist.
Once after being particularly distressed at my inability to resist a particular sin, I was reading the writings of Watchman Nee, 'Sit, Walk, Stand'. He asked the question, 'How can we know present deliverance from sin's reign? How is our 'old man' who has followed us and troubled us for years, to be 'crucified' and put away?' He went on to expound Romans 6, emphasising the past tense - that when Jesus was crucified over 2000 years ago, my sins were crucified with him. He writes,
'Our crucifixion with Christ is a glorious historic fact. Our deliverance from sin is based not on what we can do, nor even on what God is going to do for us, but on what he has already done for us in Christ. When that fact dawns on us, and we rest back upon it (Romans 6:11), then we have found the secret of a holy life'.
As I read this it was as if I suddenly realised I didn't need to struggle against sin anymore because the battle had already been won by Jesus. The Lord gave me such rest in him at this thought that immediately that particular sin seemed to lose its hold over me and for months it didn't trouble me in the same way.
Interestingly, on looking up 'yield' in my Strong's Concordance and comparing Romans 6 with this yielding in Chronicles it actually means two slightly different things. The yielding here in Chronicles is speaking more of a 'giving 'up of your own sense of power - it sounds to me like a submission of one's will to God. In contrast, the Romans 6 'yield' is referring more to a 'presenting' yourself.
I recently heard a minister* say how naturally speaking we think of ourselves as gods. We think we can do what we want and when we want - and we think that is our right. However, someone that has been born again has been made to realise that God is God, and we are given loving submission to him and what he wants, trusting that he knows what is best for us, and his plan for us and the world.
James writes 'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...' (James 4: 6-8)
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will soften our hearts to yield in loving submission to God, and that our eyes will be opened to realise that the battle with sin has been won by Christ, and to therefore rest in what he has done. Of course, this does not mean we won't sin again - my Pastor** often says, 'we sin because we are sinners'. But we cannot win this battle by struggling in our own strength against it. We need to continue to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness but rest in what the Lord has done and ask him to subdue our desires to sin.
It is such a mystery I seem unable to properly put it into words - especially as it is a lesson I have to be reminded of. I hope these thoughts might still be of some help to you. I can recommend Watchman Nee's little book, which explains it so much better!*T Pocock
**JR Rutt, Lamberhurst Strict Baptist Chapel
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