2 Chronicles 35: 1-19
In these verses we read how after having the temple repaired King Josiah organised a passover and 7 days feast of unleavened bread to be kept to the LORD in Jerusalem. It was a passover like none other since the days of Samuel the prophet.
Firstly, the king told the priests to prepare themselves according to the writings of David, Solomon and Moses. Then he, his princes, and rulers gave extensively for the offerings - Josiah himself, gave 30,000 lambs and kids and 3,000 bullocks. The priests then proceeded to kill the offerings, sprinkle the blood, skin the offerings and prepare them accordingly for roasting or boiling, offering or eating. Those that were to be eaten were speedily given out to the people, and then to the Levites, priests, singers and porters (gate keepers).
When I read verse 2, I particularly noticed one word - 'encouraged'. Josiah 'encouraged' the priests in 'the service of the house of the LORD'.
In 2 Chronicles 29:11 Hezekiah also encourages the Levites to perform their temple duties...'My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him'.
It seems that the priests particularly needed encouragement to perform the duties which God had outlined for them in temple worship. No doubt, Josiah having read the book Hilkiah had found was aware of the hard work that was before the priests in this keeping of the passover, and so he instructed and encouraged them in what they had to do.
Imagine - not only did they have to sacrifice the previously mentioned animals which Josiah had given, but an additional 7,600 small cattle and 800 oxen from the princes and chief Levites! We are told in verse 14 that it took them until night - what an operation of organisation it must have been, and perhaps all the harder because they had become unfamiliar with keeping the passover on a large scale.
Do you need encouragement in the path of service the Lord has set before you? Does it seem too hard? Too arduous - too difficult? Do you see too many obstacles? Perhaps it seems like a mountain to you.
Once on reading Zechariarh 4:6,7 I was really struck by how these hard things which are like mountains in our lives are not conquered by climbing them or by beating them in our own strength - No, they are conquered by the Lord and we realise this as we are given grace - and as we rest in the Lord these mountains flow down and 'become as a plain' before us.
Maybe we don't see the way the Lord has set before us as a pleasure because of the hard things that are in it but, remember how Hezekiah said to the Levites that the LORD had chosen them to serve him in these temple ordinances. And the Lord has chosen you to walk in this way to live to his glory, to perform the works which God has ordained (prepared) for you (Ephesians 2:10). What a privilege that the Lord has such an interest in each of his children, that he has a path mapped out for each of them, for their good, their teaching, and for his glory!
Dear reader, be encouraged. Be not 'weary in well doing' (Galatians 6:9). The Lord looks on his children with compassion, understanding all about your needs in this way before you. Remember how the LORD compassionately sent an angel with food to Elijah, who wanted to give up and die, 'Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee' (1 Kings 19:7); and the Lord Jesus, 'I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat' (Mark 8:2); 'Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes' (Matthew 20:34).
Be encouraged, dear reader, he will never leave you, or forsake you. Though you might not feel them, underneath you are everlasting arms of love and strength and promise.
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