A Tale of Two Passovers: Passion and the Word

Note: I'm just working through some things with the Revival of Josiah (one of my favorite stories in the OT as it is so applicable to my life) and have some thoughts on his re-institution of the Passover celebration- so bear with this one. It's a work in progress.

In II Kings 23:21 – 23 we read that as part of his reformation, Josiah reestablished the celebration of the Passover. “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”

“Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.”

This Passover celebration took place in 622 B.C. and it appears that the situation in the Temple was so bad that the priest had to hide the Ark to protect it from being profaned along with all of the other apostasies taking place prior to Josiah's great reform. (II Chronicles 35:3) Josiah had them bring it out as there could be no true Passover without it.

(We need to understand the importance of the Passover – it is the one celebration that clearly foreshadows Jesus Christ. )

Key Thought: The revival of Josiah took worship to a higher level by taking the passion of Hezekiah’s Passover (II Chronicles 30) and celebrating it by aligning it in accordance to the Word of God. Passion in obedience to the Word is ultimately the highest form of worship.

Hezekiah’s Passover was an awesome first step. It had not been celebrated at all, apparently, since the division of the kingdom after Solomon’s death. They were so excited to be doing this that they unanimously added another week to the celebration. What a time that must have been – worship pouring out to such a degree that they didn’t want to leave! “Let’s play two!” I wish that we would have such a fervor for worship that after church was done we'd all say, "Let's do that again!"

But it’s also important to note that in their zeal, they sidestepped a couple of the ‘regulations.’ First of all, they held the celebration a month after they were supposed to because they didn’t have time to get their act together. (II Chronicles 30: 2) Then they allowed men who had not purified themselves to partake of the feast (II Chronicles 30:18). Yet through Hezekiah’s intercession (II Chronicles 30:18, 19) they were given a ‘pass’ so-to-speak from God.

The intent of their heart was to seek Him, which is always more important than the rules and regulations when you are first returning to Him. This is a very important point when we are bringing in the lost to hear about the salvation of Christ. But it is also important to note that it required an special, intercessory prayer by Hezekiah and a ‘healing’ by God to make up for these oversights. You can't simply side-step the "rules of the game" without some divine dispensation. And we certainly can't determine when and where the rules can be set aside. God allowed this for this specific occasion.

However- when Josiah, two generations later, found the Book of the Law and made the decree to celebrate the Passover, he combined the passion of Hezekiah’s feast with total obedience to the Word of God. Note the key phrase: "As it is written." That is the ultimate sign of maturity. Passion checked by complete adherence to God’s expressed will.

Christ brings a freedom borne out of passion, which rises above the rules and regulations, but ultimately leads you back to the perfect ways of God – not just total, unrestricted freedom. It is freedom, but it is a different kind than the world defines. It is freedom to love and serve God – but His way. It’s not legalism, because legalism drains out the heart and passion of a relationship with Christ.

This true celebration of the Passover was done because Josiah had found the Book of the Law. Once you know, you have no excuse anymore. A seeker or a new Christian is given some grace because he doesn’t know. He is coming to Christ as he is, not as he should be. We try to force people to be Christ-like before they even know Him! But the relationship must be established first. The excitement that tumbles over and around the ‘rules’ of Christianity must be allowed for - for a season. Just as the people in Hezekiah’s day were desperate for reestablishing a relationship with God by celebrating the Passover without being in accordance with the exact rules, there are people who need to come to Jesus just as they are.

But, as you mature as a child, as you get to know the Law – then you must become more like Him. The rules ARE adhered to, because they are His rules, and His rules are designed to bring you into greater fellowship and worship with Him, not more restrictive.

If you've been a Christian for awhile, you can't be hiding under the 'experiencing God' excuse for not bringing your life under His direction. We have to be growing, and this means coming more and more into line with His ways. "I just want to love God and be with Him" is a great thought, but it can become a lazy excuse for disobedience - and then you miss what you claim to be desiring, for only through obedience are we drawn deeper into Him. And let's face it: Many of us know better - we just want to hide under the guise of freedom.