Anytime Is A Good Time To Praise The Lord

2 Chronicles 30:1-12 KJV

(1)  And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

(2)  For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.

(3)  For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

(4)  And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

(5)  So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.

(6)  So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

(7)  And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.

(8)  Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

(9)  For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

(10)  So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

(11)  Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

(12)  Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 30:21-23 KJV

(21)  And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.

(22)  And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

(23)  And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.

2 Chronicles 30:25-26 KJV

(25)  And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.

(26)  So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.

I. A cry from King Hezekiah

A. “What shall we do, about the Passover”, says King Hezekiah?

1. It is a very important celebration, and has been long neglected.

2. How shall we revive it?

a. The time has elapsed for this year,

b. We cannot get all together this quickly,

c. The congregation is few,

d. The people have not been informed,

e. The priests are not prepared.

3. Must we wait another year?”

a. Many, it is likely, were for waiting; but Hezekiah considered:

1. That by that time twelve-month the people wouldn’t be as excited

2.  We can’t wait that long to celebrate;

4. Therefore, finding a clause in the law of Moses that anyone who were unclean in the first month might keep the Passover the fourteenth day of the second month and be accepted

a. Hezekiah didn’t hesitate “Let’s do it!”       

1. So they resolved to keep the Passover in the second month.

b. Let the need for obedience make room for the need to celebrate

d. Anytime is a good time to praise the Lord.

e. It is good striking while the iron is hot

1. Don’t hesitate when the people have a mind to worship

Delays are dangerous

II. What was the reason for celebrating?

A. What is the “big ado?”

1. Passover

a. The Passover was a celebration uniting the nation to God that were grateful of        God’s grace that was shown to them.

b. The slain lamb typified the first born that was spared by God’s death angel

c. The unleavened loaves, called “bread of affliction” reminded them of past             affliction,

1. The sacrifice (for Jehovah calls it “My sacrifice”: came first; then                                                                  2. The seven days’ feast of unleavened bread to show they walked in the strength of the pure bread of a new life, in fellowship with Jehovah.

Now that’s a reason to celebrate!

            B. They were so excited about the celebration that they continued for seven more days

1. The people remembered what God had done for them and they couldn’t stop praising Him!

III. The cry from your pastor

A. What shall we do about the celebration of God’s grace toward us?

1. It is a very important celebration, and too many times neglected.

2. How shall we revive it?

a. The time has elapsed for this service,

1. There is still time to praise Him

b. We cannot get all together this quickly,

1.  Praise is not contingent on preparation but rather spontaneous response.

c. The congregation is few,

1. Jesus said, ”Where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the      midst of them.”

d. The people have not been informed,

1. Consider yourselves being informed

It’s a good time to praise the Lord!

 

e. The “praise team” is not prepared.

1. Anyone can be used of God to create an atmosphere of praise

3. Must we wait another time?”

a. Maybe some, it is likely, are for waiting; but I say:

1. Right now is a good time to praise the Lord

2. We can’t wait any longer to celebrate;

4. Therefore, finding a clause in the law of man, right now is a good time to praise God

a. I say “Let’s do it!”        

1. So anybody here tonight resolve to celebrate our deliverance from sin?

b. Let the need for thanksgiving make room for the need to                                                        celebrate

d. Anytime is a good time to praise the Lord.

 

 

IV. What was the reason for celebrating?

A. What is the “big ado?”

1. Salvation

a. I once was lost but now I’m found I was blind but now I see

b. Jesus is the Lamb of God who freely gave His life on Calvary for you and I

c. What sin destroyed, God revived through Jesus

Now that’s a reason to celebrate!