The Lord is Good.
God is good.Good not only in the moral sense of being right, just and correct.
But good in the sense of kindness, mercy and grace.
There is a goosebump story in the Old Testament that illustrates this...
When Hezekiah (one of Israel's last good kings) had the temple refurbished, they found a scroll of the law of the Lord. When Hezekiah read it, he tore his robes in repentance because they had neglected so many of the Lord's festivals and feasts. Although it was too late to hold the Passover at the appointed time, Hezekiah wasn't willing to wait a year before celebrating God's deliverance, and so they had it a month late.
Just imagine Christmas being moved to January!
Because it was all done hastily, the people and the priests hadn't had time to consecrate themselves.
So there was so much that wasn't right.
The time was wrong, the people weren't consecrated, and the priests weren't ready.
But Hezekiah prays for the people, appealing to the goodness of God and God responds with forgiveness and grace.
It's an incredible and beautiful moment!
Our God is Good and His love endures forever!
| Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the LORD. Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God--the LORD, the God of his fathers--even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2Chronicles30:17-20) |
