将福气扩散开去
历代志下卅章1至12节
1希西家差遣人去见以色列和犹大众人,又写信给以法莲和玛拿西人,叫他们到耶路撒冷耶和华的殿,向耶和华以色列的神守逾越节。
2因为王和众首领,并耶路撒冷全会众已经商议,要在二月内守逾越节。
3正月(注:原文作“那时”)间他们不能守,因为自洁的祭司尚不敷用,百姓也没有聚集在耶路撒冷。
4王与全会众都以这事为善。
5于是定了命令传遍以色列,从别是巴直到但,使他们都来在耶路撒冷向耶和华以色列的神守逾越节。因为照所写的例,守这节的不多了(注:或作“因为民许久没有照所写的例守节了”)。
6驿卒就把王和众首领的信,遵着王命,传遍以色列和犹大。信内说:“以色列人哪,你们当转向耶和华亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的神,好叫他转向你们这脱离亚述王手的余民。
7你们不要效法你们列祖和你们的弟兄。他们干犯耶和华他们列祖的神,以致耶和华丢弃他们,使他们败亡(注:或作“令人惊骇”),正如你们所见的。
8现在不要像你们列祖硬着颈项,只要归顺耶和华,进入他的圣所,就是永远成圣的居所;又要事奉耶和华你们的神,好使他的烈怒转离你们。
9你们若转向耶和华,你们的弟兄和儿女,必在掳掠他们的人面前蒙怜恤,得以归回这地,因为耶和华你们的神有恩典、施怜悯。你们若转向他,他必不转脸不顾你们。”
10驿卒就由这城跑到那城,传遍了以法莲、玛拿西,直到西布伦。那里的人却戏笑他们,讥诮他们。
11然而亚设、玛拿西、西布伦中也有人自卑,来到耶路撒冷。
12神也感动犹大人,使他们一心遵行王与众首领凭耶和华之言所发的命令。
信息分享
重新献殿之后,百姓再次归向神;希西家便决定继续庆祝逾越节。
他邀请犹大国和以色列国的众民前来耶路撒冷守节。这个邀请带来不同的反应,不少人嘲笑这个想法(10节)。今天也有不少人取笑基督自称为神,同时又拒绝祂的邀请。但感谢神,却有一些像第11节的人那样,愿意谦卑自己,接受神的呼召。正是这些人才能领受祝福,然后再将祝福传开。第三十一章告诉我们,这些人回到家乡之后,便将祝福一直传递开去。
对于参与的人来说,这一定是个非常振奋的时刻。第13节指出,神将合一的心,赐给来自两国的人民。今天,最令人难过的,莫过于看见神的子民中间出现不和与分裂。而且,造成分裂的原因,往往是因为一些微不足道、不值得着眼留意的小事情。
本章的最后一节经文,展示了一幅美丽的图画:属灵领袖将祝福带给众民,以至神在天上垂顾,赐下更多福气。经文这样说:「他们的祷告达到天上的圣所。」他们的祷告为何能直达天上的圣所呢?因为他们认罪悔改、遵行神的律法和听从神的旨意。
这便是蒙福的秘诀。神必将福气赐给这样的人。请读历代志下三十一章21节。思想神今天同样在等着祝福祂的百姓。
THE BLESSING SPREADS
2 Chronicles. 30:1-12
1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel.
2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month.
3 For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem.
4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly.
5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.
6 Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7 And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see.
8 Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.
9 For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”
10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them.
11 Nevertheless some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.
Message
Now that the temple had been re-consecrated as well as the people returning to the Lord, Hezekiah wanted to go on and celebrate the Passover.
He invited people from all over the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel to come to Jerusalem for this festival. The invitations were met with a mixed reception. Some ridiculed the whole idea (v.10). Today there are many who laugh at the claims of Christ or reject His call. Thank God there are those who, as verse 11 says, humble themselves and recognize God's call. They are the ones who receive and spread the blessing. Chapter 31 says that when these people returned home they spread the blessing.
It must have been a thrilling moment for everyone involved. Verse 13 speaks of the unity God gave to the people from both kingdoms. One of the saddest sights is to see the disunity and division among God's people today. Often the division comes through trivial matters that ought to be ignored.
The last verse of the chapter presents a wonderful picture. The spiritual leaders blessed the people with God looking down and giving His approval. What does the verse say? “Their prayer reached heaven.” How was this possible?
Because there had been confession of sin, recognition of God's laws, and obedience to His will.
That is the secret of God’s blessing. He will always bless His people when they fulfill His conditions. Read 2 Chronicles 31:21 and think of God as waiting to bless His people today.

