Choices

King Hezekiah of Judah was one of the greatest kings of Judah. He worked tirelessly to reform Judah and turn Judah back to God. Judah had neglected to celebrate the Passover feast under the reign of Hezekiah’s father King Ahaz. King Hezekiah worked to reinstitute the proper celebration of the Passover. He purified the temple of all the uncleanness his father had permitted, he purified the temple utensils and he purified the Levites and the Priests. But because it took time to do all these things the time to celebrate the Passover feast (first month) had come and gone. So Hezekiah decided to celebrate the Passover during the second month. One might think that because Hezekiah did not follow scriptural authority that God might have been angered and perhaps rained fire and brimstone upon Hezekiah, but such was not the case because 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 states, “…Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful before the Lord his God, and every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and he prospered.” I’m sure if everything had been prepared on time that Hezekiah would have celebrated Passover at the right time but Hezekiah was afraid of insulting God by observing the Passover improperly. So Hezekiah had a dilemma; celebrate improperly but at the right time or celebrate properly but at the wrong time. Sometimes we are faced with dilemmas in God’s teachings. Whatever we choose to do we must be like Hezekiah we must do it with all of our hearts trying to please God. I’ve got a feeling that God would have been OK with either choice because Hezekiah’s heart was right.