2 Chronicles 30:1  1 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Why does a holy God sometimes set aside the strict “letter of the law” and grant mercy to faulty people?

After Hezekiah’s great revival, he desired to honor God by reinstating the observance of the Passover. Unfortunately, the proper date for the feast had already passed for that year.

Hezekiah reasoned that it would be better to obey the Lord late than not at all. A great crowd arrived in Jerusalem for the occasion.

Some of the people had not purified themselves, perhaps because they were ignorant of the Law. Hezekiah reasoned that it would be better for these to take part in the Passover than not.

However, the unpurified ones would technically be disobeying the Law by partaking. Hezekiah prayed and asked God to pardon them for their imperfect but sincere attempts to keep His Word and great thing is, God heard and forgave.

God understands that we are frail and faulty. Although He cannot tolerate sin, He is merciful through the blood of Jesus, so He can forgive us of our failures if our hearts are set on following Him. Mercy is not available for the proud who will not repent. But praise God, your sins are covered if you seek His forgiveness and sincerely do your best to obey Him.

Prayer for Today: God, have mercy on me as I have mercy on others.