Repent, Obey, & Celebrate

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This is the fifth message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This sermon discusses the topic of Passover as recorded in the OT books of history and poetry. It emphasizes the fact that Passover observance mentioned in 2 Chronicles occur when righteous kings repent of their forefathers' sins and they obey the Lord by keeping the Passover. The Psalms speak of Passover in celebration of God's miraculous deliverance.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I have been doing a series of messages the past 4 Sundays on the subject of the Passover. I mentioned that I have been reading a book titled, Messiah in the Passover, and I have been learning a good bit about how the biblical material concerning the Passover relates to the sacrifice of Jesus. Not only have I learned more clearly how Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, but I’ve also learned more information regarding the ways that Christian Communion relates to the event of Passover and its historic celebration by the Jewish people.

We started this series by showing how God began preparing His people for Passover hundreds of years before it actually happened, and how that corresponds to the prophecies of the Messiah’s first coming. It also corresponds with the prophecies regarding the Messiah’s second coming that God has already given us.

Next, we spoke about the fact that the original Passover in Egypt was always referred to as a redemption from bondage and slavery in Egypt. This parallels the message of the NT in teaching us that we all have been redeemed from the bondage of sin through the blood of Jesus.

The third message of the series was given during one of our regular Communion services and focused on the 4 different cups of wine that were traditionally passed during the observance of Passover by the Jews. It was interesting to note that Jesus provided a brand new meaning for the third cup of the meal. This cup was normally called, “the cup of redemption” and Jesus changed its meaning away from the past by saying, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Last Sunday the message addressed the topic of Atonement, which is another theme that is connected with Passover. The connection between Passover and atonement is based on the fact that God chose Passover as the day His Son gave His life and shed His blood to make atonement for all of our sins.

In the first three sermons of the series, we looked at the Passover as it was presented in the “books of Moses,” which are known as the LAW. Today, we are going focus on the Passover as presented in the “history” and “poetry” sections of the OT, which the Jews simply refer to as “The Writings.” 

In the LAW, the Passover is mentioned many, many times; not only in predicting and recording the actual event, but also in the describing the laws God gave regarding the way it was to be celebrated year after year. However, in the WRITINGS, we only have a few places that the Passover is mentioned. Yet, there is an important message as we study it.

There are four different places when Passover is mentioned including the book of Psalms. The first mention is found in 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:1 and it speaks about the reinstatement of the Passover observance during the reign of King Hezekiah following the evil reign of his father, King Ahaz. The next mention is recorded in 2 Chronicles 35:1-19, which records the reforms that were instituted by King Josiah following the evil reign of his father, King Amon and grandfather, King Manasseh. The third record of Passover is found in Ezra 6:19-21, which is all about the Israelites returning to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon/Persia. As soon as the temple is rebuilt, they begin to once again celebrate the Passover in accordance with God’s law. The final example of Passover expressed in the “Writings” is found in the Psalms. There are various places in the Psalms where the Psalmist describes the Passover and the Exodus as examples of God’s faithfulness to Israel, as well as God’s mighty power over their enemies.

I want to speak to you about Repentance, Obedience and Celebration.

I.    Repentance

When people abandon their worship of God and their trust in God, they naturally abandon their obedience to God’s commands. The people of Israel had forsaken the Lord and had resorted to worshiping the gods of the pagans. This included the practice of many despicable things that God clearly condemned. Because of their disobedience, God had brought judgment upon them from enemy nations.

One of the wicked kings that led Israel further from the Lord was King Amon. But when he died his son Hezekiah ascended to the throne. Hezekiah’s heart was turned toward the Lord and we read about it in 2 Chron. 29:1-11. Even though the word “repentance” is not used in these chapters (29 & 30), yet the point is still emphasized by the word “return.”

When we read about Passover in chapter 30, it is presented in the context of people “returning to the Lord.” 

2 Chronicles 30:9 ^(NKJV) 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." 

In other words, they repented of the way they had been going and purposed to return to the ways of the Lord. The same could be said about Josiah in chapter 35.

In similar fashion, his father, King Amon, as well as his grandfather, had promoted the worship of idols and pagan gods. But Josiah determines to return to the Lord when he becomes king.

Read 2 Chron. 34:1-7.

Josiah demonstrated repentance by clearing out all the trappings of idolatry that had been connected to his father’s reign. As I stated earlier, whenever people stray from the Lord it is always accompanied by direct disobedience to His commands and His will. It is always a direct result of caving in to the pressure of those around them who do not love God and serve Him, and usually due to a desire to “be like them.” Or, it is a direct result of satisfying their own fleshy appetites for self-will and autonomy.

The only way to remedy the situation is to repent and return to the Lord. That is, get rid of all the “idolatry” connected with the gods of this world. This principle still holds true today. If there is anyone here today that has strayed from the Lord then please know that the first thing you need to do is repent. That means you turn away from the path your on and return to the path that God has laid out.

II.  Obedience

One of the evidences we find in Scripture that indicates Hezekiah’s and Josiah’s obedience to the Lord is their observance of Passover.

2 Chron. 30:1ff and 35:1ff.

In spite of the fact that the fathers and grandfathers of these kings had led the people into idolatry, I’m quite sure that there were a number of individuals in Judah and Israel who had not forsaken the Lord. I am confident that their hearts were filled with excitement and gratitude when these kings announced that the Passover was being re-instituted.

In addition to these two instances when Passover was observed as a clear sign that the leaders had returned to the Lord, there is one more instance of Passover observance that takes place much later. The reforms and obedience to the requirements of God’s law that we just described under King Hezekiah and King Josiah were short-lived. 

If you remember your Bible history, you know that the nations of Israel and Judah continued their downward slide into idolatry and pagan practices, even reaching the point they were sacrificing their children in the fire to pagan gods. Because of the wickedness of the nations, God brought judgment upon them and allowed enemies to conquer them and carry many of them away into exile. After several decades of living in exile in a foreign country, God started bringing His people back to their own land. 

Within two years after returning to their homeland, the people of Israel had laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the temple. However, due to severe opposition, the work was interrupted for 16 years. Finally, the temple is rebuilt and immediately dedicated to the Lord. About 40 days following the temple dedication, the exiles celebrate the Passover in obedience to the Lord.

Ezra 6:16-22

It has been 70 years since the first temple was destroyed and all that time, the proper observance of Passover was abandoned. So the stories of these kings and the returning exiles help us see that obedience to the Lord included the observance of Passover. The return to the observance of Passover reminds us that God requires and desires our obedience to His Word. If we truly want to demonstrate our love for Him and appreciation for His deliverance from bondage, then we need to be diligent about obeying Him also.

III. Celebration

The final emphasis we want to point out this morning is celebration.

In all of the examples I have mentioned, the people were more than likely celebrating God’s grace and victory in overcoming the enemies of paganism and their return to the worship of the one true God. But, ever since the very first observance of Passover recorded in the book of Exodus, it included the element of celebration for God’s mighty deliverance from slavery and bondage in Egypt.

This is even more clearly seen in the Psalms.

Ps. 77, 80-81, 105, & 135-136 are all different Psalms that relate the details of Exodus and Passover. Most, if not all, of them do so for the purpose of praising God for His intervention in behalf of His people.

In addition to these Psalms I’ve already mentioned, there are a group of Psalms that are called the “Hallel Psalms.”

Hallel (ha-láy-el) – Hebrew word for praise. The word “hallelujah” comes from that word.

These Psalms include 113-118, and they are psalms of joyful thanksgiving for the redemption the Lord has provided for His people Israel. These psalms are what the Jews would sing in worship celebrations, which would include Passover. They were also an important of the Passover Seder.

Usually Ps. 113-114 would be sung before the meal, and Psalms 115-118 after the meal. (Richard Flashman in Messiah in the Passover)

In Matthew 26 and Mark 14, the passages that describe the last supper Jesus had with His disciples, it says that they “sung a hymn and went out to the Mt. of Olives.” The Messiah, along with his closest disciples, is praising God for the redemption God has provided for His people.

Conclusion:

As we have been studying the connection between Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, leading up to Easter, I hope this message today will serve as a reminder that God not only requires, but He delights in the repentance, obedience and celebrations of His people.

In ancient times, the people of Israel were chosen to be in a covenant relationship with God that is still in effect today. But Jesus, at the Last Supper, instituted a covenant with all people of all nations and languages through the blood He shed at Calvary. Our only legitimate response to His offer is repent, obey and celebrate. Repent (turn away from) our sin, obey His Word and celebrate His salvation and marvelous grace.

As we celebrate our salvation this morning, let us stand together and sing the hymn: My Jesus I Love Thee.