Hezekiah’s Passover Can we invent exceptions to the commands of God? 2 Kings 18:4-7

Introduction John Mark Hicks (teacher at Lipscomb) and Greg Taylor (editor of Wineskins) Down in the River to Pray Gist of the book: –Baptism is important –But not essential –One is not lost because of a little detail – sprinkled, wrong reason, infant

Introduction Their reasoning is based on Hezekiah’s Passover –Passover was to be on the 14 th day of the 1 st month –Hezekiah did not have time to get everything ready by then –He had Passover on the 14 th of the 2 nd month AND GOD APPROVED IT!AND GOD APPROVED IT!

Background Hezekiah – king at 25 Drove out idol worship 2Chronicles 29:2-32Chronicles 29: And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.

Background Hezekiah – king at 25 Drove out idol worship Hezekiah led a restoration movement – Passover BUT – A Problem:BUT – A Problem: –People not notified –Priests not consecrated –People not clean

Background SOSO – The first Passover to be observed in their lifetime would be delayed one month –News spread to Israel –Priests would be trained and ready –People would be cleansed and prepared to observe Passover would be on the 14 th day of 2 nd month

Result Hezekiah’s Passover was different in 2 ways –1) Time of Celebration –1) Time of Celebration – wrong month from the normal time commanded –Exodus 12:18a –Exodus 12:18a - In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread –2) Unclean –2) Unclean - Some were not clean when they participated in Passover

Hezekiah’s Prayer 2 Chronicles 29: Chronicles 29: For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone 19 who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20 And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

Abuses Some are saying that ritual, details, specifics are not important As long as we are seeking God – He will overlook the details or specifics we missed Hicks and Taylor, “God values a seeker’s heart and benevolent mercy more than ritual.” (185)

Abuses “Is there any unity to be had at the river, where Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, and Campbellites had trod?” (256) “Baptism is a normative means through which God mediates his grace to us, but God is not limited by this means.” (238) They argue that God accepts anyone who seeks him even though they do not seek him “in accordance with the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.”

Abuses They say “those whose hearts seek God are received, even though they transgress his ritual prescriptions, because God is good.” “Therefore, God values a transformed life more than he values baptism.” (191)

Answer God allowed for a delayed Passover Numbers 9:9-11Numbers 9: Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD’S Passover. 11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Answer God commanded a 2 nd Passover for all who were unclean He commanded that it be done on the 14 th day of the 2 nd month Some were not clean before Passover –Hezekiah prayed for them –He knew they were wrong – He asked for mercy and forgiveness for ignoring the details

Conclusion This example does not support ignoring the details dangersinIt points out the danger and sin of not obeying in every detail of the command Closing QuestionsClosing Questions –Are you looking for loopholes? –Have you obeyed God in every detail?