Hezekiah was a good and faithful king. Many of God’s people were scattered by the invading Assyrians. God used this invasion as a consequence for the people forgetting God. Hezekiah encouraged them to return and reunite as one nation under God.

Read 2 Chronicles 30:6-13 slowly and prayerfully:

6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read: “People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see.
8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the LORD. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
9 If you return to the LORD, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them.
11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. (NIV)

1. How were the parents and ancestors described?

2. What kind of attitudes did Hezekiah encourage the people to have?

3. What were the promised benefits for people returning to God?

4. How did the people respond to Hezekiah’s command?

5. Who gave them unity of mind?

6. What one phrase from this passage will you think about throughout today?