2 Chronicles 35:6
Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses."
Slaughter the Passover lambs
The act of slaughtering the Passover lambs is deeply rooted in the Hebrew tradition, originating from the Exodus narrative where the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. The Hebrew word for "slaughter" (שָׁחַט, shachat) implies a ritualistic and sacred act, emphasizing the solemnity and obedience required in this practice. This act is a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Historically, this ritual was a communal event, reinforcing the unity and shared faith of the Israelite community.

Consecrate yourselves
The call to consecrate (קָדַשׁ, qadash) oneself is a call to holiness and purification. In the context of the Passover, it signifies a preparation of heart and spirit, setting oneself apart for the service and worship of God. This act of consecration is not merely external but involves an internal dedication to God’s purposes. It reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness, where believers are called to be set apart for God’s service, echoing the New Testament call for Christians to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites
The preparation of the lambs for the fellow Israelites underscores the communal and interdependent nature of worship in the Israelite community. The Hebrew word for "prepare" (עָרַךְ, arak) suggests an orderly and intentional arrangement, ensuring that each family is provided for. This phrase highlights the responsibility of the priests and Levites to serve the people, ensuring that everyone can participate in the Passover. It is a reminder of the Christian call to serve one another in love, as seen in Galatians 5:13.

According to the word of the LORD through Moses
This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and instruction behind the Passover observance. The "word of the LORD" (דְּבַר־יְהוָה, devar-YHWH) through Moses signifies the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where Moses serves as the mediator of God’s commands. It underscores the importance of obedience to God’s revealed will, as given through His prophets and leaders. This obedience is a central theme throughout Scripture, where blessings are tied to adherence to God’s commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 28.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Josiah
The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms and restored the observance of the Passover as commanded in the Law of Moses.

2. Levites
The tribe assigned to religious duties, including the preparation and slaughtering of the Passover lambs.

3. Passover
A significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, as instituted in the Law of Moses.

4. Moses
The prophet through whom God delivered the Law, including the instructions for the Passover.

5. Israelites
The people of God, for whom the Passover was prepared and celebrated.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Commands
Josiah's actions highlight the importance of adhering to God's instructions as given through Moses. This obedience is a model for us to follow God's Word faithfully.

Role of Spiritual Leaders
The Levites were tasked with preparing the Passover, demonstrating the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide and serve the community in worship and obedience.

Significance of the Passover
The Passover is a reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness. It points forward to Christ's sacrifice, encouraging us to remember and celebrate our salvation through Him.

Consecration and Preparation
The Levites were to consecrate themselves, emphasizing the need for personal holiness and preparation in serving God and others.

Community Worship
The preparation of the Passover for the Israelites underscores the communal aspect of worship, reminding us of the importance of gathering together to honor God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Josiah's observance of the Passover challenge us to prioritize obedience to God's Word in our own lives?

2. In what ways can spiritual leaders today emulate the Levites' role in preparing and guiding others in worship?

3. How does the Passover serve as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice, and what implications does this have for our understanding of salvation?

4. What steps can we take to consecrate ourselves and prepare our hearts for worship and service to God?

5. How can we foster a sense of community worship in our churches and small groups, following the example of the Israelites during the Passover?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 12
This chapter provides the original instructions for the Passover, which Josiah sought to follow precisely.

Deuteronomy 16
Offers further details on the observance of the Passover, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands.

Hebrews 9
Discusses the sacrificial system and how it points to Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb.

1 Corinthians 5
Paul refers to Christ as our Passover Lamb, connecting the Old Testament observance to New Testament fulfillment.
The Great Passover of JosiahT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 35:1-19
The Preferable ServiceW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 35:3-7
The Service of the LordW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 35:6-16
People
Aaron, Asaph, Charchemish, Conaniah, David, Hashabiah, Heman, Hilkiah, Jeduthun, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeremiah, Josiah, Jozabad, Levites, Necho, Nethaneel, Samuel, Shemaiah, Solomon
Places
Carchemish, Egypt, Euphrates River, Holy Place, Jerusalem, Megiddo
Topics
Animals, Brethren, Brothers, Commanded, Consecrate, Countrymen, Death, Fellow, Hallow, Holy, Kill, Lamb, Lambs, Orders, Passover, Passover-offering, Prepare, Ready, Sanctify, Slaughter, Yourselves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 35:6

     8218   consecration

2 Chronicles 35:1-6

     7390   Levites

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

     7245   Judah, kingdom of
     8466   reformation

Library
Cheer Up, My Comrades!
The first thing is to get every man into his proper place; the next thing is for every man to have a good spirit in his present place, so as to occupy it worthily. I will suppose, dear friends, that in the providence of God you are in your place, and that by the direction of God's Spirit you have also sought and found the precise form of usefulness in which you ought to exercise yourself. To-night it shall not be my business to arrange you; but assuming that it is well for you to keep where you are,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880

The New Temple and Its Worship
'And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Importance in Luke's History of the Story of the Birth of Christ
IT needs no proof that Luke attached the highest importance to this part of his narrative. That Jesus was indicated from the beginning as the Messiah -- though not a necessary part of his life and work, and wholly omitted by Mark and only briefly indicated in mystical language by John -- was a highly interesting and important fact in itself, and could not fail to impress the historian. The elaboration and detail of the first two chapters of the Gospel form a sufficient proof that Luke recognized
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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