2 Chronicles 35:1-19
“Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month.” (Vs. 1) Having discovered the lost book of the Law, King Josiah called the nation to worship and live according to His [Lord’s] covenant. Having removed the idols and false forms of worship replacing them with Divine design, he now calls for the celebration of the Passover. He encouraged the spiritual leaders to do this in accordance with God’s directives given by David and Solomon who built the first temple. He also contributed an abundance of sacrifices for all who gathered for this great celebration (2-9). The spiritual leaders made all the necessary preparations according to the commands of those who established this worship (10-15). The Passover was followed by the prescribed Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. “There had not been a Passover celebrated like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet;…” (18a) This was accomplished in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, which was the result of his beginning to seek the Lord ten years earlier. The restoration was facilitated by seeking the Lord and His Word. Let’s be patient in the restoration process!