2 Chronicles 30:18–20 - How to Disk

The Bible compares our heart to a field that needs to be cultivated so the seed of God's word can grow in our lives. How do we do that kind of disking. How do we "plow up the hard ground of our hearts," as Hosea put it? (Hosea 10:12, NLT2015)

Ahaz was a king that never did get it. He burned his own sons in fire on the altars of false gods. After being defeated by Damascus, he started worshipping their idols, reasoning that his enemies' gods were stronger than his own. Later, he ransacked the Lord's temple to buy off yet another enemy. The temple in Jerusalem was shut down, but idols were found on all the street corners of the city. His life ended in ignominy.

One son that escaped being sacrificed was Hezekiah. He inherited the throne, "And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 29:2, English Standard Version). Hezekiah reopened the temple. He repaired the barred doors, recalled the disbanded priests, reconsecrated the temple, and restarted regular worship.

Passover, the festival celebrating their deliverance by God from Egypt, had also been abandoned for years. Hezekiah sent messengers throughout the land, inviting everyone to the festival feast. Not just an invitation to return to Jerusalem for Passover, it was an invitation to return to God. (2 Chronicles 30)

There were three responses to the couriers' invitation. Some laughed it off. Others arrived and went through prescribed, consecration rituals prior to eating the Passover meal. The third group were people who came and ate the Passover. But they hadn't gone through the prior ritual and were consequently struck with illness.

“Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'May the good Lord pardon 19 everyone who prepares his heart {ESV: 'sets his heart'} to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.' 20 So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.” (2 Chronicles 30:18–20, New American Standard 1995)

There is no special formula for disking hardened soil, for making our heart ready for the Word of God in our lives. But God knows when we are sincerely seeking Him.

Lord, we invite You to know what You already know about us. You know when we are genuinely, humbly turning from our own ways to turn to You. And so we claim the promise that as we draw near to You, You will draw near to us. (James 4:8) In Jesus' name, Amen.