2 Chronicles 29:35-36, 30:13-19

Proper worship in the house of the Lord is being reestablished after some period of it not being in place. King Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced "for the thing came about suddenly." (I so wish our "thing" would come about suddenly! I think that's how it works - it's a slow, slide, slide, slide down the slippery slope and then, all of a sudden, when the time is right, he fixes it! There is so much suffering in the meantime, though.)

Then many come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover for the first time in a long time. They remove the altars for incense and throw them into the Kidron Valley. They are enthusiastic, joyful, and sincerely wish to celebrate, and they partake of the meal. Many of them, though, are unclean and had not properly cleansed themselves before eating. But Hezekiah had prayed for them - asking God's pardon for everyone who set his heart to the Lord, even if not according to the rules.

I love this! God loves us so much - he wants us to come to him, even if we don't "get" it well enough to follow all the rules at first, he understands. This is also why he gives us priests, they intercede for us,  just as Jesus did and does. This is so lovely!