Purpose of Tradition

 

    When it comes to religion, tradition is a tricky thing.  Tradition can become rules of conduct and make life rigid.  People can put tradition over establishing their relationship with God.  That is the down side because it makes religion look uncomfortable and negative.  

    If you use tradition as a reminder, then it can be a good thing.  Tradition of holidays remind us to take a breather and appreciate what God has given us.  Tradition in fasting can open our mind and heart to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not be rolled over by the world.  Tradition has it's purpose.

    King Hezekiah reintroduced the Passover since it had been forgotten about for so long.  The ritual of the Passover is a tradition, but a vital one that reminds all of God's power.  It is the introduction to salvation.  

    Hezekiah wanted everyone in his nation to have the opportunity to celebrate, so he encouraged everyone to come to Jerusalem.  There will always be the people that will try to extinguish the joy and celebration in the form of ridicule or down playing the importance.  It is hard to not let them get in your head at time, but we have to fight to do what is best for us and what is right.  Celebrating is a good thing.

    God' power was at work.  He used the reintroduction of the Passover tradition to move the heart of the open people in the nation.  They became unified and put away strife to celebrate.  The unity brought along genuine joy.  

    King Hezekiah interceded for all the people that were considered unclean or a foreigner.  He made sure the event was a time of equality and unity.  In doing so, it opened the door for him to reintroduce the expectation of God.  There had not been a celebration like this since King Solomon.  That was at least a couple hundred years.  The unified nation's prayers reached God's ears and created a powerful movement.

2 Chronicles 30