How does following God's commands in 2 Chronicles 35:6 strengthen community faithfulness? Setting the Scene • King Josiah calls Judah back to the Passover (2 Chron 35:1–5). • Verse 6 gives three specific commands: “Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites, doing what the LORD commanded through Moses”. • These actions rekindle covenant life around God’s Word and worship. What God Commands in 2 Chronicles 35:6 • Slaughter the lambs –- restore the God-appointed sacrifice. • Consecrate yourselves –- cleanse hearts and hands for service (Exodus 19:10; James 4:8). • Prepare for others –- serve the wider family of faith. • Do it “through Moses” –- submit to the ancient, written revelation. How Obedience Builds Community Faithfulness • Shared remembrance – The Passover story of redemption becomes a unifying testimony (Exodus 12:26-27). • Corporate purity – Consecration sets a holy standard that influences everyone (Leviticus 11:44). • Mutual service – Preparing lambs for “your fellow Israelites” nurtures practical love (Galatians 5:13). • Anchoring in Scripture – Following “what the LORD commanded” binds people to an objective authority (Psalm 19:7-11). • Visible commitment – Public obedience encourages onlookers and deters drift (Deuteronomy 31:12-13). • Spiritual momentum – Small steps of fidelity pave the way for larger reforms (Luke 16:10). • Covenant identity – Re-enacting redemption reminds Israel who they are—God’s rescued people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). Echoes in the New Testament • Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Consecration now includes presenting our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). • Preparing one another involves stirring up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Obedience to apostolic teaching (Acts 2:42) carries forward the Mosaic pattern of community faithfulness. Takeaways for Believers Today • Keep the redemptive story central—regularly rehearse Christ’s saving work. • Pursue personal holiness; private consecration fuels public witness. • Serve fellow believers tangibly; obedience is communal, not isolated. • Anchor every practice in Scripture; God’s written Word safeguards unity and purity. • Recognize that consistent obedience, even in details, strengthens the whole body’s faithfulness and joy in the Lord. |
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