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2 Chronicles 30:9b - God Desires a Relationship with His Children.

2 Chronicles 30:9b; God Desires a Relationship with His Children.

2 Chr 30:9b (NIV)  God is gracious and compassionate. He will 
not turn his face from you if you return to him. 

CONTEXT

King Hezekiah  (29:1-32:33)
The Great Passover 
Preparations for the Passover  (30:1-12)
All Israel Invited to the Passover
Passover Celebrated  (30:1-27)

CROSS REFERENCES

Exodus 34:6-7 (KJV)  And the Lord passed by before him, and 
proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, 
and abundant in goodness and truth, [7] Keeping mercy for thousands, 
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means 
clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the 
fourth generation.  

1 Chron. 28:9 (KJV)  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God 
of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a 
willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all 
the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found 
of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 

2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV)  If my people, which are called by my name, 
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from 
their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive 
their sin, and will heal their land.  

2 Chron. 15:2 (KJV)  And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto 
him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with 
you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of 
you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.  

Neh. 9:31 (KJV)  Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou 
didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a 
gracious and merciful God.  

Psalm 86:5 (KJV)  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to 
forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.  

Psalm 86:15 (KJV)  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of 
compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.  

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)  He that covereth his sins shall not 
prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  

Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the 
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will 
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV)  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye 
shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye 
shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your 
heart.  

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (KJV)  Therefore I will judge you, O house of 
Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and 
turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not 
be your ruin. [31] Cast away from you all your transgressions, 
whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: 
for why will ye die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure 
in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn 
yourselves, and live ye.  

Micah 7:18 (KJV)  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth 
iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? 
he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in 
mercy.  

James 4:8 (KJV)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. 
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye 

COMMENTARY / APPLICATION

Nothing in the world is of greater importance than a knowledge 
of God. To know God brings peace and happiness in this world, and 
the blessings of life eternal. "This is life eternal, that they 
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast 
sent" (John 17:3). [SDA Commentary] 

For the man who searches for God, the Lord is not far away. He 
who desires to know God will find Him, and he will also find 
confidence, peace, and life everlasting. Life's most rewarding quest is the 
search after God. [SDA Commentary] 

It is man who causes a separation between himself and God. Only 
when man forsakes the Lord and His ways of righteousness will he find 
that God has cast him off. The Lord never forsakes those who seek 
after Him (Ps. 9:10). [SDA Commentary] 

True service of God is heart service. No man can be a child of 
God who does not willingly serve Him. There is no such thing as 
forced Christianity (Isa. 1:19). This does not imply that performance 
of duty is always in harmony with one's inclination. In fact, 
obedience often does involve crucifixion of self. Paul's wishes and 
desires daily conflicted with duty; nevertheless he did the will of God, 
however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature. [SDA Commentary] 

It is a sobering thought to know that God requires our hearts to 
be right and our motives to be pure in our service to Him.  It is 
not enough to do "good" things, even though there are many 
worthwhile endeavors for us to become involved with.  We must examine our 
relationship with God very carefully to ensure that we are pure and holy 
vessels fit for use.  We must constantly recheck our motives and realign 
them with the Word of God when necessary, or risk having our labor be 
in vain. On that day when your works of service are examined, will 
they be burned up as if they were wood, hay, or stubble?  Or will 
they stand the test of fire and remain as precious gold?  Ask God to 
reveal to you the condition of your heart and mind before doing one 
more thing for Him!  [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

But God's sovereign will does not rule out the exercise of man's 
free will. It is the responsibility of those God has chosen to 
acknowledge the LORD and serve Him wholeheartedly.... God has chosen us in 
Christ, and through Christ granted us forgiveness and new life. So we 
are to acknowledge God "and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and 
with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and 
understands every motive behind the thoughts" (v. 9). As David promised, if 
we seek God we will find Him. But if we reject God, we will never 
experience His blessing. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]