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I. THERE ARE SEASONS WHEN WE FEEL UNFIT FOR THE SACRED ORDINANCE OF THE LORD'S HOUSE. Let us think of the ways in which the Israelites were rendered unfit for the Passover and see how far they tally with our unfitness for the Supper.

1. Some were kept away by defilement.

(1) The dead in sin lie all around us; contact with their ways and motives, unless we are continually cleansed by Divine grace, is defiling in many ways.

(2) The mass of sin within our own selves is a constant source of defilement.

2. When a man was on a journey he could not keep the Passover. The heart's blood of the Eucharist, is nearness to God; and when we are afar off, it is a poor dead ceremony.

3. You may have been in an evil case from unknown causes. You feel it is not with you as in days past. Marring influences not mentioned in the Book of Numbers may have been preventing you from eating the spiritual Passover to your heart's content. Among these causes are —

(1) Little faith.

(2) The absence of overflowing joy.

(3) Spiritual weakness at all points.

(4) A feeling of uselessness. Whatever your disqualifications, bring them and turn them into confessions of sin.

II. THOUGH WE FEEL AND LAMENT OUR WANT OF PREPARATION WE MAY STILL COME TO THE FEAST. Let us to some extent follow in the track of the men in Hezekiah's time.

1. They forgot their differences.

2. They removed the idols.

3. They endeavoured to prepare their hearts.

4. They made open and explicit. confession unto God.

5. Confession made, let prayer ascend to heaven.

III. IN SO COMING WE MAY EXPECT A BLESSING. At the Passover in Hezekiah's days there was —

1. Great gladness.

2. Great praise to God.

3. Great communion with God.

4. A great enthusiasm.

5. Great liberality.

6. Another great breaking of idols.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.

WEB: For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh.