2 Chronicles 30:26 -Prayer plus praise equals Joy!
(2 Chronicles 30:26 ESV) So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
This story covers the entire 30th chapter when King Hezekiah invited people from far and wide to the biggest Passover party ever! He even invited people who had not kept the temple rules and traditions to return to God and be restored.
King Hezekiah prayed for the people who were not yet ready, "May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” They were not ready, but yet still invited! We are never ready to come into God's presence and yet He always welcomes us.
God listened and healed the people. I am a messed up person and this is a reminder to pray even in the mess. God is listening. Prayer changes things.
We do not need to be perfect people to worship God and, in fact, we are not perfect and God wants us to return to Him regularly to be healed.
For seven days there was singing and feasting and praising God. Joy was great! Joy was overflowing so much so that the people celebrated for a whole week more! In today's world I cannot imagine a whole city spontaneously taking off not even one, but two weeks of work to celebrate! Reconciliation and togetherness create the kind of JOY that lasts.
Prayer plus praise equals JOY!
This is not the first time in this study of JOY that unconstrained JOY flowed out of worship and praise. This time the JOY resulted in an impulsive extended double-length celebration! Do not rush JOY, but rather savor the moments for as long as it lasts with gratitude. Keep the JOY party going! Spread the JOY!
Please pray with me. Jesus, thanks for inviting me to worship You as a messed up sinful being. Thanks for listening to my prayers and for healing. I praise You for being my welcoming God. May my joy in You be contagious to others. Amen.
The King James Version of the concordance has 93 references in 89 verses to this certain word for "joy" as reference H8057. שִׂמְחָה is pronounced simchâh (sim-khaw) an relates to a religious or festival blithesomeness (cheerful disposition) or glee, which is fitting for this scene. H8057 is also translated in other Bible verses as exceeding(ly), gladness, joy(fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(ing).
January 28, 2026