“And they slaughtered the Passover offerings; and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hands, while the Levites skinned the animals.” 2 Chronicles 35:11 NKJV
In the days of King Josiah, the Passover ordinance was kept with great diligence.
“There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.” 2 Chronicles 35:18-19 NKJV
Josiah was a very conscientious King, diligent to serve God. He had the ark of the covenant placed into the temple built by King Solomon. He was a faithful king in Israel.
The Passover was a covenantal ordinance given by God to show forth His covenant of Grace with His people. In it, the Messiah promised to come was pictured rendering His life as a sacrifice for the sin of His people.
The sacrificial system was given to Moses in great detail and particular instructions were given to carry out the sacrificial ordinances.
The covenant of Grace was foresignified in a different way in the Old administration of it than in the New administration. The Westminster Larger Catechism indicates this.
Westminster Larger Catechism Q/A 33.
“Q. 33. Was the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner?
A. The covenant of grace was not always administered after the same manner, but the administrations of it under the Old Testament were different from those under the New.”
Praise the Lord that we live in the new economy of Grace which is much simpler than the old economy.
The old economy covenant was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover, and other types and ordinances, all pointing to the Messiah who was yet to come. These ordinances were sufficient for a church that was under age for a time until the Messiah would take the form of man and accomplish salvation for His people.
They were effectual unto salvation for those who could see in these ordinances the promised Messiah who was to come and therefore have faith in Him. Those who could see the Messiah had full forgiveness of sins as do those in the new economy. Again, the Westminster Larger Catechism reminds us of this.
“Under the New Testament, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the same covenant of grace was and still is to be administered in the preaching of the word, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper; in which grace and salvation are held forth in more fullness, evidence, and efficacy, to all nations.” Westminster Larger Catechism Q/A 35
The Westminster Divines (ministers who attended the Westminster Assembly to refine the 39 Articles of Faith) note that grace and salvation are held forth in more fullness, evidence, and efficacy in the New Administration of the Covenant of Grace.
What the Divines did not mention, but knew full well, is that the New Covenant Administration is less bloody and has fewer flies!
Praise the Lord that we live in the economy of Grace which is much simpler than the old economy!
Terry Miller
2 Corinthians 3