Heart Over Ritual...

For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone "who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.—2 Chronicles 30:18-20

I love this part...

”And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.”

The Lord looked at their hearts.  Heart over ritual. ❤️  What a comfort that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.❤️

So Samuel said:

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.—1 Samuel 15:22

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.—Romans 2:28-29

 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,fn rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,—Philippians 3:3