Will You Return? A Call to Come Home to God

Scripture is replete with examples of wandering and return, of people who drift away from God only to discover that his arms remain open to the. In 2 Chronicles 30:9, we find one such moment—a powerful invitation extended by King Hezekiah to a nation that had strayed far from its Lord.

The historical context reveals a people in dire straits. The kingdom of Israel had been divided into two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Judah found itself in particularly desperate circumstances, largely due to a succession of ungodly kings who had led the nation into idolatry and rebellion against God.

The consequences were severe. The Edomites had attacked and carried off captives. The Philistines had plundered their cities. The mighty Assyrian Empire had also struck, leaving devastation in its wake. It was indeed a dark time for Judah. God had withdrawn his favour because of their sin and rebellion.

The spiritual condition was equally bleak. Not only had the people forsaken the Lord in their hearts, but they had also neglected the house of God. The temple doors were shut, and King Ahaz had even cut the sacred utensils to pieces. According to 2 Chronicles 29:8, the nation had become “an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing”—a source of mockery and ridicule.

After Ahaz’s death, his son, Hezekiah, took the throne. Unlike his father, Hezekiah feared God and immediately set about spiritual reform. In his first year as king, he summoned the priests and Levites to cleanse the temple, reopened its doors, and sought to repair the damage. He restored the sacrificial system and ignited a revival among the people.

Hezekiah then announced plans for a great Passover celebration in Jerusalem and sent messengers throughout both kingdoms—Israel and Judah—with letters summoning the people to come to God’s dwelling place. The essence of these letters was a call to return to the Lord their God. Verse 8 records his plea: “Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated for ever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.”

At the heart of Hezekiah’s message lies v. 9, which offers compelling reasons for the people to return to God. The first great incentive is the promise of blessing: “For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land.”

This promise would have resonated deeply with people who had witnessed their loved ones—sons, daughters, brothers—taken captive by enemy nations. Hezekiah assured them that, if they returned to the Lord, he would move in the hearts of their captors to show mercy and permit their families to return home.

This promise was grounded in Solomon’s prayer at the temple dedication (2 Chronicles 6:24–25), where Solomon had asked God to hear from heaven and restore the people to their land when they repented of their sins. God had answered that prayer with the familiar promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The parallels for believers today are striking. When professing Christians drift from the Lord, they typically exhibit similar patterns: withdrawal from the local assembly, neglect of Bible reading and prayer, and distancing themselves from the means of grace that God has provided for spiritual growth.

But when genuine return occurs, it begins with an internal change of heart and manifests externally through re-engagement with God’s house, renewed Bible study, and restored prayer life. This reflects the essence of Hezekiah’s call: Yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary.

The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith speaks to the misery that backslidden believers can experience. Though they can never lose their salvation, they may “incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit and come to have their graces and comforts impaired and have their hearts hardened and their consciences wounded.”

Scripture warns against grieving (Ephesians 4:30) and quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When believers rebel against the promptings of God’s Spirit, they invite trouble for themselves—dryness, misery, and a sense of distance from God’s presence.

However, when they return to the Lord, blessing follows. Not necessarily material blessing, but a restored sense of God’s nearness, the return of spiritual joy, the fading of guilt’s misery, and the renewal of peace that surpasses understanding. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 captures this beautifully: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

The second great motivation for return is found in the latter part of v. 9: “For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.” This reveals the very heart of God and provides the anchor for why any sinner can and should return to him.

This is not merely a theological statement but a personal invitation. God’s gracious and merciful nature is emphasised to encourage and fuel repentance. Often, when people fall into sin, they reason that God must be fed up with their failures and would never take them back. Such reasoning becomes a barrier that prevents them from approaching God.

But the verse declares that, if someone genuinely comes to God, and he were to turn them away, he would be denying himself—and God cannot deny himself. This is who he is: gracious, meaning he freely gives undeserved favour to the unworthy; merciful, meaning he feels compassion for the wayward and shows kindness to the needy and helpless.

Psalm 103:8–14 beautifully expounds this truth:

The analogy of earthly fathers helps illuminate God’s heart. What father would reject a child who came genuinely confessing wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness? If sinful human fathers readily receive repentant children, how much more will the perfectly loving heavenly Father receive those who return to him?

The evidence of God’s grace and mercy is not only written in Scripture but also attested by the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 declares: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Unlike human relationships, where people might be surprised by hidden flaws, God knows us completely and still chose to die for us whilst we were his enemies.

However, this message of grace must not be misunderstood as licence to presume upon God’s mercy. Presumption occurs when knowledge of God’s grace and mercy does not lead to repentance but rather to continued sinning. Romans 2:4 reminds us that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not to provide an excuse for ongoing rebellion.

The call of Scripture is clear: Return now, immediately, acknowledging sin and turning to God quickly. Tomorrow is uncertain; today is the day of salvation. Those who have strayed must not delay but should come while there is still opportunity.

For the unbeliever, the message is equally urgent. There is no true peace apart from God through Christ. The invitation extends to all: Come while the arms of mercy remain open wide.

The story of Hezekiah’s call echoes throughout history—God’s persistent invitation to his wayward people to return home. The question that confronts every heart is simply this: Will you return?