2 Chronicles 30:8
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
The verse belongs to Hezekiah's Passover invitation carried by couriers from city to city through Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun, calling the remnant of the ten tribes still living in the once-flourishing northern kingdom to repent, turn from idolatry, turn to God, and come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover and feast of unleavened bread. It urges them not to be stiffnecked and resistant like their fathers, but to yield themselves to the Lord, enter His sanctuary consecrated forever in Jerusalem, worship and serve Him, so that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away. Turning back to God in this way averts His threatened judgment, while refusal leaves the people facing judgment.
The appeal offered the scattered remnant a chance to return to God and escape further judgment, holding out mercy with the possibility that their captive relatives would find compassion and return to the land. That gracious invitation was mostly met with indifference and contempt, with many laughing the royal messengers to scorn and mocking and rejecting them. But some from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and gladly came to Jerusalem, while Judah responded broadly in accord with God's will.
The verse reflects Hezekiah's Passover reform and first Passover, when teaching priests were provided to read the book of the law publicly to the people every day, and observance of the statutes recorded by Moses, especially those in the book of the covenant in Deuteronomy, made his reign prosperous and brought a period of prosperity. In the present time the verse calls God's people to turn from resistance, give themselves wholly to the Lord and serve Him, leading to a response of wholehearted commitment among people of all ages.