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“Kings And The Word Of God” • 10.22.17 • Calvary Christian
Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro
- Last week, we
looked at King Manasseh, who spent much of his 55 year reign in open rebellion
to God, choosing instead to follow everything else.
- At an
undisclosed time, he repented toward the Lord, but the nation was slow to
recover it's spiritual heritage. His son Amon slowed that growth even further
during his two year reign.
- Today, we'll
discover a person who will find the keys to revival and use them. Let's take a
look at the reign of King Josiah. Verse 1.
Text
•
II Kings 22:1,2 : "Josiah was eight years old when he
became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name
was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the
sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his
father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." : You aren't misreading the text. Josiah is King Amon's eight
year old son who assumed the throne after his Father's assassination.
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Josiah will enjoy a 31 year reign and will be 39 years young when he passes
away. The record shows that he will have been one that did right in the sight
of the Lord!
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Such a thing was not only no longer guaranteed, it's downright surprising given
what we've seen among his predecessors.
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Aside from his Father's two year interruption, Josiah will now resume the
course that was set by his Grandfather Manasseh in his later repentant years.
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Whereas Manasseh was once related in wickedness to the Canaanites and Ahab,
Josiah's point of reference will be to his descendant David. He walked in all
his ways.
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II Chronicles 34:3 reports that
Josiah was 16 years old when he began to seek the God of his Father David. He
began a true relationship with God at that point and didn't waver from that.
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Think about our previous studies. Hezekiah began on the right path and veered
to the left. Manasseh began on the wrong path and veered to the right.
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Josiah began on the right path and never moved to either side! That's the type
of summary we should all hope to have when we turn to Jesus Christ! Verse 3.
•
II Kigns 22:3-7 : "Now it came to pass, in the
eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son
of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: 'Go up to Hilkiah the high priest,
that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have
gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work,
who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the
damages of the house—to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn
stone to repair the house. However there need be no accounting made with them of the money
delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.'" : The author does not intend to provide us with a chronological
portrait. Other things took place, but the theme of revival took genuine shape
in Josiah's 26th year.
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Manasseh's reign brought great damage to the temple and though he began to
restore it at the end of his life, it was a project that was left unfinished.
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Josiah took up the charge and sent his scribe on this occasion to check in with
the High Priest Hilkiah, who was to count the money that had come in from the
people.
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Incidently, Hilkiah is also the Father of Jeremiah the prophet, whose ministry
is about to bloom. Otherwise, this is a fairly routine business engagement with
very little out of the ordinary.
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The labor unions needed their materials but were so privileged to work in the
temple that they did business impeccably to remain on the job! This is when Hilkiah
stops the presses. Verse 8.
•
II Kings 22:8-13 : "Then Hilkiah the high priest said
to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.' And Hilkiah gave the book to
Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word,
saying, 'Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and
have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house
of the Lord.' Then Shaphan the scribe showed the
king, saying, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it
before the king. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of
the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of
Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah
a servant of the king, saying, 'Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words
of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us,
because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to
all that is written concerning us.'" : Hilkiah
found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. This is a strange thing to
say.
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The idolatry of Manasseh's day was so pervasive, that it even caused the copy
of God's law to be lost among the things that were in the temple!
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Some have speculated that Manasseh and Amon, even made sure to burn every other
remaining copy and that this one was hidden to secure it's continuing existence!
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In either case, that is the true source of the wicked power that these previous
Kings wielded. They removed the restraining power of God's law from the sight
of the people!
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What a near tragedy and y et, how many like Manasseh, have sought to eradicate
the word of God from the consciousness of God's people?
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How many today, in favor of their own agenda, hide His Word behind
"assorted" or "various" scriptures in their topical
teaching?
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It's a tragedy that while the Word is not lost, it also cannot be found in many
places where it should have the central place of importance!
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Hilkiah gives the book to Shaphan, who takes it and reads it. It's not entirely
clear if Hilkiah read it or if he sent it to the King for his reading. Shaphan
doesn't seem to bring it with urgency.
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When he comes to report to the King, he gives him the news regarding his errand
and then, as an aside reports that he "has a book." "Hilkiah
threw this in as well."
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Even after reading it, Josiah's chief scribe didn't seem to be impressed or
wise enough to consider that finding it trumped his other news!
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Shaphan reminds me of many who find the Word interesting, maybe even
noteworthy, but it fails to make a permanent impression. That wasn't the case with
Josiah.
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When Shaphan began reading it, the King's expressions certainly began to tell
the story and when he had finished listening, Shaphan knew he had missed the
boat by a mile!
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The King tore his clothes in shock, in mourning and in great distress! What a
difference a man devoted to God makes! Josiah has already been seeking the God
of David.
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He has already been walking in the ways of his descendant. When he hears the
word of God, He responds with personal responsibility. He is wounded by these
things. He is cut to the heart!
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I shudder to think of the people who read or hear the word like Shaphan did and
I pray for more people who read and hear it like King Josiah!
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Shaphan discerned that Hilkiah found "a book" and treated it as such.
Josiah saw it as "the book" and treated it as such by his response. Shaphan
was intriqued. Josiah was in awe.
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Shaphan seems as if he didn't even want to bother the King with it. The King
stopped all other business to
address the Bible's concerns!
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From his torn and raw emotional state, the King hurriedly commands his men to
find out what God's Word is for his people! II Chronicles 34:14 identifies this with the Torah.
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If he has just finished Deuteronomy,
he knows that he is living in a time of great trouble!
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He understands that what he has read has implications for him as the King, for
the people of God and for the nation as it stood! The King is a wise person
because of his concern for God's Word!
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He believes that it is from God and the contents are directions for life. He
has just read that there are rewards for following it and consequences for
ignoring it!
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He wants to discover how he should act now. God cannot be pleased with his
nation! They have neither obeyed in spirit, nor performed in action, the things
that were written concerning them.
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Josiah needs to know what to do now and the men seem to know where to go! Verse
14.
•
II Kings 22:14-17 : "So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam,
Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum
the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in
Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her." : The King's entourage, led by the High Priest, made their way to
meet with Huldah the prophetess.
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Being a "prophetess" was how she served the Lord's interests. She
spoke forth His truth, as much as any man could do. God's gifts are not
restricted to a certain sex or nationality.
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When the time was right to discover what God was saying to the nation, God's
providence demanded that Huldah be the one that stood up to deliver it! How did
they come to her?
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As I've mentioned, Jeremiah was beginning to prophecy, as was Zephaniah. But
this woman had some other ties to the government, being that her husband was
the keeper of the wardrobe.
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He was the guardian of the King's royal clothing, meaning that he had charge of
maintaining and altering it as needed. Notice also that she is local. She lived
right there in Jerusalem.
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The fact that she lived in the "second quarter" indicates that she is
a member of the working class, the blue collar crew. The fact that they came to
her means that she was regarded for her gift.
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I wonder if you might consider this with regard to where you are and what you
do. You might not have the eloquence of Jeremiah or the wisdom of Zephaniah.
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You might not have their breadth of ministry or their profile. But you are
always around and you are accessible to the people in your life who need to
hear what God would have them do!
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Never despise being faithful and loyal to God in the "small things"
of life! There are a few who may reach a nation like Jeremiah. More of us will
be like Huldah!
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She didn't disappoint! She was probably ready to respond before they finished
speaking!
•
II Kings 22:15-17 : "Then she said to them, 'Thus says
the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who
sent you to Me, 'Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its
inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—because they have forsaken Me and
burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the
works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place
and shall not be quenched.’" : Her
message is not initially what they want to hear but it is from the Lord!
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God has determined that Jerusalem and it's inhabitants are living on borrowed
time. God was going to bring calamity, evil upon Judah. The case has been made.
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Judah had put God behind their back. The NLT uses the more direct word, "abandoned."
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It would be one thing to leave a god from another nation who couldn't stand
before Yahweh.
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The people of Israel left the Living God to worship gods that were the works of
their own hands! Ultimately that is what everyone who abandons God abandons Him
for!
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Huldah's statement is reminiscent of what Isaiah
says regarding idols in Isaiah 44-46.
Their preference toward these self-made images has caused the Lord to become
angry.
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Because of that, His wrath upon the city won't be abated. This is bad news, but
there is a glimmer of hope. Verse 18.
•
II Kings 22:18-20 : "But as for the king of Judah, who
sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Concerning the
words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before
the Lord when you heard what I spoke
against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a
desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also
have heard you,' says the Lord. 'Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you
shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the
calamity which I will bring on this place.' So they brought back word to the
king." : For all that has been decreed by
the Lord against Judah, there was a more mild response toward her King.
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God will not relent from His determination to judge the nation, but He will
delay it for his sake. Huldah assures the King that God will treat him
differently. Why was it so?
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The people of God had consistently provoked the Lord to anger and had ignored
every disciplinary act that He had sent their way.
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In contrast, Josiah heard the Word on a single day and tore his clothes! God
will always rush to bless the humble in heart the moment they turn toward Him!
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God diagnoses Josiah's heart as "tender" toward what he had heard.
The word refers to a softened condition.Other translations get at the concept,
when they offer up the word "sensitive."
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Josiah's heart was sensitive to God's word. Would that describe you? When you
are confronted by the truth of God's Word and you realize that your actions are
contrary to it, who wins?
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When there is a clear command that cannot be denied, is it acknowledged and
repented of or is it swept under the rug?
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Josiah was sensitive in acknowledging God's Word and then humbled himself by
tearing his clothes and weeping before the Lord! What a beautiful picture!
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This is the type of person who can expect to hear and see that God had heard
them!
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Because of that, Josiah could know that he would die without seeing what he
knew was coming. He wouldn't experience calamity and Judah would be safe in his
days!
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This doesn't mean that he won't die prematurely, which he will. This just means
that God will spare him from seeing what He was going to bring upon the nation
of Judah.
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What did Josiah do in response to God's Word? We'll fnd the answer in chapter 23.
• II Kings
23:1-3 : "Now the king sent them to
gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. The
king went up to the house of the Lord
with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the
priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read
in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found
in the house of the Lord.
Then the
king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and
His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to
perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the
people took a stand for the covenant." : The King
gathered the elders to himself. They all went to the temple complex together.
The priests, the prophets, the people. Nobody was excluded.
- Can you imagine the curious excitement that
filled the air? In all the time that we have been studying the Kings, can you
recall any time that a King called this kind of assembly?
- The only other time that I can recall harkens
back to when Solomon dedicated the Temple!
- When everyone was assembled, the King read to
the people what he had only read recently. He read all of the words to them. He
didn't skip any parts or present things in the most positive light.
- He read all of God's Word! You wonder how
many had ever heard any part of it!?
- After he read to them, he was the first to
show the people that he was committed to what had been read. He would follow the
Lord.
- Because Josiah is the King, the implication
is that the nation will also be committed nationally to follow the Lord by
keeping His commands, testimonies and statutes.
- They will not follow with their hearts. They
will be obligated to follow because the King said so! That is what a person in
authority does. Josiah says, "This is my Kingdom. God will be
honored!"
- His position reminds me of Joshua, who looked
at Israel and said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"
(Joshua 24:15)
- That is the effect of a godly person who has
let the Word do it's work in their souls: Their sphere of influence will be
dominated by the presence of God!
- Josiah looks at the Bible and sees God's
decrees, His commands that must be followed. He hears His testimonies, God's
truths for life.
- Josiah understands His statutes are the ways
of the Lord that he must walk in! Josiah wasn't just giving lipservice to this.
He gave his whole being to it!
- When he stood there before the people, it was
his desire to follow the Lord with everything that he was. He was going to live
this covenant and the people stood with him.
- They were excited about following the Lord
with the King, but something had to be done first before that could take place.
We'll talk about that next week.
Conclusion
- The wheels of revival begin to turn when God's people discover His Word. When a person is sensitive to it and seeks it's priority, God responds.
- The wheels of revival begin to turn when God's people discover His Word. When a person is sensitive to it and seeks it's priority, God responds.
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When a person sees his responsibility to it and moves in humility to see it
enacted in his life, the power of God is flowing.
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When he asserts it's authority over his domain, lives are spared! Judgment may
be inevitable, but when the Word of God takes hold of enough lives, God delays
for their sakes.
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God is ever wanting to preserve His people through His Word. It is more than
"a book." It is our life! Let's pray!
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