In His Word

Year after year, the Bible is consistently the highest selling book in the world. Yet, with all of its worldwide sales, many Bibles sit on shelves in homes, unread, forgotten and collecting dust. This lack of engagement with God’s word leaves people unaware of God’s requirements of them and plans for them. In 2 Chronicles 34:15–22, 26–27, the book of the law is “found” in the temple. When it is read to king Josiah, he immediately realizes the consequences coming to God’s people, because they have not been living in obedience to Him and have strayed far away from His word. While God would send the consequences warned of by Moses (Deut. 28), king Josiah’s grief and repentance were acknowledged by God. And He informed the king, through the prophetess Huldah, that the consequences for the people’s idolatry and apostasy would not occur until after king Josiah’s death. I pray that we would cherish and engage with God through His word so that we might know Him and remain close to Him in our walk. Amen

Consequently, Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan.

Shaphan took the book to the king, and also reported, “Your servants are doing all that was placed in their hands. They have emptied out the silver that was found in the LORD’s temple and have given it to the overseers and to those doing the work.” Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah gave me a book,” and Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. (2 Chronicles 34:15-18)

• So ungodly had Israel and Judah become, that the book of the law had been “lost” in the temple. It was only because of king Josiah’s order that the temple be repaired and restored, that the book of the law was even found. Obviously, the Priests had been operating without the guidance of this written word of God and they had failed to properly instruct God’s people in keeping the law. After it was found in the temple, the book of the law was taken to the king and read aloud by the court secretary in the king’s presence.

When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. Then he commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah, “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that was found. For great is the LORD’s wrath that is poured out on us because our ancestors have not kept the word of the LORD in order to do everything written in this book.”

Huldah’s Prophecy of Judgment

So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went to the prophetess Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. (2 Chronicles 34:19-22)

Upon hearing the law read to him, king Josiah tore his clothes (A sign of his grief and repentance). He immediately understood that he and all of God’s people were subject to God’s wrath because of their disobedience and worship of other gods. He ordered Hilkiah (the high priest) and a delegation to inquire of the LORD on behalf of himself and God’s people in Israel and Judah. He knew they were all subject to God’s punishment (according to the curses Moses warned Israel about, e.g. Deuteronomy 28:15-68) for having not kept His word. Hilkiah led the delegation to go to the -prophetess Huldah to have her inquire of the LORD. (It should be noted here that the High Priest did not go inquire of the Lord himself, but had to inquire through a prophetess. Such was the apostasy in the land that it even included the priesthood.)

Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD: ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before me, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard’ — this is the LORD’s declaration. (2 Chronicles 34:26-27)

Through Huldah the word of the LORD came back. God acknowledged and was pleased with the king’s action of humbling himself in repentance after hearing the law read. As a result of his contrite heart and his act of repentance, God heard him. God would not pour out His wrath against His people (punishing them through exile) until after the king’s death. In that way, king Josiah would not have to see and experience God’s punishment of His people for their transgressions.

King Josiah began his reign at the age of 8 years old. During his 31 year reign he worked to bring the people back to God. He tore down altars and worship centers that had been built to pagan gods and he punished priests who engaged in idolatrous practices. And he directed the repair and restoration of the temple which had been neglected by some of the prior kings. Yet even though the bible said that he did what was right in the LORD’s sight, he tore his robes in grief and repentance when he heard the book of the law read to him for the first time. He realized in those moments, the magnitude of how far the people of God had drifted away from Him. The word of God does that for us. When we study His word, and we come into His presence, God’s holiness and our own unrighteousness is illuminated to us. Then we have the opportunity, like king Josiah, to seek God in a posture of humility and repentance. And God has promised that He will hear us and bless us…. even when He may not avert (prevent or ward off) the consequences of our actions. But it all begins with us getting in His Word...

Blessings, Rev. Glenn