II Kings 22
Josiah did what was rightverses 1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign
and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem
and his mother’s name was Jedidah
the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath
And he did that which was RIGHT in the sight of the LORD
and WALKED in all the way of David his father
and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left
Josiah wants Temple repairedverses 3-7
And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah
that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah – the son of Meshullam
the scribe – to the house of the LORD – saying
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may sum the silver which is brought
into the house of the LORD which the keepers of the door have
gathered of the people
And let them deliver it into the hands of the doers of the work
that have the oversight of the house of the LORD
to repair the breaches of the house unto carpenters
builders – masons to buy timber and hewn stone to repair
the house
Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was
delivered into their hand BECAUSE they dealt FAITHFULLY
Hilkiah found the Book of the Law in Templeverse 8
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto 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
Shaphan brings Book of the Law to Josiahverses 9-10
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king – and brought the king word again and said
Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house
and delivered it into the hand of them that do the work
that have the oversight of the house of the LORD
And Shaphan the scribe showed the king – saying
Kilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book
and Shaphan READ it before the king
Josiah wants Hilkiah to speak to the LORDverses 11-13
And it came to pass – when the king had heard the words of the book of
the law that he rent his clothes
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest – and Ahikam the son of Shaphan
and Achbor the son of Michaiah – and Shaphan the scribe
and Asahiah a servant of the king’s – saying
Go ye – inquire of the LORD for me – and for the people and for all Judah
concerning the words of this book that is found
FOR great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us
BECAUSE our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book
To do according unto all that which is written concerning us
Hilkiah consults with prophetess Huldahverse 14
So Hilkiah the priest – and Ahikam – and Achbor – and Shaphan – and
Asahiah went unto Huldah the prophetess
the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah
the son of Harhas – keeper of the wardrobe
(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college)
and they communed with her
Huldah says LORD is angry with Judahverses 15-17
And she said unto them
Thus says the LORD God of Israel – Tell the man that sent you to me
Thus says the LORD – BEHOLD
I will bring EVIL upon this place and upon the inhabitants thereof
even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read
BECAUSE they have forsaken ME
and have burned incense unto other gods
that they might provoke ME to anger with
all the works of their hands
THEREFORE MY wrath shall be kindled against this place
and shall not be quenched
Huldah says the LORD is pleased with Josiahverses 18-21
BUT to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD
thus shall you say to him – Thus says the LORD God of Israel
As touching the words which thou hast heard
BECAUSE your heart was tender
and you have humbled thyself before the LORD
when thou heard what I spoke against this place
against the inhabitants thereof
that they should become a desolation – curse
and hast rent your clothes
wept before ME
I also have heard you – said the LORD
BEHOLD therefore – I will gather you unto your fathers
and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace
and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will
bring upon this place
And they brought the king word again
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. (5493 “turned aside” [cuwr] means depart, depart from the way, to come to an end, to change orientation or direction, to leave as set course or path, to go away, or retreat.)
DEVOTION: At the age of eight years old Josiah began to reign as king over Judah. He started on a course of action that he never left. He knew what direction he wanted the kingdom to go and he stayed the course.
Here is another king in Judah that used David as his example of rule. He wanted to follow the LORD. He wanted to observe the commandments the LORD set down for the children of Israel. He did NOT depart from the path the LORD wanted every king to follow. Remember every king was supposed to write his own copy of the commands of the LORD.
He stayed on the path the LORD had set down in HIS word to the prophets. He wanted to rebuild the Temple again. He gathered the money and the workers together to clean up the Temple from years of disrepair.
During this remodel the Scriptures were found. He read it and wanted to know more of what he should do to please the LORD. His reaction to the reading of the Scriptures caused the LORD to tell him that he would not suffer the consequences of the actions of the bad kings of Judah.
Once we read the Word of God and realize where we are we need to ask the LORD for guidance regarding how we can improve our relationship with HIM even when our relationship is good.
If we want to know more about the proper path we are to follow the LORD will reveal it to us and we can mature further in our relationship with HIM. HE doesn’t force us to become good followers but HE wants us to become good followers and will bless us for our proper actions.
Are you maturing in your faith? How do you know? What actions are you taking to mature further in your relationship with the LORD?
We should never be satisfied with our relationship with the LORD. We should always be pressing toward the mark of the high calling we receive from the LORD.
We need to learn what it means to not turn to the right or left of the Word of God. This only comes through a close walk with the LORD in HIS Word and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life.
CHALLENGE: Desire to please the LORD has to be utmost in our life if we are to continue to mature. Do we have that desire?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully. (6213 “dealt” [‘asah] means manufacture, to do, to exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity, produce, apply, cause, or gain.)
DEVOTION: One characteristic that should be credited to the account of those who are workers for the LORD is that they are honest and trustworthy men. How does this play out in everyday life? Here we find that those who worked on the Temple were the type of individuals who worked without having to be told what to do and when to do it.
They were genuine workers who were honest with the use of material that was to be used for the rebuilding of the Temple. They were given the money and from that point on the individuals knew that they would get the work done the right way to bring glory to the LORD.
We are supposed to be individuals who could be left behind while others did something else and their supervisor would know that the work would be done well and the money would be accounted for without any problems.
There are individuals who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ who do sublevel work on their projects and think that they are good enough for the money that they took from another individual. I have worked for such and individual during my ministry in one of my churches. I didn’t know he was cheating a fellow believer until he was confronted in front of me by the individual who had hired him. This was not a good testimony for to those around.
We need to make sure that we give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. The LORD will bless us with a good reputation. HE will also bless us with more work in HIS kingdom.
Do people know you as an honest man? Do people know you as someone who is trustworthy in all that you do? Your reputation is all you have in this world before those who love the LORD. If not, begin improving your reputation today. If so, keep the reputation before you as a continual goal each day of your life. Be a worker that pleases the LORD first and then others.
CHALLENGE: Parents train your children well while they are living under your roof. Remember they learn by example first and foremost.
: 13 Go you, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us. (8085 “hearkened” [shama] means listen, to hear, pay close attention to, to understand things heard, examine, receive news, or give heed.)
DEVOTION: The Bible records the ebb and flow of the children of Israel and Judah. Here we are in the time period where the LORD is talking with the children of Judah. The tribes of Israel have already gone into captivity because of their worship of false gods. Judah has had good and bad kings also but they were not in captivity yet even though they have had bad kings.
Now we find that King Josiah wanted to know what the LORD expected of HIS people. He wanted the priest to go to the LORD and ask what they needed to do to stay out of captivity. He was willing to accept what the LORD told him to do. We need to practice the same attitude toward the LORD.
We don’t have high priest to go to but we have THE HIGH PRIEST to go to and ask what HE wants us to do with our lives in relation to our serve to HIM. We have to open to HIS leading in this area of our life.
We have to ask ourselves on a regular basis whether we are “hearkening” to the voice of the LORD that we learn from HIS Word the Bible and/or through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our prayer times.
We can also learn from others who genuinely love the LORD and we seek their counsel. There are many who are not following the LORD even when they are attending church every Sunday.
Part of listening to the LORD is making sure that we have a genuine time of study in the Bible. This takes work and effort on our part. We don’t go to a high priest or have others who can give us complete access to the presence of the LORD.
We are not on our own because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us know if it is the voice of the LORD or the voice of man. Discernment is always needed.
CHALLENGE: Keep yourself close to the LORD through the study of the Bible and praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achobr, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe, (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college,) and they communed with her. (1696 “communed” [dabar] means to speak, to promise, to express in speech, talk together, converse, promise, warn, threaten, or reason.)
DEVOTION: The Bible is not against women serving the LORD in certain capacities. Here is a woman who was a prophetess during the reign of Josiah. When he wanted to know what the LORD had to say regarding the future of the kingdom he sent his advisors to find out. They went to Huldah to receive an answer from the LORD. She told them what the LORD had to say and sent time back to the king with the word of the LORD. They didn’t think it strange to consult a woman on this occasion even when Jeremiah was a prophet at the same time. It is not known why he wasn’t consulted but we do know that she had a correct word from the LORD.
Too often we think that God can only use men in the church to lead or know the Word of God. There are many women leaders throughout the Word of God when men were not willing to lead.
However this doesn’t mean that women can hold offices reserved just for men in the Word of God. The standard the LORD set for leadership is recorded and needs to be followed even if it is not politically correct in our society.
God will only use women where HE has given them special instructions and sees their humble spirit. Too often there are women who seek offices or responsibilities that the LORD never intended them to have and it has caused confusion in the church of Jesus Christ. There should be no confusion. There should only be obedience to the commands of the LORD that don’t change with culture or customs.
We are not to limit women in ministry, but we are also not to give them the same responsibilities that are reserved for men alone in the church of Jesus Christ. It is hard for women to be the husband of one wife.
CHALLENGE: The Bible is our final authority regarding leadership in the church.
: 19 Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says the LORD. (3665 “humbled” [kana‘] means to bend the knee, humiliate, vanquish, bring down low, into subjection, or subdue)
DEVOTION: Josiah became king at the age of eight years. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. He didn’t turn aside to the right or the left concerning what he knew the LORD wanted him to do. He wanted the house of the LORD restored. He designated money for the purpose of restoring the Temple. He even instructed them not to have the workers accountable for the money because they were faithful workers. He trusted people.
While they were restoring the Temple they found the book of the law. They read it in the presence of Josiah and he realized that they were going to receive the wrath of the LORD for their sins.
He sent a group of messengers to the prophetess Huldah. She gave him the answer to his request. The LORD observed all that Josiah did once he heard the word of the LORD. He rent his clothes and consulted the LORD regarding the matter.
The LORD told him that he would have peace in his lifetime because of his reaction to HIS Word. HE told him that the judgment would not come until after his reign over Judah.
We need people who read the Word of God with conviction. Once they find something the LORD wants them to do, they do it. HE desires that we obey HIS Word.
We need praying men and women who mean business with God. Once we are on our knees before the LORD, HE is willing to communicate with us. We need to be in subjection to HIM.
This comes with practicing the disciplines of the faith. Are we practicing them regularly?
CHALLENGE: Our reaction should be the same as Josiah when the Word of God convicts us of our sin. The Word of God is a cleansing agent for all those who are true followers of the LORD. Remember we will never be sinless but we can sin less!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Inquire of the LORDverses 13, 18
Answered prayerverse 19
Because they were tender of heart
Humbled themselves
Rent their clothes
Wept
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
House of the LORDverses 3, 4
Work on the House to repair breaches
Dealt faithfully in the work
Hilkiah – high priestverses 4, 8, 10, 12-14
Gave book of the law to be read
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Book of the lawverses 8, 10, 11, 13
Book of the kings of Judahverse 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 2-5, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19
Sight of the LORDverse 2
House of the LORDverses 3-5, 8, 9
Enquire of the LORDverses 13, 18
Wrath of the LORDverses 13, 17
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 15, 18
LORD God of Israelverses 15, 18
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not listening to law of the LORDverse 13
Evilverses 16, 20
Forsaken the LORDverse 17
Burned incense to other godsverse 17
Provoke the LORD to angerverse 17
Desolationverse 19
Curseverse 19
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Doing right in the sight of the LORDverse 2
Walked in all the way of Davidverse 2
Turned not asideverse 2
Repair the house of the LORDverse 5
Faithful workersverse 7
Read the Scripturesverse 8
Humble self – rent his clothesverses 11, 19
Enquire of the LORDverses 13, 18
Hearken to the word of the LORDverse 13
Judgmentverse 16
Tender heartverse 19
Humbledverse 19
Listened to Godverse 19
Wept before the LORDverse 19
Answered prayerverse 19
Peaceverse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Josiah – king of Judahverses 1-20
8 years old when he begin
King for 31 years
Did what was right I sight of the LORD
Rent his clothes at reading of book of Law
Jerusalemverse 1
Davidverse 2
Shaphan – son of Azaliah verses 3-14
Scribe
Sent to the house of the LORD
Read book of the Law
King wanted him to inquire of the LORD
Book of the Law found in Templeverse 8
Ahikam – the son of Shaphanverses 12, 14
Achbor – son of Michaiahverses 12, 14
Asahiah – servant of the kingverses 12, 14
Prophetess: Huldahverses 14-20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
22:3–7 Serious reform begins in Josiah’s eighteenth year of rule, or ca. 622 b.c. His desire to serve the Lord surfaces even earlier according to the Chronicler, who states that Josiah begins to “seek the God of his father David” in the eighth year of his rule (ca. 632 b.c.) and starts removing some “high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images” in about 628 b.c., his twelfth year as king (2 Chr 34:3). Therefore, it is not strange that in his eighteenth year the king senses an obligation to repair the temple, an impulse felt by Joash years earlier (cf. 2 Kgs 12:1–16). Though the text does not divulge his motives for the repair, perhaps Josiah intends to promote worship at the central sanctuary (cf. Deut 12:1–32). Whatever his reasons, this project provides the impetus for greater reforms later. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, p. 382). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
22:14–20 Just as Hezekiah’s representatives once sought Isaiah’s advice, so now Josiah’s men approach Huldah, God’s representative. Two questions about Huldah arise: Why a woman? and, Why Huldah in particular? Honeycutt observes that the word “prophetess” occurs six times in the Old Testament (cf. also Exod 15:20; Judg 4:4; 2 Kgs 22:14; 2 Chr 34:22; Neh 6:14) as a designation for Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Noadiah. Of these prophetesses, all but Noadiah are portrayed positively. Thus, though less common than male prophets, a female prophet is not unique to this situation. Indeed, Joel 2:28 looks forward to a time when “sons and daughters will prophesy,” which Peter says does occur on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14–21). As for why Huldah and not, for instance, Jeremiah, “We have to remind ourselves that judgments upon personalities vary between that of contemporaries and that of posterity. Indeed Jeremiah felt himself to be a forgotten man in his day. Huldah left no book.” Both were used by the Lord, and both must be judged on that basis. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, p. 385). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
22:2. Like Asa and Hezekiah before him Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord and followed the good ways of his ancestor David. He did not deviate from this course at any time during his reign.
The chronicler added that Josiah began to seek after the Lord when he was 16 and he began his religious reforms when he was 20 (2 Chron. 34:3–7). (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 581). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
22:2 nor did he turn aside. Josiah had complete devotion to God’s approved course of conduct for his life (cf. 23:25). He obeyed the Mosaic stipulations as he came to know them, following the example of David, who set the pattern for the rulers of God’s people (Dt 17:11, 20; Jos 1:7). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ki 22:2). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
The copy of the Book of the Law found by Hilkiah was no doubt that deposited, in accordance with the command of God, by Moses, by the side of the Ark of the Covenant, and kept ordinarily in the Holy of Holies (marg. ref.). It had been lost, or secreted, during the desecration of the Temple by Manasseh, but had not been removed out of the Temple building. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: I Samuel to Esther (pp. 296–297). London: John Murray.)
8. This is a most interesting verse. It should seem very plain that during the long period that idolatry had prevailed in the land, not only the temple had been suffered to fall into ruins; but the very word of God had been so disregarded, that not a copy of it was among the people. It was God’s command by Moses, that every king should himself write out a copy of it: Deut. 17:18. And there was a further command, beside that which concerned the person of the king in studying the law of God himself; it was to be publicly read every seventh year: Deut. 31:10–13. Reader! to what deplorable state was the children of Israel reduced at this time, when so far from reading in the word of God, the very sacred book itself they had lost. Oh! ye that disregard your bibles, that pass by the reverence ye owe to the holy word of God. Behold here the dreadful effects of it. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, pp. 279–280). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
14. went unto Huldah] It might have been expected that the royal commissioners would have gone to Jeremiah, on whom the prophetic spirit had descended in Josiah’s thirteenth year (Jer. 1:2), or five years previous to the finding of the Law. Perhaps he was at some distance from Jerusalem at the time; or his office may not yet have been fully recognized. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: I Samuel to Esther (p. 297). London: John Murray.)
14–17. According to the dates of the prophets, Jeremiah had been preaching his sermons for five years before this event took place; and Zephaniah ministered much about the same time; yet Huldah, like another Deborah, was chosen of the Lord to be his servant on this business. And what a solemn strain is her answer delivered in. Nothing complimentary; nothing to soften the truth, though it be delivered to the pious Josiah. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 282). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Book I would recommend to ALL PASTORS TO READ: “ON BEING A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg:
There is first the inward call an individual becomes personally aware of; there is, second, the outward call of God’s people as they recognize the calling and gifts an individual has for the ministry: Acts 13 provides a powerful example of the latter in the call of Paul and Barnabas to Gentile missionary work. As the church met together for the worship of God and for prayer, the Holy Spirit instructed the church to set them apart for the work to which HE had called them (Acts 13:2). In one verse Luke writes of the church sending them off, and in the next of the Holy Spirit. (verses 3-4). (page 24)
The Corinthian Christians feel into the snare of making too much of the servants God gave them- men like Paul, Apollos, and Cephas – and giving their allegiance to them rather than to Christ Himself. (p. 30)
Keeping in view the picture of a shepherd, sheep require good pasture – the pasture of God’s Word – presented in such a balanced, spiritual, and heartwarming way tha the sheep are nourished and encouraged in their commitment to Christ and their growth to maturity. Good shepherding provides the best pasture by means of sound instruction. (p. 32)
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