Author: evangelist_breland

2 Kings 22:18-20

In order that children of God have a relationship with God, they must know His will. Our best source for knowing Him, His will, and the purposes He has for us is His Word. In v.18 Huldah gave Josiah’s servants a word from the Lord God of Israel. 

The word she sent to the king was “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” (v.19). Isn’t it wonderful to have a tender heart and humble yourself before the Lord? When Josiah heard of the impending judgment against his people, his immediate response was to repent and confirm with Huldah the prophetess about God’s intention. 

She spoke a prophetic blessing for the king who sent them to inquire of the Lord concerning the words which He has heard. “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 (v.20). According to Scripture, “God is not a man that He should lie…” His word was fulfilled in 2 Chronicles 35:23-24. Matthew 24:35 declares “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Shot, “Glory” for the word of God!

2 Kings 22:2, 11-17, NKJV

Josiah became king of Judah at eight years old and reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. “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” (v.2). 

After the discovery of the Book of the Law, and it was read to him, Josiah’s soul was greatly disturbed, and he tore his clothes (v.11). He sent his servants to Huldah the prophetess concerning the words of this book that has been found (22:12-14). She sent them back with a prophecy of judgment on Judah; they were unfaithful and disobedient, and God’s anger will not be quenched (v.17). She spoke a prophecy of blessing on Josiah from the Lord God of Israel; Josiah sent them to Him (v.15-16). 

God speaks His will to His children through His Word. In v.13 Josiah told his servants to inquire of the Lord “concerning the words of this book that has been found.” The verse continued: “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.” In reference to Huldah’s prophecy of judgment on Judah, v.16 spoke of “all the words of the book which the king of Judah has heard. Will you commit to reading and studying God’s Word today? 

 Give God glory!

2 Kings 22:8-17

When Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord, he gave it to Shaphan the scribe, who read it to King Josiah (v.8,10). When Josiah heard the Word of God, he repented. He was so disturbed by the disobedience of his forefathers to the Lord that he tore his clothes (v.11). He knew the Scriptures were important because through them God’s people would know His will for them. He commanded his servants to go, inquire of the Lord for him, the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book Hilkiah has found; for great is the wrath of the Lordthat 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” (22:12-13). So, Josiah’s servants went to Jerusalem and spoke with Huldah the prophetess (22:14). 

She gave them a prophetic word from the Lord God of Israel for the man who sent them to Him (v.15). Hulda’s word to Josiah was that according to all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read, the Lord will bring calamity on Judah and Jerusalem and its inhabitants (v.16). Because they have forsaken the Lord and burned incense to other godsprovoking Him to anger with all the works of their hands, His wrath will be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched (v.17). God speaks to us through His Word so we will come to know Him and His will.

Shout, “Glory!”

2 Kings 23:1-3, NKJV

Here the Scripture begins with King Josiah sending a group of his servants to gather all the elders, the representatives of the nation, of Judah and Jerusalem to him (v.1). In v.2 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. There he read publicly in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which Hilkiah the high priest (22:8) had found in the house of the Lord. Because the people had been disobedient to the Word of the Lord, Josiah pressed for the renewal of the covenant between God and his people even though he could not stop the calamity God said would come to Jerusalem. 

Then according to v.3, the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, promising to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul. He promised to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. When Josiah took the lead, he restored true worship through renewal of the covenant. He vowed to walk after the ways of the Lord, and his people entered the covenant too.

Lift up your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Matthew 15:21-23, NKJV

When last have you had a need that was so pressing that it caused you to cry out in desperation to the Lord? In this passage an unnamed woman from Canaan of the coasts of Tyre and Sidon met Jesus as He entered there. She cried out in desperation to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed” (vv.21-22). She was a Gentile and an unselfish mother of faith, who was bold enough to pray to Jesus, making intercession for her daughter.

She first asked the Lord to “Have mercy on me.” She had no relationship with Jesus, but she had faith in the God of Israel. She believed Jesus could deliver her child from the misery of being demon-possessed; this would also take away the suffering she bore with her child. She called Jesus “Son of David.” Apparently, she had heard that He was the Messiah and had the power to heal. 

In v.23 Jesus seemed to ignore her, and His disciples showed no compassion to her. Jesus did not say a word in response to her request, and His disciples came, urging Him to send her away because she cried out after them. Sometimes, we, as children of God, today are just like the disciples were then. We show no compassion on others, especially those we determine don’t have the right to call on the Lord. But remember, God always has a purpose.

Give God glory! Blessings to mothers everywhere.