2 Kings 22

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Read 2 Kings 22

The Book of the Law Found

22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”

Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

15 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

So they took her answer back to the king.

Go Deeper

Following the assassination of King Amon, his father, Josiah assumed the throne at the age of eight (!) years old. If the thought of an eight year old ruling the land that you live in makes you nervous, you wouldn’t be alone. After 18 years on the throne, he ordered that repairs be made to the temple. Once the restoration project began, something happened that changed the trajectory of Josiah’s reign: He encountered the Book of the Law of the Lord.

According to Deuteronomy 31:24-27, there should have been a copy of the Law in the temple near the ark of the covenant. It’s possible that this book had been there all along and King Josiah just hadn’t seen it. It’s also possible that it had been buried or misplaced. Either way, let’s re-read what verse 11 says: When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” Remember, this book was the closest thing to the scriptures they would have had back then. These were God’s commandments and instructions that He had given to Moses. As soon as Josiah heard God’s Word, he realized just how far away they had drifted from God’s original intentions. It pierced his heart and the response was lament and grief, so he instantly threw himself into repentance. 

God meets Josiah’s repentant heart with grace and mercy. He saw Josiah’s humility and decided to hold off on the judgment that was headed their way. God meets our own disobedience and straying from His Word with grace and mercy each time we respond with repentance. When we turn from sin and (like Josiah) say “no more”, we see the heart of a loving Father who cares for his children. This is such a powerful picture of what happens when we take sin seriously! We have an opportunity to use God’s Word (from Genesis to Revelation) as a mirror into our own lives and see how God wants to transform our hearts into ones that look more like His.

Questions

  1. What stands out most to you in this passage about Josiah’s repentance?
  2. When was the last time that, by coming face-to-face with God’s Word, you realized you needed to repent?
  3. Where have you drifted from God’s original intentions over time? How has sin crept into your own life? Take some time today to repent and humble yourself before God like Josiah did.

By the Way

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 says that the Law was to be read publicly every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles. While we don’t know how often it was actually read, there are instances of it being recorded in scripture. In 2 Chronicles 34:30 we are told that the Law was read publicly during King Josiah’s reign.

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3 thoughts on “2 Kings 22”

  1. Ella Snodgrass

    It’s interesting to read of those like Josiah who become king in their early years. Scripture records Josiah becoming king as an 8 year old boy, and one who was pleasing to God and followed David’s example. (That’s the average age of a 3rd grader!) How did he know to chose differently than his father and grandfather? Was it possibly because of his was mother Jedidah’s example? Somewhere along the way God’s recorded law had been lost but now was discovered. As the word is read, Josiah’s response is noteworthy, he wept & tore his clothes in grief, a picture of a soft heart toward a strong message. Although the consequences for past evil would not change, God honored the humility of Josiah and gave him peace in his lifetime. I’m thinking of how many Bibles we have in our homes that go untouched, unread, neglected, or the countless times we pick up our phones and mindlessly scroll through nonsense when what we truly crave is found in scripture. (I would encourage you to download a Bible app to access.) We have an amazing resource in the BRP to encourage and inform our lives. Let’s take God’s word seriously and align our choices with its timely truths.

  2. If I have my facts straight, the end of September (during new moon) marks the new year for Jews known as Rosh Hashanah. There is a sabbath and holidays set aside for the reading of the Torah during this time.(Shabbat, Yom Kippur) This new year has had some pretty significant claims according to scripture.
    I guess what really shocked me about Josiah was that there was no doubt in him that the Book of Law was God’s word. The instantly tearing of his robe in reverence to what was read is humbling. It’s sad to say how casually we read God’s commandments as a history lesson, and not as a life lesson for us. And then when punishment happens, we are quick to blame God, or try to scientifically figure it out.
    Lord, forgive us for not taking your word seriously in our lives. Forgive us for casually reading your word and not applying it daily or sharing it with others. May we repent and take to heart how powerful, living, and real your word is still today. We love you, God.

  3. When we truly repent God has mercy on us too. Josiah was following God, not turning aside to the right or the left. Wow that is a statement! But then they find the book and he realizes all is not as it should be and he repents. Do I or we follow God not turning aside? Verse 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
    God thank You for helping me to show you that kind of respect and love!! I desire to do what is right in your eyes. Guide me every minute of this walk with you in Jesus name amen

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