Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

2 Kings 22:8-20

 

October 16, 2021

 

 

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “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.   And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.”   Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.   And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,  “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and 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 kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

 

We need not be reminded that this young man's dad had been killed by his servant because he was an evil king and guess what so was his dad, and they both had no fear of God or a relationship with His promises and commands.  This young boy king, Josiah had never read or had it read to him the words spoken by Moses but read again what took place when he encountered the Word of God.  It had an amazing effect on him, and not only did he humble himself, but he sought direction on how to lead a people who had only had the godliest leadership that had led them to do evil.

Not a new thing, evil men in leadership, and yes as my dad often stated, we learn nothing from history, if we did we would not repeat it.  It is my belief the United States of America has arrived at this place and the difference is we do not have a leader who is fearful of God, in fact, we have only a puppet who most days does not know where are who he is much less leads anything.  He and his family are evil people and most of the people in our congress have no fear of God or respect for anything but power and money.  

 

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Isaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her.   And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,  Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.   Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.  But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard,  because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.   Therefore, behold, 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 disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.

 

God changes not, He is the same today as He was then, yes we who are in Christ have been given grace and faith, it was all God’s doing, and His Holy Spirit to lead us and admonish and correct us.  But that does not give us the freedom to sin, in fact, it should lead you and me to obedience.  If you look at this boy king, his actions were obedience to as much of God as He understood; should you and me who have the Spirit of God living in us do any less?

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice