Josiah – Sought to understand what he heard (2 Chronicles 34:22-28 Devotional)

Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,  ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah.  Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’  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:  Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord.  Now 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 and on those who live here.’”

2 Chronicles 34:22-28

Points to Ponder

Josiah didn’t stop at reading or hearing. He sought to understand

To read is to understand. To understand is to obey. The young king got this right. He desperately wanted to understand what he just heard. And he knew the only logical response is obedience.

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God….

1. Responsive

Being indifferent is the worst stage of a broken relationship. The Bible has warned us 2000 years ago.

Oh, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revealatoin 3:16

Many of us are “old” believers. We have heard the messages or read the Bible for many times….. too many that they lose their impact in our lives. Don’t let that happen! The word of God is the living Word. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, these words will come alive in our hearts and in our lives. What we need to do is to respond to it. To act on it.

2. Humble

Josiah was young. Josiah was a king. Usually, we would expect someone in so high of a position so young would be very arrogant. Not Josiah. He knew better. There is a god above the king. And He is the true king. What about us? Have we grown so much that we don’t need God anymore? While our experience and resources are growing, our reliance and trust in God should be, too.

Josiah was rewarded for his attitude and action towards the Law of God. The nation was benefitted from this humble king. Judgment was delayed. Can you imagine how much difference can one’s obedience and humility make?

---