How can we apply Josiah's response to God's word in our lives? Setting the Scene 2 Chronicles 34 reports that the Book of the Law was found during temple repairs. Verse 20 shows Josiah immediately delegating leaders to “inquire of the LORD.” His response unfolds in four movements: Josiah's Immediate Response • Conviction – “When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes” (v 19). • Consultation – “Go and inquire of the LORD for me…” (v 21). • Contrition – God says, “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself… I have heard you” (v 27). • Correction – He purged idolatry, renewed covenant, and led the greatest Passover since Samuel (34:33; 35:18). Timeless Principles 1. Take God’s Word at face value. – Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16–17. 2. Let Scripture search the heart before we search for loopholes. – Psalm 139:23; James 1:22–25. 3. Seek godly counsel that aligns with the text. 4. Respond quickly; delayed obedience breeds deeper compromise. – Psalm 119:60. 5. Reform what is under our authority—home, church, workplace. – Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 1 Corinthians 10:31. Practical Ways to Imitate Josiah • Humble Intake – Schedule unhurried daily reading; approach with a “tender heart” rather than a checklist. • Honest Evaluation – Compare attitudes, entertainment choices, spending, and speech to Scriptural standards. • Prompt Repentance – Confess sin the moment the Spirit exposes it (1 John 1:9). • Seek Confirming Voices – Invite trusted believers or elders to speak truth, just as Josiah sent messengers to Huldah. • Purge Idols – Remove media, habits, or relationships that compete with Christ’s lordship (1 John 5:21). • Restore Worship – Prioritize corporate gatherings, biblical preaching, and ordinances; celebrate the Lord’s Supper with fresh gratitude. • Teach the Next Generation – Read Scripture aloud in the family, model repentance, and commemorate God’s faithfulness (Psalm 78:4-7). Motivations That Sustained Josiah • Reverence for God’s holiness—“Great is the wrath of the LORD” (v 21). • Assurance of God’s mercy—“I have heard you” (v 27). • Desire for national blessing—he longed for renewal beyond personal peace (34:33). Encouraging Promises for Us • Isaiah 66:2 – “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” • John 13:17 – “If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” • Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” Summary Josiah shows that genuine encounter with Scripture produces brokenness, inquiry, surrender, and tangible reform. By receiving the Word with the same softness and urgency, we can experience personal and communal revival today. |
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