Year 2, Week 10, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 10, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Kings 22; Nahum 2-3.

Today’s reading returns to Kings as we are introduced to the good rule of Josiah, king of Judah. 2 Kings 22 describes the start of Josiah’s reign: “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem…he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left” (2 Kings 22:1-2). Josiah is one of seven kings who are good kings and one of only three kings who are likened to David (Asa and Hezekiah are the other two). Today’s reading also completes the Book of Nahum, which was probably set sometime between the reigns of Manasseh and Josiah. Nahum 2 speaks of the sure demise of Nineveh: “Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard” (Nahum 2:13). While the Assyrian empire was at a high point of their strength and might, Nahum 3 declares their destruction: “Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?” (Nahum 3:18-19).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the rediscovery of God’s Word during the reign of Josiah: “And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 22:8). Hilkiah, the high priest, notifies Shaphan of what had been found. Shaphan, upon reading it, notified King Josiah: “Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king” (2 Kings 22:10). The rediscovery of the Law occurred as a result of Josiah’s orders to investigate the status of the Temple renovations, particularly concerning the accounting of the funds designated for such work: “In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD, saying, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people” (2 Kings 22:3-4). The implications appear to be that the money provided to the priests never reached the actual workers and thus the work was floundering. Further implying dishonesty on the part of the priests, Josiah orders that the Temple funds go directly to the workers: “let it be given…to the workmen who are at the house of the LORD, repairing the house…and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly” (2 Kings 22:5-7).

Shaphan reads the Law to Josiah. This statement is both a horrible fact, but also a wonderful fact. The horribleness of Josiah having Shaphan read the Law to him is that it’s suggests that this hearing of the Law is something new to Josiah. If that is the case, its horrible for the king was to daily read his own copy of the Law: “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). It would really be no surprise to consider that Josiah’s predecessor—men like Manasseh and Amon—had gotten rid of their copy of the Law. But the very survival of Israel was connected to the king knowing the Law and leading the nation to obey it.

But the fact that Josiah was hearing the Law read was truly wonderful. Josiah was genuinely moved by what he was hearing: “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” (2 Kings 22:11-13). Josiah falls under the conviction of the Word and turns to seeking the LORD. Josiah realizes the trouble that Judah is in.

The prophets Words were chilling and yet also hopeful. Judah would face judgment: “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” (2 Kings 22:16-17). But because Josiah’s heart was soft toward the hard Words, Josiah would not face the judgment: “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…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” (2 Kings 19-20). Judgment would come, but it would be delayed. Because Josiah heard the Law, the LORD heard him. Judgment would be deferred and mercy would be extended. It is a wonderful thing when hearts are softened by hard Words.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe