2 Kings 22

“Hilkiah the high priest told Shaphan the court secretary, ‘I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s temple,’ and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.  Then Shaphan the court secretary went to the king and reported, ‘Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hand of those doing the work—those who oversee the Lord’s temple.’ Then Shaphan the court secretary told the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book,’ and Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.  When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then he commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah: ‘Go and inquire of the Lord for me, the people, and all Judah about the instruction in this book that has been found.  For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.’”  2 Kings 22:8-13 (HCSB)

If ever there was a message that pinpointed our generation, this is it!  It is a clarion call for us to return to a comprehensive knowledge of God’s Word and for national reform to begin with the people of God in the house of the Lord, Bibles in hand!  

It is also a perfect example of how God accomplishes His will while mankind retains his freedom to choose.  Remember, just two chapters ago, Hezekiah was pleading for his life, and the Lord gave him fifteen extra years.  But in those fifteen years, his son, Manasseh, was born.  Manasseh is listed as the most evil king in the history of Judah.  Not only did Manasseh practice idolatry, but he also brought it into the Lord’s temple.

“Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king and reigned 55 years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed and reestablished the altars for Baal.  He made an Asherah, as King Ahab of Israel had done; he also worshiped the whole heavenly host and served them. He built altars in the Lord’s temple, where the Lord had said, ‘Jerusalem is where I will put My name.’ He built altars to the whole heavenly host in both courtyards of the Lord’s temple. He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists.  He did a great amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, provoking Him.” 2 Kings 21:1-6 (HCSB)

After Manasseh died, his son Amon ruled for only two years.  As evil as his father, Amon was murdered by his subjects.  By God’s grace, Amon’s son Josiah was only eight years old (too young to be affected by his father’s idolatrous worldview) when he began to reign.  Guided by righteous priests, Josiah received God’s Word as a child, believing it by faith.  As he was clearing out his grandfather’s idols from the temple, his workmen found the Bible again!  Oh, that churches in America would have the same experience and that we would purge worldliness from among us and rediscover God’s Word so that revival would, once again, sweep across our nation!