Reconnect With God: He Speaks
2 Kings 22:1-23:3
Introduction
In our series called Reconnect With God we noted that God Reigns, He Calls, and Provides, and today, He Speaks. We want to look at 2 Kings 22, the fantastic story of a king who listened when God spoke - which made him quite an unusual king.
The spiritual life of the divided kingdom was on a continual downward spiral unfaithfulness. King Manasseh was the worst. 2 Kings 21:16 “…Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end…” Under his leadership “…They did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites” (2 Chronicles 33:9). Manasseh died and Amon his son became king, and followed in his footsteps. Amon’s officials assassinated him and his son became king - King Josiah.
Josiah was 8 years old. “Due to his young age, it’s likely Josiah’s policies were guided and implemented by guardian-advisors… (Cogan via Whitworth). 2 Kings 22:2 tells us that Josiah would be a righteous king!
As we look at Josiah’s reign, we want to gather some thoughts about reconnecting with God - as Josiah led the nation back to the Lord, so we must follow in similar footsteps to reconnect with God as well.
1. Reconnect By Hearing the Message of God
When Josiah was 26 years old he was repairing the temple of the Lord. The Book of the Law was found by Hilkiah the high priest. When it was read before the King he tore his robes and sought the insight of a prophetess named Huldah to find out what God required.
Nothing is more important to us than being in connection with the Word of God. How many people are in the condition of Judah up to this point - having received the word sometime in the past, but now it is lost in the rubble of neglect? When we encounter the Word of God, we have the opportunity to reconnect with God.
2. Reconnect with a Humble Heart
Josiah tore his clothes and cried out to God - not a very regal action for a King. At that moment he recognized two things:
-He recognized his status before the King of the Universe.
-He recognized his sin before a Righteous God.
-Humility requires us to see those same two things.
Huldah is one of four prophetesses known in the OT (Whitworth). Huldah’s message: Disaster is imminent because Judah had not kept God’s word. But there was also a message of grace here.
2 Kings 22:19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.
Josiah’s heart, humbled before God, led him to reconnect with God. Whitworth: “Of only two people in Kings is it said that they ‘humbled themselves’: Ahab, the worst king of Israel, and Josiah, the best king of Judah.”
A prideful spirit does not seek anything from the Lord. The world around us - mocking of God – feeling that God is not needed – nor real. Our biggest mistake is living life as if we need nothing from God.
God honors the heart that is humble before him.
Isaiah 66:2 …"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
James 4:6, 10 "…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
3. Reconnect with Repentance (2 Kings 23:1-3)
Josiah made a commitment to keep the commands of the Lord with “all his heart and with all his soul”. The people he led agreed to follow as well. Josiah demolishes all indications of idolatry and observes the Lord’s Passover for the first time in many years. His commitment is demonstrated in his actions.
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
We reconnect with God through commitment, not just good intentions.
Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Repentance is more than a feeling of shame - it is action towards a closer following of God’s Will. None of us can bypass repentance – for we all have sinned. None of those secrets is hidden from God’s sight, nor too big to forgive through Christ’s blood. Genuine repentance is when we come before God with our robes torn - with our hearts broken and our pride drained and only asking God for his forgiveness and mercy. Repentance is still important to God.
Luke 15:10 “…There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
4. Reconnect Over Every Obstacle
Josiah had a lot of obstacles to overcome. His age, His background - Both his father and grandfather had been known as wicked kings. He had not been raised in a godly home. No one had taught him the value of things
like faithfulness, personal integrity, sacrifice or generosity. His nation – Judah was thoroughly ungodly. He was willing to stand alone and start the process of putting God’s will into practice regardless of what anyone else thought.
What obstacles are we facing that keep us from moving into action when we hear God speak?
-Our Enemy (1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”)
-Our World (1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.")
-Maybe it’s your Friends, Family, Past, our Present - what would you allow to keep you away from God?
Conclusion
Reconnect With God: He Reigns, He Calls, and Provides, He Speaks. Hear the message of God, have a humble heart, repent, overcome every obstacle!
2 Kings 23:25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.
On the day of Pentecost, there was a King Josiah moment - a realization of the need to reconnect with God.
Acts 2:36-38 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I’m praying we all have a King Josiah moment this morning - whether we decide to repent and be baptized, repent of some sin that his being harbored in our hearts, or recommit ourselves to the life God has called us to!
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Discussion Questions
1. What are the elements that lead Christians to have a hard heart towards God?
2. Josiah came from a lineage of evil idol-worshiping kings. How hard is it to break out of systems into which we have been raised and which have great influence over our thinking?
3. God used Huldah, relatively unknown in the rest of the Bible, to bring a message to Josiah that changed the kingdom. Who is someone that has influenced you tremendously but who is unknown to the rest of the group / church?
4. Proverbs 4:23 says "Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." What advice would you give someone who asked how they could guard their heart?
5. In the past four weeks we have looked at four Old Testament stories. Which one resonated with you and if you wouldn't mind, share with the group why it meant something to you.
-Elijah used fire to demonstrate that He Reigns
-Hosea used an infant being cared for by God to demonstrate He Calls to us.
-Isaiah used a vineyard to tell us that He Provides all we need.
-Josiah was moved by the Book of God and reminds us that He Speaks.
6. What do you admire most about King Josiah?
7. Re-read 2 Kings 23:25. How does this parallel what Jesus tells us is the greatest command? What does that tell us about how important this is to God?
8. What else did you see in this text that you wanted to talk about?
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Resources
Jacobson, Rolf. The Working Preacher commentary on the text. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/josiah/commentary-on-2-kings-221-20-231-3
Nelson, Richard. Interpretation: First and Second Kings. John Knox Press, 1987.
Ruffcorn, Kevin. Devotionals on this text. https://asanefaith.com/king-josiah-of-judah/
Whitworth, Michael. How To Lose A Kingdom in 400 Years. Start2Finish books, 2017.
