Sermon Central
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Reconnect With God: He Speaks Series
Contributed by John Dobbs on Nov 23, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: In our series called Reconnect With God we noted that God Reigns, He Calls, and Provides, and today, He Speaks.
Reconnect With God: He Speaks
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.”
