PROCLAMATION
“Because thine heart was tender, and
thou hast humbled thyself before The Lord, when thou heardest what I spake
against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should
become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me;
I also have heard thee, saith The Lord.
Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shall be
gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil
which I will bring upon this place …” 2
Kings 22:19-20 (KJV)
EXPLANATION
These words were written under the
influence of The Holy Spirit of God. The
human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the
prophet Jeremiah. Josiah the son of Amon was eight years old when he
began to reign as the king of Judah. He
did that which was right in the sight of The Lord. (2 Kings 22:1-2) When he was eighteen years old, he sent Shaphan
the scribe to the Hilkiah the high priest telling him to take the silver from
the treasury and pay the workers who were to repair the house of The Lord. (2
Kings 22:3-7) While going through the
treasury, the high priest found the book of law in the house of The Lord. The priest gave the book to Shaphan who read
the book. Then Shaphan took the book and
showed it to the king, and read it to him.
When King Josiah heard the words of the book, he tore his clothes. He commanded Hilkiah the high priest to
enquire of The Lord concerning the words of the book, knowing that his father
and the people had not followed the book and that the wrath of The Lord was
kindled against them. (2 Kings 22:8-13) The
high priest and his servants went to Huldah the prophetess in Jerusalem and
they communed with her. She told them
that The Lord was going to bring a great evil upon this place and upon the
inhabitants thereof. However, she also
told Hilkiah that because of the tender heart of King Josiah, who humbled
himself before The Lord when he heard the words of the book, he would die in
peace and not see the evil that would come upon this place. (2 Kings 22:14-20)
APPLICATION
Doing the right thing when those around
you are doing that which is wrong may cause you to be spared the punishment
which they will receive. When we know
what is right, we ought to do what is right.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” (Maya
Angelou) Let us know what is right and
choose to do what is right. (Job 34:4)
There are severe consequences in store for us when we know what is right
and yet choose not to do it, especially when this pertains to The Word of God.
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