2 Kings 22: More Grace

​Key Verse
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 
 
Meditation
“God gives more grace.” (James 4:6) When we “humble ourselves before the Lord, He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10). In today’s reading, king Josiah illustrates the “more grace” offered to those who humble themselves before the Lord, pointing to the provision of the great King Jesus.
 
Like you and me, Josiah and the people of Judah needed more grace. Josiah was 26 years old (vv. 1-3) when he sent a commission to clean and repair the temple (vv. 4-7). Hilkiah the high priest “found the book of the law in the house of the Lord” and sent it to the king (vv. 8-10). When king Josiah heard Moses’ words read aloud, he was convicted in his heart and tore his clothes in repentance as he humbled Himself before the Lord (vv. 11-14). The words of the law offered no hope for a wicked and rebellious people (vv. 15-17). God’s character and covenant promises offered mercy to soft hearts humbled before His word (vv. 18-20).
 
“Because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before the Lord… your eyes should not see disaster” (v. 19). A heart that hears God’s word and humbles itself before God’s authority experiences God’s grace and mercy.
 
“God gives grace to the humble,” writes Peter (1 Peter 5:5-6), a promise possible because king Jesus upheld every part of God’s word before He humbled Himself to take the penalty of our pride through His death on the cross. Through the work of King Jesus, believers can be forgiven and begin again, experiencing grace for humble  hearts that hear God’s word and obey.
 
Today’s Reading
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And 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.

Josiah Repairs the Temple
3 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, 4 “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. 5 And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house 6 (that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons), and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. 7 But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.”

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 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, 13 “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.”

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, 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. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 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, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 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.’” And they brought back word to the king.
 
Richly Dwelling
- Josiah heard God’s word in his heart and humbled himself before the Lord. Do you hear God’s word in your heart? Why or why not?
 
-Are your actions marked by pride or humility before God and His word?
 
-Jesus humbled Himself so we can hear God’s word in our heart, repent from our pride, receive God’s grace, and take space to humble ourselves before Him. Where in your life do you need more grace to humble yourself before God’s word? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.