The Book of God’s Law
August 17, 2020
Commentary
While money was being given to supervisors in the temple, Hilkiah found the book that contained the laws that the Lord had given to Moses (v. 14). Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan the official and said, “Look what I found” (v. 15). Shaphan took the book to King Josiah and reported how the officials had not only collected the money and given it to the men supervising the repairs but had given him this book of God’s Law (vv. 16-18). When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God’s Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow (v. 19). At once he called the servants together (v. 20) and told them how the Lord must be furious with everyone in Israel and Judah because there ancestors did not do what was written in this book (v. 21). Hilkiah with four other men went to the prophet, Huldah’s house in the northern part of Jerusalem to talk (v. 22). She said that they were sent by King Josiah and that the book says the Lord intends to punish this country and everyone in it (vv. 23-24).
The book says the people of Judah and Israel have rejected the Lord and offered sacrifices to foreign gods and idols and that He is furious (v. 25). It tells how the Lord noticed how sad Josiah was when he learned his country and people would be completely wiped out. (vv. 26-27). He goes on to say how he will destroy the place but will let Josiah die in peace (v. 28). King Josiah called together the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem (v. 29). He went with them to the Lord’s temple with all the people, priests and Levites (v. 30). Finally he read aloud the Book of God’s Law and promised to faithfully obey the Lord and follow His laws (v. 31). Then he asked the people to make the same promise (v. 32). He destroyed all the idols and commanded everyone in Israel to worship only the Lord God.
Application
“God loved us so much that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
2 Chronicles 34:14– 33 (NET)
14 When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses. 15 Hilkiah informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the scroll to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing everything assigned to them. 17 They melted down the silver in the Lord’s temple and handed it over to the supervisors and the construction foremen.” 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. 19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 20 The king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, 21 “Go, ask the Lord for me and for those who remain in Israel and Judah about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s great fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors did not obey the word of the Lord by living according to all that is written in this scroll.”
22 So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business, 23 and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: 24 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, all the curses that are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. 25 This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” 26 Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: 27 ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. 28 ‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’”’” Then they reported back to the king.
29 The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple. 31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. 32 He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.