2Ch 34:14-20 | KingComments | STEP | The fourth phase in the revival is the finding of the book of the law. This discovery is made while they are busy with the money for the house of the LORD ( ). When we are busy with the interests of God’s house, God will open our eyes to His Word, that is, He will speak to our hearts through His Word. The Word is going to be to us the living Word. The finder of the book, the priest Hilkiah, gives the book to Shaphan with the words: “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD” ( ). In the application to us, this testimony can be recited by many. Many believers have discovered the truth of God’s Word through teaching in the local church. This is the customary ‘finding place’ of the Word. In the church the Word is proclaimed and explained. It does not mean that the church teaches, because the teaching is given by the teachers whom the Lord Jesus has given, while everyone who listens to it has to examine the Word to see whether those things are so ( ). “The apostles’ teaching” is taught in the first church in Jerusalem ( ). In one of the first churches of the Gentiles in Antioch, teaching is also given for one year from God’s Word ( ). Teaching God’s Word in a church is important in order to grow in faith. This in no way excludes the personal study of God’s Word, but rather promotes it. Shaphan takes the found book of the law to Josiah ( ). First he reports on the work ( ). He reports of the servants that they do obediently what they have to do. That is a beautiful testimony. Hopefully it can also be testified of us before the Lord Jesus and others that we are doing what is “delivered into our hands” (cf. ). It is important that we work with what the Lord has entrusted to us. This is noticed by others. After the account of the faithfulness of the workers, Shaphan tells Josiah about the book that the priest Hilkiah has given him and begins to read from it ( ). It is the first time in his life that Josiah hears God’s Word. Here he comes for the first time into contact with the power of the Word, which has a tremendous effect on him. How important it is for us every time we read God’s Word to do it so, as if it were for the first time. Then we will experience the power of it each time and it will have the same effect that it has on Josiah.

‏ 2 Chronicles 34:14-20

The Book of the Law Found

The fourth phase in the revival is the finding of the book of the law. This discovery is made while they are busy with the money for the house of the LORD (2Chr 34:14). When we are busy with the interests of God’s house, God will open our eyes to His Word, that is, He will speak to our hearts through His Word. The Word is going to be to us the living Word.

The finder of the book, the priest Hilkiah, gives the book to Shaphan with the words: “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD” (2Chr 34:15). In the application to us, this testimony can be recited by many. Many believers have discovered the truth of God’s Word through teaching in the local church. This is the customary ‘finding place’ of the Word. In the church the Word is proclaimed and explained. It does not mean that the church teaches, because the teaching is given by the teachers whom the Lord Jesus has given, while everyone who listens to it has to examine the Word to see whether those things are so (Acts 17:11).

“The apostles’ teaching” is taught in the first church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42). In one of the first churches of the Gentiles in Antioch, teaching is also given for one year from God’s Word (Acts 11:26). Teaching God’s Word in a church is important in order to grow in faith. This in no way excludes the personal study of God’s Word, but rather promotes it.

Shaphan takes the found book of the law to Josiah (2Chr 34:16a). First he reports on the work (2Chr 34:16b-17). He reports of the servants that they do obediently what they have to do. That is a beautiful testimony. Hopefully it can also be testified of us before the Lord Jesus and others that we are doing what is “delivered into our hands” (cf. 1Tim 4:15). It is important that we work with what the Lord has entrusted to us. This is noticed by others.

After the account of the faithfulness of the workers, Shaphan tells Josiah about the book that the priest Hilkiah has given him and begins to read from it (2Chr 34:18). It is the first time in his life that Josiah hears God’s Word. Here he comes for the first time into contact with the power of the Word, which has a tremendous effect on him. How important it is for us every time we read God’s Word to do it so, as if it were for the first time. Then we will experience the power of it each time and it will have the same effect that it has on Josiah.

The Effect

When Josiah hears the Word of God, he is immediately impressed (2Chr 34:19). Josiah shows the true spirit of the Reformation. He who has been touched by the Word will ask what he should do (Acts 2:37). If the Word of God comes to us and we see that there are things in our lives that are not right, let us not respond as Josiah’s son, Jehoiakim, does. He cuts the Word into pieces, he tears the Word and not his clothes (Jer 36:23-24). Josiah reacts differently. He tears his clothes. The Word works in him (1Thes 2:13).

The Word given eight hundred years ago by Moses (2Chr 34:14) has lost nothing of its power. It has its full effect on Josiah. That is because Josiah bows down before it. He does not say: ‘This is out of date, it has nothing to say to us anymore.’ No, it convinces him and he knows it still has its full meaning.

Josiah takes immediate action. If God’s Word comes to us and we are aware of it, it will move us to action. Josiah wants to know what the LORD wants and gives some servants the command to go and consult Him (2Chr 34:20-21). We read his motivation (2Chr 34:21b). Josiah sees that God must judge because of the unfaithfulness of the people. That unfaithfulness is the result of not paying careful attention to God’s Word. Because judgment is spoken of, it maybe they have read from the book of Deuteronomy (cf. Deu 31:16-19 ; Deu 32:16-43).

The judgments are no reason for Josiah to be down. There is a way of restoration. He knows this can be pointed out to him by the prophetess Huldah (2Chr 34:22). The spiritual strength lies with a woman, as in the time of the Judges with Deborah (Jdg 4:4-5). If that is the situation, it means that God’s people have deviated far from Him.

Huldah lives in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, probably in an inconspicuous house, perhaps in what we call a “terraced house”. She is married to “the keeper of the wardrobe”. Garments speak of our customs, what people see of us. Doesn’t this speak of how the Word of God is to become visible in our lives, that Christ is manifested in our lives? It is God’s purpose that we adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect of our lives (Tit 2:10b).