Rediscovering God’s Word – King Josiah’s Heart for Renewal (2 Kings 22:1–23:3)
Sometimes, one discovery can change everything. That’s what happened during the time of King Josiah, one of the last good kings of Judah. His story reminds us how powerful God’s Word can be when we truly listen to it.
A Young King with a Heart for God
Josiah became king when he was just eight years old. Even though he was young, he had a heart that wanted to follow God. He didn’t follow the wrong paths of many kings before him. Instead, he chose to walk in the ways of King David, doing what was right in God’s eyes.
As Josiah grew older, he wanted to repair the temple—the place where people worshiped God. This showed that he cared not just about ruling the nation, but about honoring God too.
A Surprising Discovery in the Temple
While workers were fixing the temple, the high priest Hilkiah made an amazing discovery: he found the Book of the Law. This was part of the Bible that had been forgotten or ignored for many years.
Hilkiah gave the book to a man named Shaphan, who then read it to King Josiah. As Josiah listened to the words, he realized how far the people of Judah had turned away from God.
Josiah’s Honest and Humble Reaction
Josiah didn’t ignore what he heard. He was heartbroken. He tore his clothes, which was a sign of deep sorrow and humility. He knew the nation had sinned, and he wanted to know what God thought about it.
So, Josiah sent messengers to ask a prophet of God what they should do. He truly wanted to hear from the Lord.
God Speaks Through the Prophetess Huldah
The messengers went to a woman named Huldah, a prophetess who spoke God’s message. She said that trouble was coming to Judah because the people had worshiped false gods for many years.
But there was also good news: because Josiah had a humble heart and turned to God, the disaster would not happen during his lifetime. God had seen Josiah’s sincerity and honored it.
Renewing the Nation’s Promise to God
Josiah didn’t keep this message to himself. He gathered all the people—young and old, rich and poor. Then he read the Book of the Law out loud for everyone to hear.
After that, he made a promise to follow God and obey His commands. And the people joined him. Together, they renewed their covenant, or agreement, to serve the Lord with all their hearts.
What We Can Learn from Josiah
Josiah’s story teaches us that God’s Word is powerful. Even though it had been forgotten for a time, once it was heard again, it changed hearts and lives.
It also shows us how important it is to listen with a soft heart. Josiah could have ignored what he heard, but instead, he acted on it. He humbled himself, led by example, and helped others turn back to God too.
No matter where we are or how far we may feel from God, it’s never too late to return. All it takes is a willing heart, open ears, and the courage to follow His ways.
2 Kings 22:1-23:3 (WEB)
22:1 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 He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the LORD’s house, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into the LORD’s house, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the LORD’s house; and let them give it to the workers who are in the LORD’s house, to repair the damage to the house, 6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However, no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.”8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.” 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.11 When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, 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 is found; for great is the LORD’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.”14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her. 15 She said to them, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 “The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall 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, tell him, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says the LORD. 20 ‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’ ” ’ ” So they brought this message back to the king.23:1 The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 The king went up to the LORD’s house, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him—with the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the LORD’s house. 3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant.