King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Sunday, August 06, 2023
Chapters: II KINGS 22-23
Study: Keep Fighting The Good Fight
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
In case you have not noticed, the world is getting pretty selfish, they have the mentality that they are privileged to receive the things they desire simply by the color of their skin, race, gender, and now of all things, sexual orientation. Do you know what all this tells me? The world does things that only benefit themselves, and while we all do tend to do things for our own benefit at some point, the world takes it to the extreme, [2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.]
As we return to the reading of 2 Kings, it also gives the account of Josiah, he was only eight years old when he became king, and talk about the mess he inherited from his father, Amon. It was nothing, but idol worship and his own father sacrificed his own children. Josiah, was not like his father at all, in fact, he determined from his youth that he was going to follow God, and started to clean up the mess that he inherited from his father.
[2 Kings 22:1-6 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying, 4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house, 6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.]
[and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD,] This reminds me of what Jesus said about His disciples being worthy of their hire, [Luke 10:2-7 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.]
Josiah, was just twenty-six years old at this point, and even though he had no clue what was written in God’s Law, he still lived his life through his faith in God. As we grow in our faith it is imperative that we get in the Word of God so that we can continue to grow. Well, the reason Josiah did not know the Law had to do with the fact that it was hidden in the temple, but as they were cleaning it up they discovered it and quickly brought it to Josiah’s attention.
[2 Kings 22:8,10-13 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, 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. 10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, 13 Go ye, enquire 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 wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.]
[enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people,] True leaders are not just concerned about their own welfare, they are also concerned about the welfare of the people. If the people are informed, although we are in the age where the people can care less about others, they are more likely to heed the warning and comply. This is why Jesus has His people out in the world, we may be able to reach those who want to hear the truth and accept it, [John 17:14-15,20-21 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.]
Josiah, did not just send one person, He sent several, so there would be no discrepancies. And well, these people went up to the college of prophets and found a woman named, Huldah a prophetess, who brought some good and bad news to the king.
[2 Kings 22:14-15,17-19 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, 17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; 19 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.]
[went unto Huldah the prophetess,] You see, God, can use women too, and while we are not sent out to be the preachers and deacons, we are sent out to be teachers of His truths as well as beacons of light to be used for encouragement and enlightenment for their church, [Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.]
[and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me;] God, hears the cries of those who are humble, sincere, and are not just looking out for themselves. Knowing the judgments of God to come, are we supposed to just sit there and be relieved that we who are saved are not going to have to be here when that does happen? No. We have a generation to reach. Now is not the time to say, “Too bad, so sad.”, we need to get back to doing things God’s way, and the only way that is possible is by getting in His Word. As soon as Josiah got word from the prophetess that the judgment stood because of his own father’s mess he gathers all the elders and they all made a covenant.
[2 Kings 23:1-3 And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. 3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.]
[And all the people stood to the covenant.] Our walk with Christ is not a one time deal, it is a lifetime commitment, even if we only get saved upon our deathbed. While we are saved by grace through our faith in Him alone, Jesus, does not want just visitation rights, He wants full time custody of His people. Why? He gave His life for us, the least we can do is honor that by standing by the covenant that He made with us, [Hebrews 6:9-12 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.]
Josiah, did not waste any time, he literally cleaned up the entire nation from everything that was wicked and anything that would even bring temptation. And he did not stop in Judah, he took down all of the idols, groves, and altars throughout Israel.
[2 Kings 23:25-27 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 26 Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. 27 And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.]
[And like unto him was there no king before him,] We do not want to leave this earth with, “I just got by on the thread of my salvation!”, we want to leave it with, “I have finished my course with honors!”. Our walk with Christ is not about how much we can do for Christ after we are saved. This is not a contest, although we do have a race to win, it is about doing what we do with honors, [2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You, for paying the debt that I could never pay to get my soul out of hell. By my faith and acceptance of Your sinless death, burial, and resurrection, You have paid my debt forever. You have already fought the good fight and won it for all who believe in and receive You. I know that the Bible is not some ordinary book, it is Your Word, it contains life and gives life to all who want You in their lives. There are so many people in the world starving for the spiritual food that only You can give them, but their hearts are proud, filled with the lusts that will never satisfy. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power, mercy, and grace to follow Your Word with all my might, heart and soul. Keep my heart tender and me humble so that I can be a faithful witness to all of what You have done in my life. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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