Wednesday 10th April
Read 2 Chronicles 34:18-28
“When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 ‘Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.’ 22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
23 She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: tell the man who sent you to me, 24 “This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people – all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.” 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.”’ So they took her answer back to the king.” (NIVUK)
The isolation of Josiah is more extensive than we thought possible. He hears the Law and is horrified, knowing that the people lie under all the curses written therein. He then humbles himself and seeks a word from the Lord as to what should be done, having already done what is most needed, by humbling himself…
The absence of Jeremiah and Zephaniah from this narrative is striking. When he seeks for a word from the Lord, with no disrespect to Huldah intended, he needs to seek out the wardrobe keeper’s wife. Where are Jeremiah and Zephaniah? Josiah is so very alone. Which is only emphasised by the word from the Lord he is granted. The people will be destroyed, but Josiah will be buried in peace. Separated from, yet part of, God’s people.
What do you learn about the nature of humility from Josiah?
