Toward King Jesus. 2 Chronicles 34.30, 31
Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Samuel-Chronicles (7)
Pray Psalm 119.25, 26.
My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
Sing Psalm 119.25, 26.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God )
My soul clings to the dust; revive me by Your Word!
My ways I have declared to You; teach me Your statutes, LORD!
Read 2 Chronicles 34.18-21; 29-33.; meditate on verses 30, 31.
Preparation
1. How did Josiah respond to hearing God’s Law?
2. What did he lead the nation to do?
Meditation
Unlike the kings of Israel, those of Judah were, from time to time, committed to doing the will of the Lord. Especially as the nation lurched steadily toward judgment and captivity, God in His grace provided them with good kings. It’s as if, no matter how bad things got or how rebellious the people became, God reminded them of His promises and love by providing them with a good king. Especially Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 17.3-6), Joash (2 Chron. 24.4, 5), Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29.3-5, 30), and Josiah (today’s text) provided a trajectory of kings who honored God, kept His commandments, rallied the people to worship and serve the LORD, and protected them from enemies.
Thus a trajectory of good kings, ruling in the Name of the LORD, and defending the people from their foes, marks the direction of the historical progress of God’s covenant. God’s promise—first to Abraham and then to David—would not fail. He would care for His people according to His Word.
But it was a stumbling trajectory at best, for none of these good kings finished very well. They gave in to neglect or pride or a “good enough” rule, leaving the nation to suffer for their folly.
And to long for a truly good and reliable king.
So the historical books of the Old Testament—1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles—point upward to God, backwards to His promises, and forward to the coming of the promised King for Whom the throne of David was inaugurated according to God’s Word (Gen. 49.8-11). And this coming King—Shiloh—would have an eternal Kingdom and would rule and shepherd His people unto righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18).
When good kings ruled in Judah, the people knew a foretaste of the rule of King Jesus. Now that Jesus has ascended His throne (Ps. 110; Dan. 7.13-18) and we have been conveyed into His Kingdom, we know that our King rules in justice and righteousness forever. Thus, we embrace as the defining priority of His realm to seek His Kingdom and righteousness as the defining priority of our lives.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
America has more well-dressed pastors than we know what to do with.
Snazzy looks, upbeat sermons, in praise-tastic services, but with not a clue as to how to be chided by God’s Word. Thus, our churches are languishing.
Where are the shepherds with torn clothes—torn in response to hearing God’s Word?
“Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes” (2 Chron. 34.19).
Then he sent some of his men to, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book” (2 Chron. 34.21).
However, because we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we have these very Words of the Law at our disposal, to read daily and live by, we are without excuse.
Even if our pastors have dropped the ball? Yep.
Even if they are not convicted by God’s Word. Also, yes.
Even if they are not shepherding their flocks at all? Affirmative.
Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to convict us personally of sin, teach us how to be righteous, and how to use good judgment in all our roles and responsibilities (Jn. 16.7-11).
As much as I would like to lay all the blame at someone else’s feet, I cannot.
We are saved and called and responsible (Eph. 2.8-10; Phil. 2.12).
But, yes, just as Solomon wrote, we would love to rejoice because of godly leadership:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (Prov. 29.2).
“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish there is jubilation” (Prov. 11.10).
And we can rejoice, because Jesus is our King, our Shepherd, and our Leader:
“The king who judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever” (Prov. 29.14).
“He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor” (Ps. 72.4)
“But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth…” (Is. 11.4).
We must pray for our pastors that God will revive them, to hear the words of the Law of the LORD, for they do carry an extra burden before Him because they chose the role of Shepherd (Jms. 3.1).
But we must also pray for ourselves, that we will daily “Go and inquire of the LORD” about our walk with Him, and our keeping of His Law—to “make a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all [our] heart and all [our] soul, to perform the words of the covenant that [are] written in this book” (2 Chron. 34.31).
“I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (Ps. 119.112).
Righteously tattered and torn if needed; but forgiven and ready to serve our King Jesus.
Take my love, my God, I pour, at Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be, ever, only, all for Thee, ever, only, all for Thee.
(Frances R. Havergal, 1874)
Reflection
1. What should you pray for your pastor?
2. What can you do to improve your hearing of the Word of God?
3. Pride, neglect, complacency, outright sin. So we also may stumble on our path to the Lord. What are the keys to avoiding these pitfalls?
Very few of the kings of Judah promised to follow the Lord as Josiah did. After David, only Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah made such public commitments (see 23:3; 29:10; 1 Chr. 17:7–14). They stand head and shoulders above the other kings of Judah and Israel. Earl Radmacher (1933-2014), NKJV Study Bible Note on 2 Chronicles 34.31
Pray Psalm 119.27-32.
Pray that God will give you greater love for His Word, love to sustain you in the face of every temptation and to bring you day by day to feed on His Word with rejoicing.
Sing Psalm 119.27-32.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God )
Make me to understand Your precepts and Your ways,
as on Your works I meditate with wonder and with praise!
My soul weighs down with woe, I need Your strength, O LORD!
Remove from me all lying ways; grant me Your holy Word!
I choose the way of truth; Your judgments I proclaim.
Your testimonies I embrace, LORD, put me not to shame!
Command my course, O LORD; Your gracious truth impart.
I cling to You and know You will enlarge my seeking heart.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
