"And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 34:30)
2 Chronicles 34:1-33
Leonard Ravenhill, a renowned speaker on revivals, once said, "Perhaps YOU hold the key to revival within your church." – This is undoubtedly true for all of us, but only if we understand the genuine source of Revival.
In 2 Chronicles 34, the most unlikely hero brings a soul-stirring revival to God's people. Usually, heroes are assumed to be of a certain caliber of person, but not in this chapter of scripture. God uses the most unsuspecting of influencers to accomplish His will.
The Unexpected Leader
In 640-641 BCE, King Josiah began his reign over Judah at the tender age of eight. His ascent to the throne was set against a backdrop of tragedy; his father had been assassinated, and his grandfather was notorious for leading the nation into idol worship and moral decay. The environment was ripe for a hero to deliver this nation from its apostasy.
Throughout history, there have been instances where God uses unlikely heroes to fulfill His purposes. During this particular time, Israel was experiencing a moral decline. The nation faced impending destruction due to God's anger over their idolatry. No one actively sought God's will, and the people had lost their way.
Yet, amid this chaos, God raised up Josiah. That's right—an eight year old child (34:2). The scripture notes that he did the following:
He did what was pleasing to the Lord.
He followed the example of David, his ancestor.
He did not turn from doing what was right.
The Influential Youth
Even at a young age, Josiah demonstrated a heart inclined toward seeking God. By sixteen, he was earnestly pursuing the Lord, and by twenty, he took action to purge the land of idolatry, which was rampant with pagan shrines, carved idols, and abhorrent altars, including those where children were sacrificed to false gods (34:3).
Josiah's heroic journey involved destroying these idols and scattering them over the graves of those who had worshipped them, an act symbolizing the rejection of their perverse practices. He understood that genuine blessings come from forsaking wickedness and aspiring to holiness. (34:3-5) - Josiah identified the false prophets of his day.
Believers should mark those who are against God.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom 16:17-18)
The Restoring of Faith
At the age of twenty-six, Josiah's influence continued to grow as he commanded the priests to repair the Temple of God. This was more than just a physical renovation; it was a restoration of spiritual fervor.
Let's recap:
At the age of 8, he's reigning
At the age of 16, he's seeking
At the age of 20, he's purging
At the age of 26, he's repairing
However, it was at a pivotal moment that the high priest, Hilkiah, discovered the Book of the Law, and upon hearing it read, Josiah rents his clothes, expressing his deep guilt, realizing God was chastening them for their sin! But please note, it was only once the word of God was heard that the true guilt smote Josiah's heart– "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Later, Hilkiah goes to a prophetess to seek word from the Lord. Why a woman? The prophet Jeremiah was receiving word from the Lord at this time, but Hilkiah went to Huldah instead. Why? This highlights the spiritual dearth in the land. There was a great spiritual misunderstanding during this time. We find the same is true throughout history. Anytime the world spends enough time away from God's word, Biblical doctrine and practices suffer.
Despite the spiritual blindness of these wayward descenters, God showed that He can and will use anyone willing to turn their heart toward Him.
Note Josiah's attitude towards God's word, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before Me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before Me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord." (34:27)
The Covenant of Renewal
After receiving guidance from Huldah, Josiah mobilized the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, reading the Scriptures to them.
He then made a covenant to (34:31):
Walk After the Lord - "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children" (Eph 5:1)
Keep His Commandments - "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3)
Perform the Words of God's Word - "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22)
The people heartily agreed and turned back to God, providing a glimpse of how revivals flourish. This same commitment to God's Word must come from all of God's children. Revival comes when we humble ourselves and become obedient to God's word.
The Unlikely Hero That Brought Revival
Initially, one might assume that Josiah was the hero of this story, and to some extent, that's accurate. However, it's crucial to remember that Josiah's strength stemmed from his relationship with the Word of God. He sought the Lord early, eradicated idolatry, and rebuilt the Temple, but it was only when he took the word of God to the people and declared "thus saith the Lord" that the nation experienced Revival.
Revival occurs when the word of God penetrates the hearts of God's people. Most think Revival comes from some other source, but throughout the Bible, we find true Revival occurs when people hear, understand, and apply the word of God.
So, if you're yearning for Revival, consider this: the Bible is the true hero in any narrative of renewal. Let's commit to returning to God's Word—because that is where Revival truly begins - "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to Thy Word." (Psalm 119:25).
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