Asking for Help

O. T. #871  "Asking for Help"
Nov. 18, 2016
2 Kings 22-Part 2
He is the God who keeps every promise.  (Psalm 146:6)

LET IT GLOW

Do you ever get so desperate that you ask others to inquire of the Lord for you? I think we ask others to pray for us as we go through trials or are making an important decision. Friends, we are there now. As we wait for test results on my husband, will you pray for us? Devastating news is so heard to hear, yet this has not caught our God by surprise. He has a right answer and direction for us. It is all for His glory and our good. Today's king asks others for help, too.

When Judah was repairing the Temple in Jerusalem, the high priest discovered a copy of the Law of Moses, which had been discarded in this idolatrous nation. When King Josiah heard the Law read, , he knew Judah was in great danger of God's wrath because of the sins of Manasseh.
King Josiah not only restored the Temple for worship and the Law being read, but he also restored the Passover Feast.
During his reign, Josiah's nation experienced peace and blessings of the Lord. His faithfulness stayed the hand of God for a few more years, but captivity was coming and nothing could prevent it.
[Resource: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

LET IT GROW

What did King Josiah do?
He commanded Hilkiah the priest, Shaphan the scribe, Asahiah the king's servant, and Ahikam and Achbor to Go ye, 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 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. (verse 13)

What transpired?

• The 5 men went to Huldah the prophetess, keeper of the wardrobe, who dwelt in the college of Jerusalem.
• She was held in high regard for her prophetic gift, but otherwise unknown in the OT. We do not understand why she was consulted and not the prophets Jeremiah or Zephaniah. Rarely did God speak through a woman to a nation and never did a woman have an ongoing prophetic ministry. (MacArthur)
• Except for Miriam in Exodus 15, Deborah in Judges 5, and Queen Easter, women were silent when it came to spiritual matters in that time. However, in the NT, women ministered unto Jesus.
• Huldah spoke from the LORD to King Josiah: God was going to bring judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah because of idolatry; he would not live to see Jerusalem destroyed. (verses 16-17)
• It is because Josiah's heart was tender and he was humbled before God when he heard what God had said desolation and a curse was coming, then he tore his clothes and wept before God. He heard Josiah. (verse 19)
• The men took the words to the king.

Josiah's heart was at peace with God and he never lived to see Jerusalem destroyed, but he did die in battle against Necho of Egypt, a potential threat as Egypt was aiding Assyria against Babylon's domination. (2 Chronicles 35:23)


LET IT GO

Keep a humble and tender heart toward God.

Inquire of the Lord during times of uncertainty.

*I ask for prayer for my husband as he goes through tests to find what is wrong. We have seen the doctors the last two days, and testing, so I did not post yesterday. We are holding onto Jesus as He holds us.