Having Hope

O. T. #997  "Having Hope"
June 6, 2019
2 Chronicles 34


LET IT GLOW

We have been waiting 7 months for answers to a health issue. Hope to have it this week. Judah's king found hope in today's chapter.

God is the strength of my heart. My portion forever. (Psalm 73:26b) As we are unsure what is in store for our future, our hope is in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Did Judah give up hope? The nation had plunged back into idolatry during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon as their kings.

Would you agree with me that it was about time for revival in Judah? Although we may wonder if there is any hope for these chosen people of David's line, there is always hope. All things are possible with God, while not with men. God can move in hearts in His timing and in His way.

Josiah was the next king to reign over Judah. What do we read about him?

• He was 8 years old when he began reigning. (verse 1)
• He reigned 31 years in Jerusalem.
• Josiah did what was right in the sight of the LORD.
• He walked in the ways of his father David.
• He didn't turn from doing what was right. (verse 2)
• At age 16, Josiah began seeking the LORD, the eighth year of his reign. (verse 3)
• He began purifying Judah and Jerusalem, and the Temple, crushing idols into dust, smashing and scattering all of it over the graves who sacrificed to them. (verses 4-5)
• He even cut down the incense altars for idols throughout the land of Israel.

Talk about a revival! God can move upon the young people when they begin to seek Him and study His Word. Josiah was 20 when he began his reforms in Judah; God can bring reformation to our nation and young people. When sins are confessed and forgiven, changes in lives will be evident. As we get older, I find it common for folks to get set in their ways, even loosing hope, becoming lukewarm is spiritual matters.
Dare we pray for the Holy Spirit to move and make these tremendous changes needed in us, our churches, and nation?
Let it begin with us Lord Jesus!

LET IT GROW

So when Josiah was 26 years old, he began to repair the Temple-the damage his father and grandfather had done in their idolatry.
What happened next?

• the high priest Hilkiah, delivered money into the House of God.
• The Levites kept its doors open as the remnant in Israel, the "lost tribes" of Manasseh and Ephraim, sent money for the repair. (Israel had been taken into Assyrian captivity at this time.) (verse 9)
• The restorers of the Temple are mentioned in verses 10-13.
• Hilkiah found the book of the Law of Moses in the Temple, which was considered lost. He gave the scroll to Shaphan.
• In verse 16-18, Shaphan gave a good report to King Josiah and read to him from the scroll.
• When the king heard the Words of the Law, he rent (tore) his clothes in despair, for they had not been doing everything the scroll said they must do.

We will see what happens as a result of this revelation by the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 says All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Do we know Its instructions for the Christian life? Are we accepting of Its correction and reproof?
Is God's Word inspiring us with hope?

Jeremiah was prophesying during the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign as king of Judah. He gave hope in his writings:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Will you join me in putting our hope in Jesus today? It is a win-win situation, whether God heals or not.

LET IT GO

Place my hope in Jesus.

Pray for revival and reformation.