September 21st, 2025: Hilkiah's Discovery | 2 Chronicles 34:15-22, 26-27

Have you ever put together something that looked fairly simple on the package? Most likely, you saw the picture on the box and tossed aside the instructional pamphlet that explained in detail the correct order and steps for assembly. Why? Well, because you were already familiar with the item being put together. You thought you could do it faster, and sometimes you can, and everything works out just fine.  Many times, however, your method leaves many unused parts left over and a product that doesn’t work in all the ways intended. We are prone to think we already know it all, and there is no need to bother with all those “extra steps” and “extra pieces!”  This lesson is a warning against that approach.

The writings God gave Moses contained the law, but had been “tossed aside” or “lost” by the religious leaders in both Judah and Israel. They were relying on their own memory and judgement to determine what God wanted them to do. Think about how you follow your instructional booklet - the Bible.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16). Are you using the greatest instructional resource in your walk with God or relying on your own understanding?

Background

King Josiah was the great-grandson of good King Hezekiah. There had been about 57 years since Hezekiah had died. King Josiah began his reign at the age of 8 years old. By the time he was 16 years old, he had dedicated his kingdom and his life to God. At 18 years old, he began purging the nation of pagan religion and destroying false gods and idols. By the age of 26, he had commissioned the Levites to clean up and repair the temple. In doing so, they found God’s law written down by Moses.

  And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. (Deuteronomy 31:25-26).

These were the first five books of the Old Testament- The Torah. Today, you hold both the law and its fulfillment; both the Old and New Testaments. God gave us all the pieces and all the instructions to understand our need for salvation, our purpose on earth, and God’s eternal love for mankind. We often neglect the help offered by the scriptures, choosing instead to wing it and ignore the instructions. Our hearts are sinful and oh, so lazy. But ignoring the instructions can be extremely dangerous. 

And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

Hilkiah was the high priest, and he found and brought the book of Moses to the King. These writings were to be kept in the ark of the covenant. They were to be read and copied by each King. Although they were precious historical documents, they were meant to be used, not archived.  Many have beautiful collections of Bibles in their homes that go unread and unapplied.  

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: (Deuteronomy 17: 18-19). So the scribe read the book to the King.  

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

It is impossible to read the words of God and not have some sort of response. King Josiah, like anyone who hears the truth of God, His words, and His instructions, had to choose whether to turn his heart toward God in repentance or to reject God’s sovereignty completely.

And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book. And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; 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.

It matters how we respond to the truth of God’s word. King Josiah was tender-hearted and obedient to God. He responded to hearing the failures and sins of the nations by tearing his garments and asking for forgiveness. Because he was humbled before the Lord, the curses of the book did not happen during his reign. God spared Josiah from His wrath.

Maybe your life looks like it is unraveling, maybe you are unsure of your salvation, whatever mess you find yourself in, God’s word contains the answer. God provided the instructions for your life; He made plans for you before you were ever born. You have free will, and God allows you to make up your own mind about whether you will ignore Him or yield to His will and be blessed.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!