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2 Kings 22 (King James Version)

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king. God used a seven-year-old, twelve-year-old, and now an eight-year-old to reign as king. The ages he uses tells me that God uses people. If we learn to obey God, our age will not matter. I believe God is saying it is not you who leads; it will be me who leads if you will let me use your voice.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

Josiah is eight and started out listening and obeying God's word. He learned of David and walked as David did as king.

3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,

Josiah is now 25 years old, and he sends Shaphan, the recorder, to God's house.

4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:

He sent Shaphan to Hilkiah, the high priest, to find out how much money was brought into the Lord's house given by the people.

5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,

God's house needed repair. God told Josiah to take the money given to Him and pay the people to fix his house's damaged part.

6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.

7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.

The people handle the money correctly. There was no need to question how they would disperse the funds because they were honest people.  Today we hire people we don't trust/can't and sign agreements we do not keep. If you find a person who will do his job right, you are blessed.

8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

Hilkiah, the high priest, told Shaphan the scribe; he found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. Shaphan was a scribe. The high priest representing Jesus gave the book to Shaphan and he read it. I've asked many to read, most did or do not.

9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.

Shaphan followed the orders of the king and returned and let him know what he found.  God's word is as simple as the kid game Simon Said.....

10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

Shaphan also told the king of the book given to him by the high priest and read the book in the king's ears.

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

Josiah recognized the writing.  Josiah heard things that were lost and not carried out as God said in the book they found.  When we take another look, we will have to make adjustments.  We all know in parts, we need each other.  No one knows everything.  If I read and you read with me, we will get 10,000 more of an understanding of God's word and that will make us a force to reckon with.

12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,

The king chose five men to seek confirmation of what he just read himself.  We should have someone who can check the word in our lives to make sure we are on the right track.  He sent a small jury to take what he found to someone the king trusted to tell him the truth.

13 Go ye, enquire 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.

Josiah knew something was missing.  He chose five men to enquire of the Lord for himself, the people, and all who lived in Judah.  Josiah knew that being around like-minded people was not enough.  We must check the word.  We can look alike, dress alike, think alike, talk alike and act alike, but, if we do not check the word of God we can ALL be wrong alike.

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 

They were sent to Huldah, a woman who knew God's word.  They communed with her.  She lives in Jerusalem.  Many translations stated that college referred to location.  College is where most of us spend time to become educated.  I believe she was a public school teacher who knew the word of God. Whoever or where ever she lived she knew she could be depended on by the king to recheck his reading.

15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,

She said this is a word from God,  Tell the Man who sent you to me.....

16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:

The scripture phrase is repeated.  This is what the Lord says, I will bring judgment on Judah.  Every word that defines the crime they have committed, will be dealt with according to the book you lost, the book of God.  God is saying even if you did not know I said it, that will not change the consequences.  How could you lose a book you read every day?

17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

Incense was burned to the living God as the prayers of the righteous people. Incense is defined as clearing the air when praying.  Why would you pray to a thing?  We fight over things, talk about things, buy things, hide things, throw things away, and so on.  But when we stop and realize we are seeking help from a thing we walk as children who walk in the light.  A thing is a thing.  What makes your god who is a thing better than other's god who is things too?

18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;

Tell the king who sent you to enquire of God, concerning what he heard for himself as king, this is what I have to say to you personally.

19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.

Tell king Josiah, since you heard me, I hear you.  What I will do to the land and people you are leading I will not do to you.  You showed me you have the right spirit and that is all I want.  What I am going to do to bring judgment on Judah, you will escape.

20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Tell him he will die in peace.  The men left Huldah and return to king Josiah and told him what she said by the Word of God.