34:14-35:19
- During the reign of King Josiah, there was spiritual revival (33).
Where did this spiritual revival come from? It came from God. It came
from the rediscovery of God’s Word. Where was the Word of the Lord
found? - It was found ‘in the House of the Lord’ (34:15). God speaks to
us through His Word. Beyond the written Word, there is Jesus Christ, the
living Word. The Word of God is preached to us. We listen for the Voice
of Jesus Christ, the true and living Word of God. God is speaking His
Word in power. This is much more than the opening of a book. It is the
opening of our hearts to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is poured
into our hearts (Romans 5:5). It is the opening of our hearts by the
Spirit of God. Through the Spirit, ‘rivers of living water’ flow out
from our hearts (John 7:37-39).
35:20-36:23 - Josiah
had been a good king, but ‘he did not listen to the words of Neco from
the mouth of God’. His mistake was very costly. He ‘fought’. He was
‘shot’ and ‘badly wounded’. He ‘died’ and was ‘buried’ (35:22-24). Be
careful in your listening to God”s Word. Failure to obey His Word will
be costly: ‘How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?’
(Hebrews 2:3). After Josiah’s time, there was terrible spiritual
decline. Beginning with Jehoahaz (1-2; 2 Kings 23:31-32), the kings ‘did
what was evil in the sight of the Lord’ (5,9,11-12). Was there any hope
for the future? - Yes! ‘The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of
Persia... to build Him a House at Jerusalem’. Like Cyrus, we must say
to our neighbours, ‘Let us go to the House of the Lord’ (36:22-23; Psalm
122:1). His time of blessing may not be far away!
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