2 Chronicles 34:14–33 (October 28, 2025)

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses. 15 Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, “All that was committed to your servants they are doing. 17 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the Lord and have given it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.

19 And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

Huldah Prophesies Disaster

22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent[b] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.

29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.

The Word Rediscovered: When Repentance Restores Covenant Faithfulness

Summary

As Josiah’s temple restoration progressed, an unexpected discovery changed everything. While the Levites were collecting and counting the offerings brought to the temple,

When Shaphan the secretary read it before the king, Josiah’s response was immediate and piercing:

The rediscovered Word exposed how far Judah had drifted from God’s covenant. The king’s heart was tender, trembling before the holiness of the Lord. He sent Hilkiah and others to “inquire of the Lord” concerning the nation’s guilt and coming wrath (v. 21).

They went to Huldah the prophetess, who delivered both judgment and mercy. The Lord declared that His wrath would indeed come upon Judah because they had forsaken Him and burned incense to other gods (vv. 24–25). Yet to Josiah, God gave a word of compassion:

Humbled by grace, Josiah gathered the elders and people of Judah and Jerusalem to the temple, read the Book of the Covenant aloud, and renewed their commitment to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments.

Through the rediscovery of the Word, the king and nation were revived. It was a reformation not of politics but of the heart. It was born from the power of the Word of God.

Who is God

Our God restores His people through the Word. He does not let His Word remain buried under the dust of neglect. At the right time, He raises up people to rediscover what has been forgotten. The scroll found in the temple was not a new revelation but the ancient covenant made through Moses. God’s truth endures, even when His people forget it.

The Lord searches our hearts. He saw Josiah’s tears and tenderness. He is not moved by royal authority or outward achievement, but by humility before His Word. God delights in those who tremble at His voice (Isa. 66:2).

And above all, God is faithful. Though His judgment was sure, He extended mercy to Josiah because repentance had softened what pride had hardened. His covenant justice and covenant mercy are never in conflict; both flow from His holiness and steadfast love.

What is our Guilt

Our guilt is that we lose reverence for God’s Word. Like Judah before Josiah’s reform, we let Scripture become a relic. We may acknowledge the Word, but we come up with all kinds of excuses for not obeying it. In many homes, the Bibles sit unopened while we are so busy chasing this world's comforts, financial stability, and approval from others.

We also hear but do not tremble. Josiah tore his garments when he listened to the Law; we often scroll past sermons or devotions unmoved. Our generation has abundant access to the Word but is poor in repentance.

Finally, our guilt is that we prefer shallow reform over deep renewal. We'd rather fix external systems, such as programs, and even moral behavior. We do this so that we don't have to confront Christ. The people of Judah had repaired the temple, but it was the Word that repaired their souls. The same is true for us. Revival begins not in our projects, but in our repentance.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in that God allows His Word to be rediscovered, again and again. Every revival in history begins when His people return to the Scriptures. This is true of us today! The Reformation under Josiah mirrors the greater reformation through Christ, when the Living Word Himself came to fulfill what was written.

In Jesus, the law’s curse and judgment fall on the One who perfectly kept it. He is the true King whose heart was wholly tender before His Father. When He bore the wrath of the covenant on the cross, He made a new covenant written not on tablets of stone but on hearts of flesh (Jer. 31:33).

Through His Spirit, God now writes His law within us and opens our eyes to see His glory. The rediscovery of the Word in Josiah’s day points to the rediscovery of grace in Christ. Jesus is the ultimate and the full revelation of God’s heart toward sinners.

Thus, the story of Josiah is not only a lesson in human repentance but a prophecy of divine redemption: the King who humbles Himself becomes the channel of renewal for His people.

Prayer

Father,

we thank You for Your Word that never fades or fails. Forgive us for neglecting Your truth, for letting the noise of the world drown out Your voice. Make our hearts tender like Josiah’s, trembling before Your holiness and clinging to Your mercy.

May Your Spirit awaken in us a hunger for Scripture—one that reforms not just our routines but our hearts. Teach us to obey joyfully and to walk humbly with You.

Renew our families, our churches, and our generation through the rediscovery of Your Word, until Christ, the Living Word, is honored in every heart and home.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.