July 3, Reading Notes

2 Kings 22:3-23:30

2 Kings 22:3-20

V. 3 So, how old is Josiah? That he had been following the Lord to this point is pretty amazing considering what is about to happen. Josiah would only reign 31 years, so these next 13 years will be pretty intense.

V. 8 As they were rummaging around they found a copy of the Law, the Bible. Now think for a minute. Imagine what this means. They did not have a copy of the Bible before this. Josiah had never heard the Law before. Manasseh died believing he had destroyed the last existing copy of the Law. Apparently he had made a point of this. Imagine the guilty conscience he must have had as he died, especially if you realize he had changed.

V. 11 So, was this show or was it real?

V. 17 Notice the end of this verse. Later we will find that, among other things, the sins of Manasseh brought irrevocable judgment against Judah. So, what would be the point of anything if you knew that regardless of what you did, judgment was coming. Regardless of the reforms Josiah made, everything was promised to end in ruin. That sort of sounds like the harvest we're working in as disciples of Jesus. Josiah is such a cool guy in this respect and a model disciple maker. He had no idea how God would use him.

Vs. 18-19 I've got to admit that it is a privilege to read these verses with you. I can't remember what year it was when I first read them reading my one-year Bible, but I have printed these as a plaque on my wall and they have been a constant encouragement to me to work hard in the harvest, regardless of how disappointing and dark it gets. God only asks for our love, faith and obedience. The results are totally His.

We know the Word of God against this place in which we live today. Does it move us to grief and tears? It moved our Lord to give all that He was for our salvation. This is the heart we need as disciples following our Lord in the harvest, making disciples who make disciples who make disciples until our time is up and until He returns. We need to leave it all in the harvest, following, imitating our savior.

V. 20 So, Josiah can kick back and relax because he'll have peace. This is what Hezekiah thought. But this is why Josiah was so much better. Fighting an impossible fight, he will work like no other and appear to lose, but God will use Josiah to save Israel.

2 Kings 23:1-30

Vs. 1-3 One thing you can be sure of, Josiah completely obeyed everything. This also would have meant that he wrote his own copy of the Law. I'm sure, with only one copy in existence, he also had the Levites making several copies.

Vs. 4-14 There was no more offering on the high places. Josiah not only stopped all of this, but he desecrated the spots to make sure they were "unholy" and would never be used again.

V. 13 Notice who made this altar, and in all of these years none of the kings (not even Hezekiah) destroyed it.

It should be noted that all of these reforms and cleansing took time. The area around Jerusalem had to have happened in the 18th year, otherwise Josiah would not have held the Passover. The other reforms, like the one's in Samaria, could have taken place over the next twelve years.

Vs. 15-20 If you remember back to 1 Kings 13, this had been foretold by the "man of God."

Vs. 17-18 This is why the lying prophet wanted to be buried with the man of God, so that his bones wouldn't be taken up and burned .

Vs. 21-23 Imagine the honor given to Josiah here. None of the kings before him celebrated a Passover like this one, that includes David and Solomon. This doesn't mean that the other Passovers Josiah celebrated weren't good, but that this Passover established a sense of devotion to God that had been lost in Israel for hundreds of years and through all of the kings of Israel.

Now, we haven't read this yet, but Hezekiah also celebrated a Passover that was renown in that no Passover like it had been celebrated since Solomon. When you read what Hezekiah did, it will impress you and it was a truly godly event and effect. The fact that Josiah's Passover goes back to a godly man like Samuel, speaks for its deeper devotion. Also, Josiah didn't have the resources Hezekiah had. Josiah had just found the Bible and was still trying to rebuild Judah after decades of his grandfather's evil influence.

V. 25 I have to believe this is saying that Josiah was the godliest king Israel ever had. It will look "wasted" but it wasn't.

Vs. 26-27 Judgment was coming no matter what.

Vs. 28-30 We'll have to read the account of this in 2 Chronicles 35. It is the only instance of foolishness on Josiah's part, but honestly, verses 26 and 27 tell you the clock was ticking and this battle was just a way for God to take Josiah out of the equation. God retired Josiah. His work was done. Now the judgment would roll.

Acts 21:37-22:16

It is unfortunate that this speech by Paul is carried into tomorrow. As you read this, it seems like everyone is really listening to him. Think of everything Paul is saying here. There are no objections. Isn't that incredible? But tomorrow he'll say the "G" word and the dust (and stones) will fly. Good thing the Romans wore helmets.

Psalm 1

It is difficult to emotionally "agree" with spiritual truth when your life circumstances seem unsettled. But that is why God gives us His truth, to make us see beyond the physical and beyond our needs.

When you read this psalm, change the words "man" and "righteous" and the pronouns to "follower of Christ," or "disciple."

Proverbs 18:11-12

Like Paul said, "When I am weak (and humble), then am I strong." As disciples, sometimes, it takes a long time to learn this. We do ministry in unseen arrogance until the Lord finally gets our attention and we see that it is His harvest, His power, His grace, and we are just unworthy servants who have done only what was required of us.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.