The One Year Bible for Men - Flipbook - Page 10
July 3
588
H E PLE DG E D TO OB EY TH E LORD BY
KE E PI NG ALL H I S COM MAN DS, LAWS, AN D
DEC RE E S WITH ALL H I S H EART AN D SOU L.
2 KINGS 23:3
J u ly 3
2 KINGS 22:3–23:30
In the e ighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah
sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and grandson of
Meshullam, the court secretary, to the Temple
of the Lord. He told him, 4 “Go to Hilkiah the
high priest and have him count the money the
gatekeepers have collected from the people at
the Lord’s Temple. 5 Entrust this money to the
men assigned to supervise the restoration of
the Lord’s Temple. Then they can use it to pay
workers to repair the Temple. 6 They will need
to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also
have them buy the timber and the finished
stone needed to repair the Temple. 7 But don’t
require the construction supervisors to keep
account of the money they receive, for they
are honest and trustworthy men.”
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the
court secretary, “I have found the Book of the
Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave
the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.
9
Shaphan went to the king and reported,
“Your officials have turned over the money col
lected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers
and supervisors at the Temple.” 10 Shaphan also
told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a
scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.
11 When the king heard what was written
in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in
despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah
the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son
of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and
Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 13 “Go to
the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and
for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about
the words written in this scroll that has been
found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning
against us because our ancestors have not
obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not
been doing everything it says we must do.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Sha
phan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter*
of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet
Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son
07_Jul_OY_Men.indd 588
of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the
Temple wardrobe.
15 She said to them, “The Lord, the God of
Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man
who sent you, 16 ‘This is what the Lord says:
I am going to bring disaster on this city* and
its people. All the words written in the scroll
that the king of Judah has read will come true.
17 For my people have abandoned me and of
fered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very
angry with them for everything they have
done. My anger will burn against this place,
and it will not be quenched.’
18 “But go to the king of Judah who sent you
to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the
Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the
message you have just heard: 19 You were sorry
and humbled yourself before the Lord when
you heard what I said against this city and its
people—that this land would be cursed and
become desolate. You tore your clothing in de
spair and wept before me in repentance. And
I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20 So I
will not send the promised disaster until after
you have died and been buried in peace. You
will not see the disaster I am going to bring on
this city.’”
So they took her message back to the king.
23:1 Then the king summoned all the elders of
Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And the king went up
to the Temple of the Lord with all the people
of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests
and the p
rophets—all the people from the
least to the greatest. There the king read to
them the entire Book of the Covenant that had
been found in the Lord’s Temple. 3 The king
took his place of authority beside the pillar
and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s pres
ence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping
all his commands, laws, and decrees with all
his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed
all the terms of the covenant that were written
in the scroll, and all the people pledged them
selves to the covenant.
5/19/2022 3:46:52 PM
