The Revival Under Josiah

INTRODUCTION: The revival under the reign of Josiah is one of the great stories in the Bible. One of the great values of this story is to show that revival is possible in the waning days of God’s blessings on a country or time. Israel has already been taken into captivity. The proclamation of God’s judgment has already been made on Judah (see 2 Kings 21:11-15). That is, God has already determined to bring full judgment on Judah. Yet, even at this time, a man rises up to bring true faith back to the land. Though the revival of Josiah’s day does not turn God’s anger fully away from Judah, it does put off judgment during Josiah’s lifetime (see 2 Kings 22:15-20).

1. REIGN OF JOSIAH (2 Kings 22:1-2)
1. The Beginning of His Reign (2 Kings 22:1)
1. Began to reign when he was 8 years old
2. Reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem
2. The Character of His Reign (2 Kings 22:2)
1. Did right in the sight of the Lord
2. Walked in all the way of David
3. Turned not to the right hand or to the left
2. REFORMATIONS OF HIS EARLY YEARS (2 Chronicles 34:3-7)
1. In the Eighth Year of His Reign (2 Chronicles 34:3)
1. When he was 16 years old
2. He began to seek after the God of David.
2. In the Twelfth Year of His Reign (2 Chronicles 34:3-7)
1. When he was 20 years old
2. He began to purge Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 34:3-7).
1. By destroying and removing the high places, groves, carved images, and molten images (2 Chronicles 34:3-4, 7)
2. By burning the bones of the priests (2 Chronicles 34:5)
3. RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE (2 Kings 22:3-7)
1. The Mission (2 Kings 22:3)
1. In the eighteenth year of his reign (when he was 26 years old)
2. He sent Shaphan to the house of the Lord.
2. The Money (2 Kings 22:4)
1. His command to Hilkiah the priest
2. To count the silver
1. Which is brought into the house of the Lord
2. Which is gathered by the keepers at the door
3. The Message (2 Kings 22:5-6)
1. Deliver the money to the overseers of the house (2 Kings 22:5).
2. Use it to repair the breaches of the house (2 Kings 22:5).
3. Use it to pay for the completion of the work (2 Kings 22:6).
1. To the workers
1. Carpenters
2. Builders
3. Masons
2. For the supplies
1. To buy timber
2. To buy hewn stone
4. The Method (2 Kings 22:7)
1. No reckoning made of the money
2. All who helped dealt faithfully.
4. REDISCOVERY OF THE WORD OF GOD (2 Kings 22:8-10)
1. The Announcement of Hilkiah (2 Kings 22:8)
1. He found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.
2. He delivered the book to Shaphan, who read it.
2. The Report of Shaphan to the King (2 Kings 22:9-10)
1. Concerning the money (2 Kings 22:9)
1. The money has been gathered.
2. The money has been delivered to the workers.
2. Concerning the book (2 Kings 22:10)
1. He showed the book of the law to the king.
2. He read the book of the law to the king.
5. REPENTANCE OF JOSIAH (2 Kings 22:11-13)
1. His Repentance (2 Kings 22:11)
1. He heard the words of the book of the law.
2. He rent his clothes.
2. His Request (2 Kings 22:12-13)
1. He commanded his servants (2 Kings 22:12).
2. Go inquire of the Lord (2 Kings 22:13).
1. The people of his inquiry
1. For himself
2. For all Judah
2. The purpose of his inquiry
1. Because of the words of this book
2. Because of the wrath of the Lord
3. Because of the disobedience of the people
6. RESPONSE OF THE LORD (2 Kings 22:14-17)
1. The Inquiry Made of Huldah the Prophetess (2 Kings 22:14)
1. The wife of Shallum, keeper of the wardrobe
2. Dwelling in Jerusalem in the college [the word college originally referred to a community of people pursuing the same interests]
2. The Word of the Lord by Huldah (2 Kings 22:15-17)
1. Thus saith the Lord (2 Kings 22:15).
2. The evil spoken of in this book will come (2 Kings 22:16).
3. The people have brought the wrath of God on them (2 Kings 22:17).
7. RESPECT FOR JOSIAH IN HIS LIFETIME (2 Kings 22:18-20)
1. The Prayer of Josiah Heard (2 Kings 22:18-19)
2. The Days of Josiah to Be in Peace (2 Kings 22:20)
1. To be gathered to his grave in peace
2. Not to see all the evil that shall come

CONCLUSION: Josiah sought the Lord before any sign of judgment, but continued to do so when he learned of the coming judgment. Oh, that God’s people would seek Him!