2 Crônicas 34
G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Crônicas 34
Morgan: Josiah went on with the work of reformation, even when he knew that nationally it was foredoomed to failure.… She distinctly told him that there would be no true repentance on the part of the people, and therefore that judgment was inevitable. It was then that the heroic strength of Josiah manifested itself, in that he went on with his work.… No pathway of service is more difficult than that of bearing witness to God, in word and in work, in the midst of conditions which are unresponsive. William
2 Crônicas 34
Morgan - -2 Chron. 34.29. The underlining in that sentence, as printed, is mine. By its use I desire to draw attention to the fact that Josiah went on with the work of reformation, even when he knew that nationally it was foredoomed to failure. The story of his life and reign is full of brightness. The conditions of the national life were indeed terrible, but in this boy-king, as he developed to manhood, testimony was borne to the government of God, which was unmistakable. Ascending the throne when only eight years of age, at the age of sixteen he began to seek after God. Four years later, at the age of twenty, he set himself to the actual work of reformation. Then at the age of twenty-six he turned to the work of repairing the house of God, and it was in connection with this that the Book of the Law was discovered. Filled with consternation at what it revealed of the will of God, and so of the appalling degradation of the people, he consulted Huldah the prophetess. She distinctly told him that there would be no true repentance on the part of the people, and therefore that judgment was inevitable. It was then that the heroic strength of Josiah manifested itself, in that he went on with his work, fulfilling his obligations as he saw them. Jeremiah began his ministry when Josiah was twenty-one years old (Jer. t. 2), and this fact may help to account for the-action of the king. No pathway of service is more difficult than that of bearing witness to God, in word and in work, in the midst of conditions which are unresponsive 2 Chronicles 34:30 The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. great and small: Heb. from great even to small, 2Ch 15:12,13 18:30 De 1:17 Job 3:19 he read: 2Ch 6:1-11 17:7-9 De 17:18-20 Ne 8:2-5 Ec 1:12 12:9,10 the book: 2Ch 34:15,18,19,24 Ex 24:7 2Ki 23:2,21 Jer 31:31,32 Related Passages: 2 Kings 23:2+ The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. The king went up to the house of the LORD - The house of the LORD refers to the temple in Jerusalem. The phrase “went up” reflects the elevation of the temple mount and also the common biblical expression for approaching God’s dwelling place. By going to the temple, Josiah brings the nation to the central place of worship and covenant relationship with God. and all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, This indicates a national assembly. Representatives from across Judah, along with the residents of Jerusalem, were gathered so that the entire community would hear the Word of God. The event was not limited to political leaders but involved the broader population. the priests, the Levites - Their presence emphasizes that the gathering involved spiritual authority. and all the people, from the greatest to the least - stresses the inclusiveness of the assembly. Everyone—regardless of social status, influence, or wealth—was present. The Word of God was intended for the entire covenant community, not just its leaders. and he read in their hearing - Josiah read aloud so that the people could hear God’s commands directly. In the ancient world, public reading was essential because many people could not read personally. Hearing the Word proclaimed allowed the entire nation to understand the covenant obligations. Bob