2 Crônicas 34
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Crônicas 34
Guzik: According to Jeremiah 1:1-2, the prophet Jeremiah was the son of this particular priest Hilkiah. Jeremiah began his ministry during the reign of King Josiah. Matthew Henry Notes: Verses: 14-28 SUMMARY - This passage recounts the rediscovery of the Book of the Law and its powerful impact on King Josiah, drawing out enduring lessons for all generations. First, it calls us to gratitude that God’s Word is now abundant and accessible—no longer rare, but freely flowing like life-giving waters—making our accountability greater if we neglect it. Second, Josiah’s response models the proper posture toward Scripture: a tender, responsive heart marked by humility, conviction, and reverent fear, reminding us that familiarity with God’s Word must never dull its weight upon our souls. Third, it teaches that conviction of sin should drive us to seek the Lord earnestly, asking what we must do, trusting that He has provided His revealed Word as our guide. Fourth, it warns that persistent sin brings inevitable judgment upon individuals and nations, kindling the unquenchable fire of divine wrath. Finally, it offers hope: those who humble themselves before God, as Josiah did, find mercy for their own souls, and even death becomes a gracious deliverance from coming judgment—transformed into a promise of peace rather than a cause for fear. 1. We may hence take occasion to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are, or may be, in all hands,-that the book of the law and gospel is not lost, is not scarce,-that, in this sense, the word of the Lord is not precious. Bibles are jewels, but, thanks be to God, they are not rarities. The fountain of the waters of life is not a spring shut up or a fountain sealed, but the streams of it, in all places, make glad the city of our God. Usus communis aquarum-These waters flow for general use. What a great deal shall we have to answer for if the great things of God's law, being thus made common, should be accounted by us as strange things! 2. We may hence learn, whenever we read or hear the word of God, to affect our hearts with it, and to get them possessed with a holy fear of that wrath of God which is there revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, as Josiah's tender heart was. When he heard the words of the law he rent his clothes (2Ch 34:19), and God was well pleased with his doing so, 2Ch 34:27. Were the things contained in the scripture new to us, as they were here to Josiah, surely they would make deeper impressions upon us than commonly they do; but they are not the less weighty, and therefore should not be the less considered by us, for their being well known. Rend the heart therefore, not the garments. 3. We are here directed when we are under convictions of sin, and apprehensions of divine wrath, to enquire of the Lord; so Josiah did, 2Ch 34:21. It concerns us to ask (as they did, Acts 2:37), Men and brethren, what shall we do? and more particularly (as the jailor), What must I do to be saved? Acts 16:30. If you will thus enquire, enquire (Isa. 21:12); and, blessed be God, we have the lively oracles to which to apply with these enquiries. 4. We are here warned of the ruin that sin brings upon nations and kingdoms. Those that forsake God bring evil upon themselves (2Ch 34:24, 25), and kindle a fire which shall not be quenched. Such will the fire of God's wrath be when the decree has gone forth against those that obstinately and impenitently persist in their wicked ways. (ED: AMERICA BEWARE! REPENT! PRAY FOR REVIVAL!) 5. We are here encouraged to humble ourselves before God and seek unto him, as Josiah did. If we cannot prevail thereby to turn away God's wrath from our land, yet we shall deliver our own souls, 2Ch 34:27, 28. And good people are here taught to be so far from fearing death as to welcome it rather when it takes them away from the evil to come. See how the property of it is altered by making it the matter of a promise: Thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, housed in that ark, as Noah, when a deluge is coming. Mosquito Paradise I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. —2 Chronicles 34:15 Today's Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:14-21 The builders of the Panama Canal overcame many enormous challenges: the moving of tons of earth, the redirecting of a river, and the cutting down of miles of jungle. But the tiny mosquito threatened to shut down the whole project. The Isthmus of Panama was an ideal breeding ground for this pest. As mosquitos infected canal workers with yellow fever and malaria, the death toll began to soar. Fortunately, a physician who had studied these diseases arranged for an army of workers to spray the area with a chemical to kill mosquitos. The number of illnesses dropped dramatically. In the Old Testament, we read of Judah’s epidemic of idolatry and its accompanying moral sickness. When the Word of God was rediscovered, King Josiah exclaimed, “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the Word of the Lord” (2 Chron. 34:21). Josiah understood the Scripture’s preventive cure for moral sickness. He began to apply its spiritual truths, and soon a revival swept the land that restored the nation’s spiritual health. The Bible will transform our lives And turn us from our sin, If we will study and obey God’s principles within. —Sper The Bible is God’s prescription for the health of our soul. 2 Chronicles 34:15 Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. Related Passages: 2 Kings 22:8+ Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. THE GREATEST LOSS THE GREATEST FIND! Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan - The irony of course is that the Word of God was lost in the House of God! 🙏 THOUGHT - It is possible even today to have Bibles everywhere and yet for them to be effectively "lost" out of neglect God's Book. Like Hilkiah’s discovery, revival begins when the Word of God is not just possessed but rediscovered, read, and then obeyed. When was the last time your opened your Bible to read God's Word? If you are reading these notes you likely have not lost His Word in His house (for believers our bodies are His possession, His house or temple - 1Co 6:19+), but someone in your family, some of your friends or some of your coworkers have likely "lost" His book. They are living on "life support" because Dt 32:47+ says this Word is not "an idle word for you; indeed it is your life!" Jesus taught that "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Mt 4:4+). If they Word has been functionally lost, you are spiritually anemic and in desperate need of an infusion of His living and energetic Word which gives spiritual life. The psalmist echoes the importance of daily sustenance with the Word writing "My soul cleaves (sticks like glue) to the dust. Revive (bring me back to a fully functioning life, especially spiritual life) according to Thy Word." (Ps 119:25+, cf Jn 6:63+). (See The Secret of Revival - Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation) F B
2 Crônicas 34
Guzik: Throughout the history of God’s people, when the word of God is recovered and spread, then spiritual revival follows. It can begin as simply as it did in the days of Josiah, with one man finding and reading and believing and spreading the Book. Another example of this in history is the story of Peter Waldo and his followers, sometimes known as Waldenses. Waldo was a rich merchant who gave up his business to radically follow Jesus. He hired two priests to translate the New Testament into the common language and using this, he began to teach others. He taught in the streets or wherever he could find someone to listen. Many common people came to hear him and started to radically follow Jesus Christ. He taught them the text of the New Testament in the common language and was rebuked by church officials for doing so. He ignored the rebuke and continued to teach, eventually sending his followers out two by two into villages and market places, to teach and explain the scriptures. The scriptures were memorized by the Waldenses, and it was not unusual for their ministers to memorize the entire New Testament and large sections of the Old Testament. The word of God – when found, read, believed, and spread – has this kind of transforming power. 2 Chronicles 34:17 “They have also emptied out the money which was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.” They: 2Ch 34:8-10 SHAPHAN GIVES ACCOUNTING REPORT They have also emptied out (nāt̠ak̠) the money which was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen - NET = "They melted down the silver in the LORD's temple and handed it over to the supervisors of the construction foremen." The verb emptied out (nathak) also means to be melted. In the ancient world, silver often functioned as weight-based currency, not coins, so “melting” or “pouring” fits the economic practice. The emphasis is on honest stewardship—the funds were not hoarded, misused, or delayed, but faithfully transferred to those actually doing the work. 2 Chronicles 34:18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. And Shaphan read: De 17:19 Jos 1:8 Ps 119:46,97-99 Jer 36:20,21 SHAPHAN'S DENOUEMENT Denouement (pronounced day-noo-MAHN) is a term from storytelling which refers to the final part of a story where loose ends are tied up Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king - Hilkiah knew this was not just any book, but surely recognized it as the Word of the LORD. We only wish he would have told us what part of the Word this signified. If this represented the entire Torah, it would have taken Shaphan from 9-11 hours to read completely. If it were just Deuteronomy, it would take about 2 hours. 2 Chronicles 34:19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. the words: Ro 3:20 7:7-11 Ga 2:19 3:10-13 he tore his clothes: 2Ki 19:1 22:11,19 Jer 36:22-24 Joe 2:13 Related Passages: 2 Kings 22:11+ When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. JOSIAH IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD - TORE HIS GARMENTS When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes (note) - This passage is a description of Josiah's reflex response - heard > tore. Clearly God's Word penetrated into his heart producing his immediate dramatic response. Remember that Josiah had been spiritually attuned to God for a number of years and he immediately recognized the Words as from God Himself. Josiah's rending of his clothes reflects the fact that the Word cut him like a sword as described in Hebrews 4:12-13+ - "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Josiah's tearing would prove not to be just an external response, but a response of his heart, his "control center." As the prophet Joel commanded "rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil." (Joel 2:13+) Josiah's response was in marked contrast to that of his own son King Jehoiakim who when he heard the Word of God, rejected it, even cutting (cf "cutting" of Heb 4:12+) the and burning the scroll. Jeremiah writes... When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. (Jeremiah 36:23-24) Jehoiakim did not understand that physical destruction of the scroll could not destroy God's Word, for He Himself declares "Is not My word like fire?...And like a hammer which shatters a rock?." (Jer 23:29) Jehoiakim's heart hardened. Josiah's heart softened. And here is another immutable principle regarding God's indestructible Word - The Word of God can either soften the heart in repentance or harden it in rebellion depending on the hearer's heart response. Shaphan was reading the Law and as Paul wrote centuries later "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge (epignosis - full, experiential knowledge) of sin." (Ro 3:20+) King Josiah received the knowledge of Judah's sin when he heard Shaphan read the Word of God. In Galatians Paul adds "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith." (Gal 3:24+) Given Josiah's subsequent actions of bringing forth fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt 3:8+), clearly Josiah came to saving faith in the Messiah. 🙏 THOUGHT - The same prinicple applies today that when God’s Word is rediscovered and read for it has the power, enabled by the Spirit (Jn 16:8,9,10,11+), to bring conviction, repentance, and revival. Psalm 119:25+ says "My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word." (See Secret of Revival: Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation) The power was not in the scroll Shaphan held but in the living Word of God he read that penetrated the king’s heart. That same Word has the same penetrating effect on our heart! "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21+) Beloved, we all need not only the initial one time salvation of justification, but the daily salvation of progressive sanctification (including daily "revival"), because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt 26:41+) and each new day brings a new battle with our fallen flesh, "for the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (Gal 5:17+). How is the battle going in your heart beloved? May you and I today, yield to the Spirit so that we may "walk by the Spirit, and...not carry out the desire of the (sinful) flesh." (Gal 5:16+). For the glory of the Lamb. Amen. Addendum: Give the fact that God's Word is indestructible, let me recommend a 3.5 hour video series entitled The Indestructible Book (The Story of the Bible), a video that literally brought me to tears with several of the incredible stories. It is old and does not have AI enhanced graphics, but the truth is still very powerful, very engaging and very encouraging. Let me encourage you to set aside 3.5 hours some evening and watch God's gift of His indestructible Book with your family! You won't be disappointed! Mark Boda: The response in 2Ch 34:19 is immediate (“When the king heard”) and passionate (“he tore his clothes in despair”), displaying a response typical of lament and penitence. He immediately sprang into action, giving orders to inquire at the Temple for a word from Yahweh “for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah” (2Ch 34:21). (See 1-2 Chronicles - Page 414)