In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah takes the throne of Judah at a mere 8 years old. A full 18 years passed when King Josiah told a priest to collect offerings from the temple. In fulfilling his duty, Hilkiah the high priest “finds” the Book of the Law. Finds? That means it was lost, hidden away in an unknown location.

Sometimes it is very difficult to verify perfect cause and effect relationships. One current battle is the relationship between how we use fossil fuels and its relationship with climate change. Another one is how video games affect children’s behavior. Scientific testing seeks to discover not only if there is a relationship between fossil fuels and climate change, but also how much of a relationship. Psychologists research the same things when it comes to video games and children’s behavior. Even if a relationship can be found, it’s not always a one-to-one relationship, which simply means there are other factors involved. A percentage of climate change may be affected by the use of fossil fuels, but how much? Is there something else that either is affecting climate change more or in a significant enough way that we have to be just as concerned about that as we are about fossil fuels? What percentage does video games affect children’s behaviors and is there something else that is affecting children’s behaviors just as much, if not more? What about parental influence, peer influence, or simple freewill choice?

I say all of this to help you develop critically thinking skills in general, but also to point out a correlation that can be found in 2 Kings 22. I think we can all be very secure that there is a direct correlation between exposure to the Word of God and behaviors. The Israelites used the Book of the Law so little that they actually forgot where it was even located? King Josiah, where do you store your Bible? My what?

When the high priest found the Book of the Law and read it to King Josiah, he tore his clothes in despair. He soon realized how far his people had strayed from following God. Exposure to the Scriptures directly relates to behaviors. But wait, it’s not a one-to-one correlations. Why? C’mon – think about it. Is there anyone who is exposed the Bible on a regular basis but still doesn’t change his or her behavior? Ah! Welcome personal choice.

The Book of the Law affected King Josiah’s behavior because his heart was teachable. How do I know that? His response. Whenever you and I are exposed to truth, we quickly find out how teachable we are. You and I both know of people who, when exposed to the truth, make excuses, get defensive, or turn the table and attack the truth-tellers. Nowhere is this more offensive and disheartening than with believers.

Our entire Christian experience begins with teachability. Teachability is a basic attitude that says, “I know I am blind in many areas of my life and I need insight and help in growing.” When we come to the cross for the first time, we are saying, “God, I am blind and I am asking you to forgive me of my sins. You know all, and I am clueless. Please forgive me and allow me to spend eternity with you. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross.” It’s a beautiful, humble moment. King Josiah had a similar experience.

However, for some reason, the Israelites, and many Christians, somehow lose that attitude of teachability. How do I know? I have given truth to many believers and they make excuses, get defensive, or turn the table and attack me. When it comes to blatant sin, it’s easy to come to peace with the conflict. However, when you speak truth into someone’s life and it’s not a blatant sin issue, their maturity and teachability is truly revealed. Personal growth involves all truth. The attitude of teachability should be ubiquitous (ever-present) in and throughout your life. Many of us are so motivated to seek truth and grow. The principle: Whenever you think you’ve “arrived”, you are further away than you’ve ever been. One simple acid test: how do you respond when truth is given to you?

King Josiah was exposed to truth and reformed Judah and had a revival. The Pharisees were exposed to the Scriptures on a regular basis but thought they had “arrived” and there downfall was secure.

Questions:
Is there any blatant sin in my life? What do the Scriptures say?
If not, how powerful of a believer am I? What do other people say? Ask as many people as you can this question: “Where am I blind?” and “How can I grow?” Ask your spouse, your family, and most importantly, those who don’t think the world of you.
Don’t you just love pain?

At this moment of intensity, King Solomon is blown away and he has no choice but to praise the God of heaven. He has one theme in his praise: God has fulfilled His promises.

From the moment God brought Israel out of Egypt until that very moment, God fulfilled promises. If you have been reading through the Old Testament, you will feel that it has been a roller coaster ride. You will also quickly realize that between man and God, only one of us didn’t keep their word.

One mental technique I use to help keep myself faithful until the end is the principle of “what do I want to feel when I look back?” Think about the times you have failed; the times you listened to your sinful impulses and you were so driven emotionally to flesh out those impulses. You felt so right, and then it was over. You reflected and then repented to the God of heaven. Why can’t we have those reflections and those emotions before we listen and live out our impulses? Ugh! The God of our Lord Jesus Christ will keep his promise: As far as the east is from the west, I will remove your transgressions from you. Beautiful promises.

Solomon doesn’t stop there – he turns to the altar – the center of sacrifice, and dedicates the temple. The outline of his prayer is as follows:

1. Declaration of the character of God (23-24)
2. Pleading with God to keep His promises (25-26)
3. Be here, stay here, and forgive! (27-30)
4. Bring justice! (31-32)
5. If you punish us because we’ve blown it, and turn to you again, forgive! (33-34)
6. If you punish us because we’ve blown it, and turn to you again, forgive! (35-36)
7. If you punish us because we’ve blown it, and turn to you again, forgive! (37-40)
8. If Gentiles come and seek you, grant their requests! (41-43)
9. If your people are far away and turn toward you, grant their requests! (44-45
10. If you punish us because we’ve blown it, and turn to you again, forgive! (46-51)
11. May you answer us when we cry out to you! (52-53)

Are you sensing a pattern here? The temple is the place of sacrifice, forgiveness, and worship. God’s people come to the presence of God to acknowledge the sacrifice, seek forgiveness, and worship the God of heaven. How much more, Christian, do we need to believe and accept His sacrifice, forgiveness, and then turn to worship Him?

He has promised to forgive if we come to Him with a repentant heart – that is His promise! He has also promised to punish if we reject and turn away from Him. The perfect balance of grace and truth (John 1:14). Which mindset do you need today? What word (grace or truth) will draw you closer to Him?

These are examples of statements from two kingdoms. When it comes to discussing the kingdom with our Lord, we can either begin our sentence with We want or We are . . .

We want to go back to Egypt. We want to be like all the other nations. We want . . .

Begin your evaluation of self within the kingdom as `We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’

I have been so intrigued by this little story tucked right in the middle of Luke. Don’t miss its power.

The statements of two kingdoms reflect which kingdom we find most compelling.

Wow.

Fear. Here it is again. What is the deal with all of the fear? Forget that question. It’s unanswerable. Fear is ubiquitous (ever-present). Fear will be here and won’t go away until eternity. The most repeated command in Scripture: Do not fear. How is that possible? I don’t think he is telling us to never experience fear – that’s impossible. If my child runs out into traffic, I am going to fear and that fear is going to create a thrust of adrenaline inside of me to grab my child before catastrophe strikes. I believe the Lord is telling us to not be ruled by fear. Most of our fears hang with us for extended periods of time. Although sometimes we have an “instant” fear (like a child running out into the road), but most of our fears exist with us. Do not fear. Don’t let your fears keep you from doing what you’re supposed to.

The Israelites were afraid. They saw the “giants” of the land and they were afraid. I don’t buy for one second that Caleb and Joshua weren’t afraid when they first evaluated the land. Remember, courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s deciding something else is more important than fear.

We fear when we are in the presence of something more powerful than ourselves.

We have courage when we trust in the God who is more powerful than the objects of our fear.

Caleb and Joshua trusted. The rest did not. They once again distrusted the character of God by thinking that they were going to die in war. They would rather experience the horror of slavery than the horror of their fears. Fear is faith in what you don’t want to happen. God was blown away. How could we possibly believe, in light of all He has done, that He doesn’t have the absolute best for us in mind? How can we possibly believe, in light of all He has done, that He won’t fight the wars for us?

Fast forward to their first battle: Jericho. What did they have to do? Walk, play instruments, and scream. Wow. Those poor people. We have tons of faith in things that we don’t want to happen, and almost no faith in the God who is in control of what happens.

Fear makes us run away, it makes us rush into compulsive actions, or it makes us sprint into the shadow of his wings. The Israelites ran from the promised land, and then after God judged them, they compulsively decided to go into battle when they realized what the judgment was. Caleb and Joshua ran into the shadow of his wings.

We must war before we rest, but our war is not on the outside, it’s on the battlefields of our hearts.

If you woke up tomorrow and discovered you were living a life sold out to God, what would be different about you? If you struggle inwardly right now with living that life, what are you afraid of? What will you lose if you live that life? What are you afraid of giving up? Have courage. Your fears won’t go away, but you must decide something else is more important than your fears.

One of the “fun” debates theologians have had throughout time is the topic of the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6. Who exactly are these “Sons of God”? Some believe them to be angels while others believe them to be followers of God.

Angels: The Hebrew word used here means “angels” in other places in the OT (Job 1:6). It is believed that angels lusted after and had intercourse with human women and created giants.

Humans: The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselvs of all whom they chose. If the sons of God were angels, then why would God declare His irritation with man in verse 3? If angels took whatever wife they chose, then it seems they would be upset with the angels, not man.

I am partial with the second meaning. To build my case, I noticed that back in chapter 4, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (4:26). Once this happened, there began a separation between those who followed God and those who didn’t. The sons of God were to be separate from the daughters of men and they weren’t. Even those who claimed allegiance to God fell away. This same principle is found in the New Testament as well.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

I believe that God became fed up with mankind because all of their hearts were evil continually (Genesis 6:5) and there was no separation between the children of God and the children of men. The children of God were (and are) to be separate from the world. In what ways are we to be separate? This has been examined throughout the centuries. How should we be separate from the world today? I suggest the following:

1. Read the Bible, pray, tell others about what Christ has done in your life, and serve God’s people.
2. Have integrity.
3. Put money in its proper place (don’t love it of course, but don’t assume that because you lack wealth you’re somehow more spiritual than those who have wealth. This would be many Christian’s sin).
4. Love the community.
5. Serve and take care of the poor.

Probably a more profound question is: “How do you see Christians misuse this principle?”