What does it say?
Assyria invaded Judah coming up against the cities in Judah, so Hezekiah prepared for defense and encouraged the people to be strong and courageous trusting in the Lord God. Sennacherib sent his servants to speak to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall to frighten and terrify them, speaking of the Lord as if he were like the gods of other nations (idols) that were made with human hands. Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord in prayer and the Lord delivered Judah from Sennacherib. Hezekiah became prideful though all that he accomplished and had was given to him by the Lord; Hezekiah became ill and his heart was humbled, so the Lord did not pore out wrath on Judah during his days. His son Manasseh became king in Judah at the age of twelve, his reign was 55 years, during which he reversed all of the changes his father made in Judah, acting more abominably than the inhabitants of that the Lord sent Israel to remove from the land. Manasseh was captured by Assyria and brought to Babylon in chains, so he humbled himself and called out to the Lord who brought him back to Jerusalem and sat him on the thrown; therefore, Manasseh repented, realized that the Lord is God, he removed the foreign gods and the idol that he had made. Amon became king and did all the evil that his father did but he did not repent. Josiah became king at the age of 8 and began following the word of the Lord at the age of 16; therefore, he purged Judah of the high places, the Asherim and idols. Josiah ordered that the house of the Lord be repaired and appointed skilled men to accomplish the task. During the rebuilding project, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law which was read to the king who then realized the sin of Judah when he heard the law. The king inquired of the Lord, through Huldah the prophetess, the Lord God told of his plan to carry out against Judah the curses found in the book of the law, but not during the days of Josiah because he and the leaders of Judah humbled themselves when they heard the law. Josiah covenanted to perform the word of the Lord before God all of his days.
What does it mean?
“GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (Jam 4:6) When the kings of Israel humbled themselves, the Lord delivered them but when they were proud, acting wickedly, he sent their enemies against them. Psalms 19:7 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Josiah heard the word of the Lord written in the book of the Law; this closed his mouth, made him realize his guilt because the law brings the knowledge of sin. (cf. Rom 3:19-20) We should not send wrath upon the sinner, that is for the Lord but we should give the proud heart the law of the Lord that he may repent.
What shall I do?
I shall preach law to the proud and the gospel to the humble. I shall preach the law and the gospel to myself daily. I shall preach the law to put to death my proud heart and the gospel to bring life. When someone I am talking with thinks that they deserve heaven, I shall give them law to close their mouth. When I am talking with someone who confesses sin, I shall give them the good news that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Jn 3:16)
