Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord,according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel (2 Kings 21:1-2).

This is the testimony about Hezekiah's son, Manasseh. But listen to what the testimony about Hezekiah was:

He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses (2 Kings 18:5-6)

How do you go from the most righteous king to the most wicked king in one generation? They were even father and son! I am reminded of Solomon's despairing words:

I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19). 

Solomon recognized that he could not predict whether his son would be wise or foolish, whether he would be like faithful Josiah or wicked Manasseh. Again, I am reminded of the generation that followed Joshua, where we get this testimony:

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths (Judges 2:10-13).

One generation may have dropped the ball in passing the knowledge of the Lord to the next generation, and it proved disasterous, as every generation thereafter kept falling further away from the Lord.

Friends, just because you love the Lord does not mean your children will love the Lord. Just because you are faithful does not mean that they will be faithful. They will certainly be judged for their own sins (cf. Ezekiel 18:20). But are we doing our part in keeping with the command of God?

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Do we simply entrust our kids to the church for this spiritual instruction? Do we imagine that they will get the moral and spiritual training that they need from the couple of hours at church once a week on Sunday mornings? But how does the Bible imagine parents, particularly fathers, would train their children? Consider the command to the Jewish parents in Moses' day with respect to training their children in the Law:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).

The Jewish parents were commanded to teach their children to love the Lord their God with all their hearts. They were to do this by impressing on their children the commandments of God. They were to make this impression by telling them about these commands when they sat with them at home, when they walked with them along the road, when they got ready for bed, and when they just got up to begin the day. They were to remind them of these commands by putting signposts on their kids' hands and on their foreheads. They were to make these commands unmistakably visible by putting them on the doorframes of their homes and on the gates of their property, so that they would be seen every time they enter or leave.

Friends, most Christians today hardly give ten minutes a day, if that, to the Word of God, so how could I imagine parents in our generation would take any of these commands with respect to their children seriously?!

When I share how I rigorously keep a daily devotional time for my now five-year-old daughter, people are amazed. And yet, I feel that I have not impressed upon her hardly enough the value and significance of the Word of God. My efforts seem to me only baby steps in obedience to God's command. Not only do I fight my still-depraved thinking but I also battle the influence of commercial media as well as the cultural forces that demand my child engage and excel in various humanistic pursuits. I have far to go in obeying God's command.

If any of this resonates with any of you, then, dear friends, prayerfully join me in the trenches of this spiritual war. Perhaps the Lord will kindle within us more than simply the desire to trust and obey His Word but also the power to do it. Let us encourage and challenge each other to resist the forces that would keep us from immersing ourselves and our children in God's truth. Let us share every creative and sundry way by which we may grow in obedience to His command. And to Him be all the glory forever!

2nd Kings chapter 20:3

Refers to the division specifically the second division the second order of priests.

Having never noticed the significance in priestly divisions, I discovered that there were lots designating the order of ministering for the temple, each tribe for each week. (from Wikipedia)

‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?” (2 Kings 20:17-19).

The King of Babylon sent an envoy with letters of condolences in view of Hezekiah's sickness. Hezekiah in turn showed the envoys all the treasures in his treasury. Isaiah prophesied that at some future time all the treasures Hezekiah showed these envoys would be carried off to Babylon. What is more, even his own sons would be taken away to become officials in the palace of the Babylonian king. 

This was not good news, but Hezekiah took it as such (cf. Isaiah 39:1-8). He did not understand that the taking away did not refer to trade but seizure. His sons would not serve in Babylon as lords but as captives of war. It appears that Hezekiah thought that Isaiah was describing the conditions of peace between the two world powers. He did not understand, and an explanation would not be given to him. 

In the account in Chronicles, we are told that God left Hezekiah with the Babylonian envoys to test him, to see if he would demonstrate humility or pride, whether he would acknowlege the LORD or parade his own greatness:

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31).

Unfortunately, it appears Hezekiah failed the test. And it may not have been the first time, for earlier God was against him because he acted proudly after being miraculously healed of his sickness. But these two may be referring to the same instance of pride:

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 32:24-26).

It appears that he failed the test. His showing the Babylonian envoys the greatness and vastness of his treasures was certainly an act of boasting and pride. There is no indication that Hezekiah gave glory to God. Perhaps this pride provided the seed that spawned his most wicked son, Manasseh. 

Friends, the saying, "Pride goes before a fall" is not merely a common adage that is always true. There are certainly many proud people that remained for a long time in powerful positions. The truth of the biblical saying (cf. Proverbs 16:18) is grounded in God's opposition to human pride:

God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6).

The proud fall because God brings them down. This was true of the two great nations of Assyria and Babylon, which God used to bring judgment on the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel respectively. Edom was decimated for its pride. So was the great Phoenician city of Tyre. Lucifer was cast down because of his pride. "Pride comes before a fall" is not a fait a compli. It is a statement of God's judgment. We are humble because God shows favor to the humble. So David also wrote after his great sin against Uriah the Hittite,

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

The importance of humility is echoed in the New Testament in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (cf. Luke 18:9-14). As we are commanded in James 4:10,

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

There is no place for pride before the Lord. The only thing every human being is deserving is eternal condemnation in hell. We are all undeserving recipients of God's grace. Recognizing this should make us humble. 

But what is pride? Pride is the attitude, "My way or the highway." This is particularly true in church leaders, who are more concerned in shoring up their own authority then they are in ascertaining biblical truth. It extends to those who think that they have heard from God and attempt to claim divine authority over their pronouncements. But when their pronouncements prove to be false, they are unwilling to own up to their sin, which borders on false prophecy because they invoked God's Name to something God did not say. 

What is pride not? Pride is not stubbornly believing that God's Word is truth and to hold fast to this in spite of others attacking on the basis of church tradition or ecclesiastical authority or making false accusations of disrupting unity, which is never unity around God's Word but around their own personal authority, convictions and practice. 

What is humility not? It is not simply praying. For even the proud Pharisee prayed to God (cf. Luke 18:9-14). It is not crying out loudly, "Jesus! Jesus!" For Jesus said of such, "I never knew you. Get away from Me you practicers of iniquity" (cf. Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 6:7-8). It is not fasting for long periods. Isaiah writes that God hates such fasting when it is purposeless and unaccompanied by obedience, service, and charity (cf. Isaiah 58). So humility is not "acting humble."

Then, what is true humility? Humility is expressed in Jesus' words, "Not my will but yours be done." Humility is personified perfectly in Christ, because He repeatedly lived, spoke, suffered and died never to please Himself nor for His own glory but to glorify the Father, who sent Him. Humility is not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing (cf. Matthew 6:3). Humility is when a person is too busy obeying God and serving others to consider just how good they are in doing these things. 

Humility is thinking less of oneself, but this is only because most everyone already thinks too highly of themselves. In truth, humility is thinking rightly of oneself. But a right view should not paint a pretty picture, but as Paul wrote,

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Humility recognizes that apart from God's grace, we are all sinners deserving only eternal condemnation. Apart from God's grace we will continue to get worse, not better. Apart from God's grace we will think only of ourselves. Apart from God's grace, we will value only our own ideas. Apart from God's grace, we will justify any wrongdoing, even calling good evil and evil good. 

Friends, the command to be humble is the command to obey God, even to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we do this without considering and commending our own progress, then even if we do not recognize our own humility, God will see it and reward us accordingly. 

When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. (2 Kings 22:11 NLT)

King Josiah succeeds two of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh and Amon. And he was only eight when he ascended to the throne of his father. Perhaps he knew a bit of his grandfather Manasseh's last years, when he turned from his wickedness and whole-heartedly followed the LORD. Where else could influence have come? Perhaps from Jedidah, his mother. I don't think the consistent mention of moms in the succession of kings is superfluous. Moms likely had a significant influence in the moral and spiritual upbringing of their sons. And since Amon's wicked reign and life was short-lived (only two years), the young boy Josiah may have learned more from his mother than his father. This is a reminder to moms today not to underestimate the significant influence they can be upon their children. 

But I want to focus today on Josiah's response to discovering the Book of the Law. He tore his clothes in despair. This is in contrast to how the book was presented to him, almost as an afterthought:

Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the LORD to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king. (2 Kings 22:9, 10 NLT)

Shaphan first gives a progress report on Josiah's orders to restore the Temple. And then, as almost an "Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you, Hilkiah the priest found this book while cleaning out the rubbage." 

But Josiah does not respond so cavalierly. He tears his clothes in despair. Such a display would clearly be unbecoming for a king - to tear his royal robes in the presence of His servants. Yet, he doesn't care. He recognizes the gravity of the discovery. This was no mere scroll. This was the word of God. And he recognized that even with his current reforms how far removed he and the people were from what was required by God. He also recognized that they were on the precipice of God's severe judgment and wrath (2 Kings 22:13). 

In my study of Scripture I feel a little shaken and with a thought that I should be more so. My heart resonates with Josiah's pain of discovery, for I feel that the church, perhaps a majority of Christians and myself included, fall short of what God requires. While we think we are saved, I feel that instead we may be self-deceived and may be surprised to hear the dreaded reply from the LORD, "I never knew you..." Because we are still so preocuppied with ourselves and this world. 

We have become in many respects the church of Laodicea. And we do not realize that we are "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17). I feel that the message we need to hear every week until we get it right is the message in James:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. (James 4:8, 9 TNIV)

Unlike Josiah, our ears have become anesthetized to the Word, so that we are hardly convicted. It is easy to lift our hands in praise, but it is not accompanied by the rending of our hearts in repentance. We are insulated by worldly enclosures, whether the four walls of our fine church building, the sanctuary of our nice homes, our cars, the communities in which we live, and the safe network of friends that share our rich lifestyles.

Someone once preached from a passage in Scripture that reads, "Rend your hearts and not your garments" (Joel 2:13). It is a nice catch phrase to preach and sing, but do we understand the context in which it is found? It is in the context of impending judgment. The prophet is pleading with God's people for a real repentance and not merely a show. Even a little more context to the phrase makes this clear:

The Lord thunders
at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it?
 “Even now,” declares the Lord, 
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
 Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the Lord your God. (Joel 2:11-14 TNIV)

What is worse is that the people do not repent as they ought. They do not fast and weep and mourn. And they are judged, as the vast Babylonian army comes against them, destroys Jerusalem, kills most of the people and takes the rest away in exile. 

And are we going to focus on the nice turn of the phrase "rend your hearts and not your garments"? It might be better translated "rend your hearts and not JUST your garments." Rend everthing! It was a serious call to repentance. And Jesus' call to discipleship for us is also a serious call. Jesus commands, "Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). What is Jesus demanding here of true believers? They will give up everything to Him, they will be prepared to die for Him any and every day, and they will be wholeheartedly devoted to obeying His every command in Scripture. Jesus repeats himself with even stronger language a few chapters later in Luke:

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 14:27, 33-35 TNIV)

Those that think that this call to sacrifice everything to Christ is only speaking of a special group of Christians called 'disciples" are mistaken. Jesus makes no such distinctions. If you do not "give up everything," He clearly says, "you cannot be my disciples." More than this, if you do not give up everything, you are like unsalty salt and "fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile." He would hardly say this of Christans. No, my friends, these things were written for us, so that we might cease from living our lukewarm pseudo-Christian lives. Just to drive His point, He also says in the same context of this call to discipleship, "What is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul" (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25). Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13, "Examine yourselves -- to see whether you are in the faith -- test yourselves." Again, Paul writes in Philippians 2:12, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." Why does he write "fear and trembling" if Paul was confident that they were all truly saved? No, he writes this because it is possible that it might be found that their faith was empty, not being accompanied by a post-requisite surrender, which the Lord commands. 

Let us, then, dear friends, examine ourselves today. When you read these words from Scripture, what is your reaction? Are you like Shaphan and gloss over the gravity of what is here, or you like Josiah doing some serious soul-searching, repentance, and seeking the Lord's grace and mercy, as you are confronted by the Lord to surrender everything to Christ. For you are not your own. If you are truly a believer, you must recognize this and that you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

And as we surrender everything to Him, I am confident that He will show us how to begin to use what is His for His glory. 

King Josiah became a king of Judah at the age of 8. He "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." But God took him away from the earth in a battlefield at his early reign in Judah according to 2 Chronicles. He was only 39 years old! I was always wondering why God would do that to such a faithful servant. I learned the reason for his early death in today's reading:

 "Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place."

 It was God's mercy that he did not live long life on earth. There were 4 kings after Josiah, and their kingship didn't last long time. Total of those last 4 kings reign in Judah were about 23 years. If Josiah lived his expected lifespan, he would've been only 62 years old and might have witnessed the exile to Babylon. I was brainwashed by prosperity gospel and theology as I was growing up that if anything that happened to king Josiah happens to someone, he or she is cursed by God. Such things as unexpected death, poverty, illnesses, unemployment and so forth were considered God's curse. We see even in OT how wrong that theology is. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus who sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness whether we are blessed or not according to the worldly standard.

 Thank you LORD that you are "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." You forgive the sins of those who humble themselves before You.