2 Kings 22, Hebrews 4, Joel 1, Psalms 140–141

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@November 9, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Kings 22

2 Kings 22:11–13 (ESV)
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

“Josiah’s heart was tender toward God (v. 19). Just as he had searched for God when he was sixteen years old (2Ch 34:3) and had pushed for rebuilding the temple, now he was equally willing to heed this message of sin, guilt, and judgment. He acknowledged that sin had aroused the LORD’s wrath.” (CSB Notes)

The sequence of events seem particularly noteworthy. Directly prior to these verses, we read that Josiah led efforts to repair and restore the temple. This happened even before the Book of the Law was discovered and read to him, showing that Josiah had a strong, Godward focus from a young age and stood in stark contrast to Manasseh and Amon that came before him. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible further explicates the fervency of Josiah’s faith and reforms:

Evidently [Josiah] had spiritually motivated advisers or regents; by the time he was 16 he began of his own accord “to seek the God of David” (2 Chr 34:3). When he was 20, he became greatly exercised over the idolatry of the land and launched a major effort to eradicate the pagan high places, groves, and images from Judah and Jerusalem. So intense was Josiah’s hatred of idolatry that he even opened the tombs of pagan priests and burned their bones on pagan altars before these were destroyed. (BEB)

2 Kings 22:19–20 (ESV)
19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’ ” And they brought back word to the king.

How wonderful it is to read of the grace of our LORD as it was poured out on Josiah. Because of the penitence of his heart and earnest, godly sorrow, Josiah would be gathered to his fathers and spared of the disaster that the LORD would bring. The acknowledgement of Josiah’s penitent heart, speech against the inhabitants, tearing of clothes and weeping demonstrate that Josiah was a man of God in all manner of inner and outer life.

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:3 (ESV)
3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

“Just as faith admits, so unbelief excludes. We who trust Christ are sure of God’s rest; the unbelieving Israelites could not be sure of it because they did not believe God’s word.” (BBC)

The theme of rest in this chapter emerged as I had never noticed before. The word “rest” and its derivations appear 10x, marking it as a significant concept for us to consider. As God rested on the seventh day, we are given invitation through faith in Christ Jesus to enter into this rest, reconciled to the Father by the propitiatory work of Christ on the cross, clothed in His righteousness and fully justified to be in the presence of the Father. It is from this place of rest—sealed in our adoption as sons and daughters of the King—that we are given the freedom to proceed in joyful obedience.

Joel 1

“Joel told of a locust plague that had struck Israel and which, he said, foreshadowed the ‘day of the Lord. The day of the Lord was a time greatly anticipated by the Israelites because they believed that God would then judge the nations and restore Israel to her former glory. Yet, said Joel, God would punish not only the nations but unfaithful Israel as well. Joel urged everyone to repent, and told of a day when God would ‘pour out [his] Spirit on all flesh’ (2:28). That day arrived on the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2:17). While the date of the book is uncertain (ninth to sixth century B.C.), its message is valid for all time.” (CSB Notes)

Joel 1:13–14 (ESV)
13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, O ministers of the altar.
Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
Because grain offering and drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.

14 Consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
and cry out to the LORD.

“The priests were to take the lead in mourning rituals by dressing in sackcloth and spending the night at the temple. The whole assembly was to gather together and cry out to the LORD, an expression of their corporate guilt before God.”

Psalm 140

“In this individual lament psalm, the psalmist pleads for Yahweh to help him as he faces the schemes of his enemies. He opens by requesting that Yahweh protect him from evil men (v. 1) who plan wicked things (v. 2) and speak hurtful things (v. 3). He then specifically asks for protection from those who have been planning traps for him (vv. 4–5) and denounces them as arrogant (v. 5). He asks Yahweh for mercy (v. 6), remembering Yahweh’s help in past times of war (v. 7). He asks that the plans of the wicked would fail so that they would not be exalted to positions of prominence or power (v. 8; compare v. 11). The psalmist then continues to employ the battle motif and requests Yahweh’s help against those who surround him (vv. 9–11). He is especially concerned that those slandering him would not be established in power (v. 11). The psalmist closes by stating his confidence that Yahweh helps the afflicted (v. 12) so that they might thank Him (v. 13).” (FSB)

Psalm 141

“In this individual lament psalm, the psalmist requests Yahweh’s help in maintaining his personal integrity as he seeks to avoid any traps that evil people might set for him. He does not seem to have a specific situation in mind, but he expresses a desire for Yahweh to guard him from any impropriety or harm. The psalmist opens by asking Yahweh to hear his calls and regard his personal prayer and worship as equivalent to sacrifice (vv. 1–2). He asks Yahweh to guard his behavior (vv. 3–4) and hopes to find people who will rebuke him honestly should he go astray (v. 5). He then prays against evildoers, anticipates their downfall (vv. 6–7), and asks that Yahweh protect him from their schemes, entrapping them in their own tricks instead (vv. 8–10).” (FSB)

Psalm 141:5 (ESV)
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

“Constructive criticism from a righteous one is desirable; it would be foolish to refuse it (Pr 8:33–36; 15:32).” (CSB Notes)

It is never easy receiving correction and rebuke, but absolutely necessary for a faithful walk with the Lord. Those who receive it should not refuse it, for it is an honor and a blessing as oil is for the head.

Justin Houtz