“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:11-13
“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on YOUR hearts. Get them inside of YOU and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9 MSG
Why would God invest so much of Himself in His Word? He made this statement through the Psalmist: for thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name. Psalm 138:2. We have never seen God, but He’s best seen and experienced in and through His Word. That’s why John wrote; The Word became flesh. John 1. The angel Gabriel said these words to Mary in Luke 1:”For not one word from God will ever fail.” Jesus walked the Word. He used the Word during His testing to defeat Satan in Luke 4. The Word used the written Word to defeat the enemy. Let that settle in your spirit for a minute. All through the gospels Jesus kept saying “it is written so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled “ always the Word. If it was that significant to Him, then we’d best pay attention.
In the first scripture above, young king Josiah had just been informed that the Book of the Law has been found. When he heard what had been written, and realized that everything he thought was alright was offensive to Jehovah he went nuts literally. Can you imagine that after twenty plus years you’re just discovering that you have been fed, and have been living a lie! That your entire life has been built on false teaching and assumptions. What’s even worse, is that the revelation has brought him face to face with God’s impending judgement on the nation he’s leading. He made this statement of indictment against his ancestors: I’ll paraphrase: Those who have gone before us did not obey or teach us anything that is written in the Law. They have not done right by us!
This young king had no idea what was about to happen. He started enquiring of the prophets as to the explanation of what he was hearing. The revelation wasn’t a pleasant one. He was broken and repentant. You cannot rise above what you do not know. But once you know, you’re faced with a decision: Act or remain passive. Carry on business as usual? Not so with Josiah. If you continue reading to chapter 23, he went on a cleansing rampage. He tore up and tore down anything and everything that was displeasing to God. He read the Law and called the people to repentance, but God already knew that the only one who really cared was Josiah so He made him a promise, let’s read.
“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 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.’ ” 2 Kings 22:19-20 NIV
Merciful God! Remember what we read in Ezekiel 18? The sons will not pay for the sins of the parents. It was said of Josiah: “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” 2 Kings 23:25
Nevertheless, God did not change His mind about the judgement that would come after Josiah’s death. Going back to Ezekiel 18, Josiah’s passion didn’t translate to his son. When the heart has been seared, when evil is celebrated as change and anarchy as freedom, hell prevails. Years of rebellion against God, and the discarding of His laws was handed down from one generation to the other. No different than what we’re witnessing now. After Josiah there were a total of four kings -the first being his son, who continued rebellion against God and His Laws and God’s judgment was swift just as he said to Josiah. All because the generations before did not pass on a godly example.
Read the full account beginning at 2 Kings chapter 20-25 eye opening.
In Deuteronomy we learn how to prevent what happened in 2 Kings. In order to preserve the next generation we were instructed to first let the Word be in us. In my book I stress the importance of adherence to God’s Word. I did my best with the Holy Spirit guiding me, to live what I was instructing my daughter. I cut out and off anything or anyone who would interfere with what God had instructed me to do as far as raising her for the King. Godly parenting is hard work, it’s not do as I say, but rather do as I do. I had to be the example in every area of instruction. And it doesn’t stop when they become adults. It’s a lifestyle change and a life of commitment to everything God’s Way. He spoke -I listened and obeyed. I’ve learned and have come to understand why most Christian parents take the road of least resistance. But it’s a price you don’t want to pay. It ruins our children. Inconsistent parenting is destruction on steroids. We have raised a generation that has been demanding their rights since birth, and most parents have bowed to their demands. Look around you! The proof is all around. They fear neither God nor man. Who’s to blame? If you raised that, look in the mirror.
God knew what the end result would produce, when He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to hammer in the Word of God in their own lives, living and breathing it. Then and only then would they be able to teach it to their children. He literally said you can’t afford not to! He said impress or make an indelible mark through your own personal relationship with the Word on the lives of your children, the importance of following and living the Word. Listen to the instructions: Talk about the Word of God when you: sit, walk, sleeping, waking, tie or bind them as a way of remembering on your hands and foreheads, write them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. It’s that serious! Do you need me to break down each instruction or did you get the urgency and importance of living and passing down your faith to the next generation? What we have been witnessing in our States and Cities recently is a direct result of disobeying this instruction. We have, as in Josiah’s day, raised a Godless generation. And shame on Christian parents if our children were a part of the display of rebellion cloaked as caring for justice. Shame on us!
The responsibility of raising our children was never relegated to a system, religious or secular. It was given to PARENTS especially FATHERS! But whenever a home is void of godly parenting, whenever children are in control of the home, the battle is lost. Whenever a child has as much right as a parent -rebellion is certain. The Word of God is the anchor. A life in Christ is the answer. There’s a marked difference between a godly child and a good child. Good people are dying without Christ Jesus everyday. It’s not about being good, it’s about the Word of God, the Laws of God and a Christ centered life.
What’s our legacy? What have we been handing down to our children? Have they witnessed the Word in you? Are they learning to respect and honor God watching you? What have we handed off to the next generation? I’m watching and it doesn’t look so good. We are no different now than what we’ve read in 2 Kings. But I pray that the Lord will find a Josiah among us Who will open God’s Word again, see where we’ve fallen short and repent. We need someone who will Make the necessary changes and save the next generation from sure destruction. Josiah couldn’t stave off God’s wrath, but maybe by the Grace of God, we can. Is the Word in you? Then ACT LIKE IT! Prepare the next generation to be Light Bearers, God’s Light Bearers! If you’ve missed it with your children, then do it for your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Fill your heart and home with the Word. Be the change, be the difference maker, stand in the gap, it’s hard work but well worth it.
Father my heart breaks for the generation now and the ones that are coming. We have strayed from the command of Deuteronomy 6. We have not, by the looks of things done a good job handing off the baton of faith to our children. We, unfortunately have found our place in the sad words of Judges 2:10. My only consolation is knowing that you always have a remnant. You know those that are yours. May we who are parents, return to obeying Your Word, and teach the next generation the value of knowing you and Your Word. Not merely by speaking but demonstrating it through our lives. Forgive us, have mercy on us, help us to return to you with our whole hearts like Josiah did in Jesus Name. Amen
And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us, that will be our righteousness. Deuteronomy 6:25
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant