News of Doom to a King

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NIV)

            The Children of Israel were always in a state of rebellion. They seemed to never be able to be faithful unto the God of Heaven who brought them out of the land of Egypt. As in the days of Moses, they were a rebellious people. Therefore, God allowed judgments to come upon them each time they turned their hearts against Him and became unfaithful like an adulterous wife. Prior to any judgment befalling them, God always sent a word of warning, through His prophets, to let them know what would take place because of their disobedience. Nevertheless, despite the constant warnings that they received, they mocked the prophets and hardened their hearts even more, with a few exceptions such as in the case of Josiah. 

            Josiah was made king over Israel at the age of eight, after the assassination of his father, King Amon. His father had done evil in the sight of the Lord, but Josiah walked upright before God. Hilkiah, the high priest, sent a message to the king to let him know that he had found the Book of the Law in the temple. The king’s secretary read the book to the king. When King Josiah heard the words of God within the book, he tore his robes as a sign of sorrow and wept before God because he knew that Israel had not been obedient to the commands of God. King Josiah sent word to inquire of the Lord in regards to what was written in the book. The high priest, along with a few others, made their way to the prophetess, Huldah who lived in Jerusalem. 

Huldah gave them the word that the Lord had given for her to give the king even though it was one of doom.

2 Kings 22:16-17 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ (NIV) Although she had to let the king know that God’s message was one of judgment that would come on the land, she also gave the king another message that God had given and that was a message of blessing. God promise King Josiah that he would live out his days and not see the disaster that would befall his land because of his humility and deep sorrow over the rebellion of his people. 

            The prophets of old were not always liked because they oftentimes carried messages from the Lord that were of judgment and punishment. 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king should not say such a thing," Jehoshaphat replied. (NIV) Nevertheless, Huldah did not let that stop her from giving a word from God. She gave the word as given to her and King Josiah was receptive, but even if he wasn’t, she still had to give the word that God ordained.

            The Apostle Paul lets us know that we must have the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. A sword in the Roman era was used to kill the enemy. We too must kill the enemy in our own lives by using God’s word. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)

 

The enemy comes at us in all kinds of ways to get us off the path that God has for our lives. He doesn’t play fair, but he does play for keeps. He uses all kinds of manipulative tricks to deter our Christian walk. He puts thoughts in your mind: ungodly people in your path, confusion in your home, challenges on the job, illnesses in your body, and whatever else he can use as a weapon against you. Nevertheless, God did not leave us defenseless. This is why we must have the Word of God on the inside of us as a constant reminder that we have a firm foundation in God. Whenever the enemy attacks, we must throw the Word of God back at him where it can slice, dice, and shred to pieces any and all attacks just as Jesus did when he was tempted after his forty days of fasting. Matthew 4:1-4 ⁽¹⁾Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ⁽²⁾After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ⁽³⁾The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁽⁴⁾Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (NIV)

As warrior for Christ, we are fully armed in the Lord’s army, but it is up to us to pick up our weapons of defense. The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, will carry us through the time of testing. We know what the final end will be for the devil, so let’s make sure that we keep that in the forefront of any battle that he brings our way. Romans 8:37-39 ⁽³⁷⁾No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (³⁸⁾For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (³⁹⁾neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)