He who has ears let him hear

Years before Josiah's birth, a prophet was sent by God to king Jeroboam. He cried out against the altar which Jeroboam had built and proclaimed that the Lord would raise up a descendant of David, named Josiah. Josiah would institute reforms that would level the idolatrous high places and false worship that Jeroboam had introduced to God’s people (1 Kgs. 13.1ff). At eight years of age Josiah, the 2nd David, began to reign in Jerusalem. It is customary for the author of the Kings to give an evaluation of the king and his reign. Josiah receives more praise and commendation than any of the OT kings (2 Kgs. 22.2). “He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, living entirely in the manner of David his ancestor and turning away neither to the right nor to the left” (CJB).

Why did Josiah live so godly in a time when Judah had strayed so far away from the Lord? The answer may be found in the Hebrew word "shama." This word is a very common word in the book of Deuteronomy and this connection is one of the reasons scholars often call this section of scripture Deuteronomistic History. Shama can have several meanings and many derivatives, all of which are connected to the idea of hearing. Shama can mean to “hear, listen, accept, understand, and obey.” Knowledge of shama might help us understand why Josiah received such high marks as the king of Judah.

During the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah commissioned the renovation of the Temple. Hilkiah, the high priest found the book of the Torah in the Temple (2 Kgs. 22.8). Hilkiah sent word to the king through the scribe Shaphan and Shaphan read it to the king (22.10). Josiah “heard” (shama) the word of the Lord and tore his clothes (22.11). Josiah sent Hilkiah to inquire the Lord in behalf of himself, the people, and all Judah what they must do since they have invoked the wrath of the Lord. The Lord’s wrath is great because the people haven’t “listened” (shama) to the words in the book (22.13).

The Lord’s response was not pleasant for Judah. They would fall into captivity, but there would be good news for Josiah. Since Josiah has “heard” the words of God, God has “heard” him (22.18-19). The lesson: Why did Josiah do what was right and walk in the ways of David? He was willing to “hear” God. The result of hearing God was that God heard him and promised that he would go to death in peace. Hearing God has a two-fold effect: God will hear us and assurance even in death!