Doers of the Work

Based on 2 Kings 21-23

We start off this passage with one of the most evil kings to reign in Judah: Manasseh. He caused the people to sin more than their enemies in other nations, who were not serving God:

"But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel." 2 Kings 21:9.

That's a pretty bad reputation...God's people were so far from Him at this point that they were no different or set apart than any other people...you couldn't tell them apart from the world! Not only did they forget to listen to God's Word, they did not do or obey the things in His Word either. They were not doers of The Word, or doers of the work God had planned for them...

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22.

Thankfully, king Josiah comes on the scene in Judah & starts to do some work for The Lord! He starts to take the steps necessary to not only fix the house of The Lord, but also fix the hearts of the people of Judah back on God!

"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches of the house," 2 Kings 22:4‭-‬5.

Not only were these people doers of a good work, but they found The Good Word! As they were busy fixing up the breaches (instead of building idols), Hilkiah the priest found the book of God's Word! God saw people who were willing to be doers of a good work, so He knew they were ready to receive His Law once again! So, Hilkiah brought God's Word to king Josiah:

"And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us."
2 Kings 22:11‭-‬13.

Josiah realized how far everyone was from God. They were not hearkening, therefore, they were not DOING according to all that which was written. We must both listen, and do! Be a hearer and a doer! Listen with intent to obey God's Word. Obedience to God's Word is the greatest work we can do!

Huldah the prophetess prophesies that God will judge Judah in His wrath, but He will deal peacefully with Josiah because his heart was tender toward God. Josiah wanted to something about what he heard. He felt truly sorry for forgetting God's Law. So, God said Josiah would die in peace and not have to endure the wrath which would take place upon Judah. Josiah then begins to eradicate the idolatry out of Judah. He still does all the good work he can do, even knowing the wrath which will come upon God's people:

"And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron."
2 Kings 23:12.

Josiah was a doer of The Word and work of The Lord. He performed God's Word rather than just listening to it. He could not allow God's Word to be forgotten as his fathers did:

"Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord . And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."
2 Kings 23:24‭-‬25.

We need to act upon what we read in the Word! Even before Josiah had the Word given to him, he began a good work for The Lord with a tender heart toward Him. We must do that as well! It's the only way God's Word will not be forgotten. We have to pass it on through our words AND actions!