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gathered in peace

2 Kings 22:1-20 (JDV).

2 Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.
2 Kings 22:2 He did what was right in Yahveh’s sight and walked in all the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn to the right or the left.
2 Kings 22:3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent the court secretary Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to Yahveh’s temple, saying,
2 Kings 22:4 “Go up to the high priest Hilkiah so that he may total up the silver brought into Yahveh’s temple — the silver the doorkeepers have collected from the people.
2 Kings 22:5 It is to be given to those doing the work — those who oversee Yahveh’s temple. They in turn are to give it to the workmen in Yahveh’s temple to repair the damage.
2 Kings 22:6 They are to give it to the carpenters, builders, and masons to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the temple.
2 Kings 22:7 But no accounting is to be required from them for the silver given to them since they work with integrity.”
2 Kings 22:8 The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in Yahveh’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.
2 Kings 22:9 Then the court secretary Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your servants have emptied out the silver that was found in the temple and have given it to those doing the work– those who oversee Yahveh’s temple.”
2 Kings 22:10 Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a book,” and Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
2 Kings 22:11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
2 Kings 22:12 Then he commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah:
2 Kings 22:13 “Go and inquire of Yahveh for me, the people, and all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is Yahveh’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.”
2 Kings 22:14 So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her.
2 Kings 22:15 She said to them, “This is what Yahveh God of Israel says: Say to the man who sent you to me,
2 Kings 22:16 ‘This is what Yahveh says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read,
2 Kings 22:17 because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods to anger me with all the work of their hands. My wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’
2 Kings 22:18 Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahveh: ‘This is what Yahveh God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard,
2 Kings 22:19 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before Yahveh when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard’ — this is Yahveh’s declaration.
2 Kings 22:20 ‘Therefore, I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place.'” Then they reported to the king.

gathered in peace

Josiah’s deep repentance for what his ancestors had done was not enough to reverse the curse the nation had put upon itself. But it was enough to ensure that he would be gathered to his fathers (buried) in peace. His reforms would be undone by later generations, but his relationship with the LORD remained intact. A person’s fate at death is sealed by his or her actions and attitudes in life. When Christ returns, a resurrection to eternal life awaits those who have a right standing with God. Eternal destruction awaits those who do not.

LORD, above all else, may we keep a right relationship with you.