God's Word Brings Changes (2 Kings 22)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
30 November 2025
Be prepared for change in life. Josiah saw change. He was eight years old when he became King of Judah. During his reign the Book of the Law was lost but then it was recovered. Great change followed.
Josiah was a good king. The kings before him were wicked. They had no concern for the Book of the Law. Unrighteous men hide truth; but righteous men recover it.
God chose a nation, that is, Israel, to be the repository of the word of God. Today, no individual, church or nation, is the sole repository of God’s word. Instead, God has entrusted his word, the holy Scriptures, to individual believers (2 Timothy 2:1-2). We, individually, are the carriers of God’s word.
Josiah ordered the maintenance of the temple. During this work the missing Scriptures were found. They were lost because of the ungodliness of previous kings who worshipped idols and not the true and living God.
The Book of the Law was recovered because one man pursued temple matters. It takes only one person to spark off religious movements. In Josiah’s day the Scriptures were physically lost. Today, they are spiritually lost. People do not know the Bible message about Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
When Josiah read the Book of the Law he understood that God’s wrath was on Israel because of sin. We, like Israel, have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. We have turned, each one, to unbelief and ungodliness. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against us. But thanks be to God that divine wrath has been held back by Jesus Christ.
God spared Josiah from seeing the destruction of Jerusalem. This was because Josiah was tender-hearted, humble and child-like. Believers are childlike. They are spared the wrath of God. Jesus is their mediator. Jesus takes full punishment. We take full pardon.
The Book of the Law brought change. Josiah made a covenant with God to keep his commandments with heart and soul. The people stood with him. When leaders stand for truth the people stand with them. Righteousness exalts a nation.
God’s word brings about change. The Bible reveals God’s plan of salvation. Jesus is the Lamb of God sacrificed for sinners. People who trust in him will be changed. Josiah’s generation was changed. Ours can be also. The key is the same for both — the rediscovery of the Word of God and commitment to God our Creator. This commitment is through the Lord Jesus Christ who alone brings us before a holy God. To him be all glory.