2 Kings 23: 2-3 "The king (Josiah) went up to the house of the Lord...men of Judah...inhabitants...priests and prophets...read in their hearing all the words...The King stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord..."

Josiah realized that what he heard and how it affected him needed to be read before all of Israel.  His telling them what he heard and thought, did not compare to their hearing for themselves what the Word said.  It is one thing to tell people something, but it is quite another for them to hear it firsthand from the Word, and allowing it to course through their minds and hearts, having its full impact on their lives.  Once Josiah heard these words of God, he personally entered into a covenant with God to bring his life in line with God's word. And as a result, all of the people did the same. 

 May we never filter out the truth of God to our people by merely telling them what we heard, but rather, allowing the "Word" to speak for itself, unfiltered!  If we are faithful to give the Word to our people in an unfiltered way, then that means we are also willing to listen and respond to the Word in an unfiltered way.  When we do, we are stirred and brought  under conviction. Then, people realize that our response is not some religious act but rather the right response to the Word of God--the only response that we should have to the Word of God.  We lead by example.  And in this case, all the people followed his lead.  What then followed, would be a season of unprecedented awakening and turning back to God.  For the next 15 years Judah would experience the blessing of God and the presence of God that had been missing since before the time of the Judges to the time of Joshua (vv. 21-23).  For that brief window of time, God brought a fresh wind of revival as He used Josiah to usher in a spiritual reprieve.  During this time Jeremiah was the chief prophet of the Lord (Jeremiah 1: 1). 

Do we sometimes  wonder if we have gone too far away from God, is it too late for an awakening in our country?  Would God be so kind as to allow us a taste of Heaven-sent, earth-shaking revival?  God did this for Judah even after the most wicked of the kings of Judah (Manasseh). Although it would not be sustainable after Josiah's death, it was real and marvelous! Can we not believe that God can do it again?  Would we be willing, willing to meet God's demands on our lives personally and corporately?   Will you join me in praying the prayer of the Psalmist...again? "Will YOU not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" (Psalm 85: 6)

Pray for REVIVAL!