Avoiding God’s Discipline. (2 King 22: 1-20)

The Bible Project Daily Podcast is an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes: Avoiding God’s Discipline. (Joshua 22: 1-20)

God wants you to be His child. Not just in the sense of being forgiven, though that’s where it begins, but in the sense of being a child who walks with Him, listens to Him, and enjoys His blessing.

But once you become His child, God wants you to be an obedient child, just like any good parent wants their child to obey. And for that, He’s given us an instruction manual…. It’s called the Bible.

 But what happens when you step out of line? Well… what happens with any child? God, like a good Father, disciplines us. 

 In the bible, God’s people, Israel, had a long record of discipline; the Old Testament is full of this pattern. God redeemed Israel out of Egypt. He gave them the land, He blessed them abundantly, and He made them His people…. And then He gave them a long book — Deuteronomy — that effectively said:

 “If you obey Me, I will bless you.”

“If you disobey Me, there will be consequences.”

 But they didn’t listen. For hundreds of years, God warned them: And eventually, that’s exactly what happened…. That’s the story of 2 Kings.

 King after king after king…

disobeying, drifting, rebelling…

until finally God says, “Enough,”

and the nation is carried into exile.

 But here’s the fascinating part: One of the very last kings didn’t get disciplined and that’s where our story begins today. Because if we can understand why he escaped discipline, we can learn how to avoid it in our own lives….

Transcript

Avoiding God’s Discipline. (Joshua 22: 1-20)

God wants you to be His child.

Not just in the sense of being forgiven, though that’s where it begins 

But in the sense of being a child who walks with Him, listens to Him, and enjoys His blessing.

Let’s start at the beginning.

We know that to become God’s child, you must be born again.

Jesus explained it in John 3:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

so must the Son of Man be lifted up…” 

(John 3:14)

He was talking about His death, lifted up on the cross.

And then He said:

“…that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:15)

That’s how you become God’s child.

You trust Christ.

You believe in Him.

And God gives you eternal life as a gift.

But once you become His child, God wants you to be an obedient child, just like any good parent wants their child to obey. And for that, He’s given us an instruction manual…. It’s called the Bible.

Follow it, and you grow.

Follow it, and you mature.

Follow it, and you become more like Christ, which is the whole goal.

But what happens when you step out of line?

Well… what happens with any child?

They get disciplined.

You don’t have to teach a two‑year‑old to say “No.” It comes naturally. They inherited it from you, and you inherited it from Adam.

And God’s children are no different. We sometimes say “No” to Him, all the time.

And when we do, God, like a good Father, disciplines us.

In the bible, God’s people, Israel, had a long record of discipline; the Old Testament is full of this pattern.

God redeemed Israel out of Egypt. He gave them the land, He blessed them abundantly, and He made them His people…. And then He gave them a long book — Deuteronomy — that effectively said:

“If you obey Me, I will bless you.”

“If you disobey Me, there will be consequences.”

But they didn’t listen.

For hundreds of years, God warned them:

“If you keep disobeying, I will discipline you. I will remove you from the land, and I will send you into captivity.”

And eventually, that’s exactly what happened…. That’s the story of 2 Kings.

King after king after king…

disobeying, drifting, rebelling…

until finally God says, “Enough,”

and the nation is carried into exile.

But here’s the fascinating part:

One of the very last kings didn’t get disciplined.

And that’s where our story begins today.

Because if we can understand why he escaped discipline, we can learn how to avoid it in our own lives….

2 Kings 22 introduces us to Josiah. The Boy King Who Walked With God….

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

(2 Kings 22:1–2)

So, eight years old…. Imagine that. Most eight‑year‑olds can’t keep their room clean…. Josiah inherited a kingdom.

Why?

Because his father died, the kingship passed by inheritance.

He reigned from 640 to 609 BC, a crucial period in world history.

During his reign:

·         Nineveh fell (612 BC)

·         The Assyrian Empire collapsed (609 BC)

·         Babylon rose to power, the very empire that would soon conquer Jerusalem

Josiah is one of the last kings before the Babylonian invasion.

And as ever, the text gives us an evaluation of his life: “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord… and did not turn to the right hand or to the left.”

That’s rare.

Out of 39 kings in Israel and Judah, only a handful were godly, and Josiah is one of them. He is the fourth and final great reformer after Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah.

And what made him different?

Josiah stayed focused. 

We know from other passages that:

He began seeking the Lord at age 16

He began spiritual reforms at age 20

He began repairing the temple at age 26

A teenager with a heart for God, a young man with a passion for holiness, and a king who refused to drift. “He did not turn to the right or to the left.”

In modern language: He stayed focused.

He didn’t get distracted.

He didn’t get sidetracked.

He didn’t get pulled away by idols, politics, or pressure…. And that’s the key.

Because the easiest thing in the world is to lose focus. Jesus told the parable of the sower to help us appreciate this risk.

Some never believe — Satan snatches the seed.

Some believe for a while — then fall away.

Some believe - but get choked by the cares of the world and never mature.

And some — a few — grow to maturity.

In fact, Jesus said: “Some produce thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hundredfold.”

Different levels of maturity.

Different levels of fruitfulness.

Different levels of focus.

Josiah was a hundredfold man.

And that’s why he avoided God’s discipline.

3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan, son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: 4 ‘Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and make him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Make them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And make these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord – 6 the carpenters, the builders, and the masons. Also, make them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.’

8 Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.’ He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: ‘Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.’ 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 ‘Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.’

14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

(2 Kings 22:3–14)

We said earlier that Josiah “did not turn to the right or to the left.”

He stayed focused. He set his heart on the Lord, and he stayed there.

And now the text shows us what that looked like in practice.

1. Josiah Invested in God’s House

Josiah ordered the money collected for temple repairs to be given directly to the workers, thus ensuring the work was done and not syphoned off in administration.

Carpenters, builders, masons, and stonecutters were hired, and he funded the work directly. They prioritized the temple.

But then comes a remarkable detail. Verse 7 says: “There need be no accounting made… because they dealt faithfully.”

No accountants.

No audits.

No receipts.

No spreadsheets.

Why?

Because everyone involved was faithful.

They were honest.

They were trustworthy, and they were focused.

It’s almost hard to imagine today, a building project with no oversight, but everyone had integrity here and that’s what happens when people fear the Lord.

2.     Josiah Rediscovered the Word of God.

A turning point: “Hilkiah the high priest said… ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.’”

They found the Scriptures. 

Think about that. The Word of God had been lost, neglected,  to the point it was forgotten.

Why?

Because under Manasseh and Ammon, copies of Scripture were likely destroyed. There weren’t many copies to begin with, and idolatry had replaced worship in the temple.

So, when Hilkiah found the Book of the Law, it was like discovering treasure.

What exactly did they find?

Scholars debate this:

Some say, the entire Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

Some say the book of Deuteronomy. Or perhaps specifically Deuteronomy 28–30

But based on Joshua 1:8, which refers to “this Book of the Law” immediately after the five books of Moses, it’s likely they found the whole Pentateuch.

The point is simple: They rediscovered Scripture, and that changes everything.

3. Josiah responded to what the Scriptures said..

“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.” He was shocked, He was convicted of his sin, and he was humbled.

Why? Because he realized, “We have not obeyed this, we have ignored God’s commands, and we are headed for discipline.”

He didn’t argue.

He didn’t justify.

He didn’t blame previous kings.

He just trembled before Holy God…. That’s the mark of a submissive heart.

4. Josiah Sought the Lord Immediately.

Josiah understood something many people never grasp: Discipline doesn’t come out of nowhere; it comes when we ignore God’s Word.

So, he formed a committee, five trusted men, and said:

“Go inquire of the Lord. Find out what God wants us to do. We need to hear from Him.”

That’s wisdom, humility, and spiritual maturity.

Then God spoke through an unexpected messenger.

Verse 14 introduces someone surprising: A prophetess. A woman and God spoke through her.

This is worth pausing over, because some people assume the Bible treats women as second‑class citizens.

But Scripture teaches that.

·         Women made vows (Numbers 30).

·         Women inherited property when there were no sons (Numbers 27).

·         Mothers were honoured equally with fathers (Exodus 20; Proverbs 1).

·         Women named children more often than men — a sign of authority and discernment.

·         Women exercised wisdom and initiative:

·         Hannah (1 Samuel 1)

·         Abigail (1 Samuel 25)

·         The Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4)

·         The Proverbs 31 woman, who bought land and ran a business

Women were not passive.

They were not silent.

They were not sidelined in ancient Israel. They were active participants in the spiritual life of Israel. They just had different roles from the men.

 God placed certain roles in the home and the priesthood.

The Old Testament priesthood was male, not because women were inferior, but because the priest foreshadowed Christ, our High Priest.

And in the home, God established a pattern of loving leadership and willing submission to one another, not as a statement of value, but as a picture of divine truth.

Submission is not about inferiority; it is modelling Christlikeness.

When God created woman as a “helper,” He used a word He often applies to Himself as the Holy Spirit.

In Ephesians 5: “Husbands are commanded to love sacrificially, as Christ loved the church”. And wives are commanded to “Submit willingly, as the church submits to Christ”.

Both roles reflect God. Both roles require humility. And both roles are expressions of love.

And all believers — men and women — are called to submit:

To God

To government

To church leadership

To one another in love

Submission is not a female virtue…. It is a Christian virtue, and it is one of the eternal truths we learn from the Trinity:

Love

Unity

Submission

These are not cultural ideas…. they are eternal realities….

Now, with that in mind, return to the story.

God is our Helper. Christ submitted to the Father. Submission is not weakness; it is divine.

And here in 2 Kings 22, God speaks through a woman, Huldah, even though Jeremiah and Zephaniah were also alive.

And Josiah, instead of going to Jeremiah or Zephaniah, sends his committee to her.

Why? Because she was known as a woman who heard from God. And God used her to deliver His message. Let’s hear what she said.

15 She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: tell the man who sent you to me, 16 “This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.” 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people – that they would become a curse and be laid waste – and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.”’

So, they took her answer back to the king.

(2 Kings 22:15–20)

So here in 2 Kings 22, God speaks through a woman, Huldah, even though Jeremiah and Zephaniah were also alive.

Why? Because God chooses whom He chooses.

Josiah sends his delegation to Huldah the prophetess because he wants to know what God says about our situation.”

And Huldah delivers the message, and she tells him:

“Judgment is coming. The nation has disobeyed for too long, and the consequences cannot be avoided.”

But then she adds something remarkable. “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself… I have heard you,” declares the Lord.

Josiah’s humility spared him from God’s coming discipline.

His soft heart delayed judgment.

His responsiveness brought mercy.

His submission brought blessing….

And that is the key to avoiding God’s discipline:

A tender heart, a humble spirit, and most of all a willingness to submit to God’s Word.

Josiah responded to the scriptures — and God honoured him.

There is an eternal principle at play here.

If you want to avoid God’s discipline, you don’t need to be perfect.

You don’t need to be brilliant, and you don’t need to be powerful.

You need to be humble.

You need to be teachable.

And you need to be responsive to God’s Word.

Josiah was all three.

And God said, “You will not see the disaster to come, you will die in peace.”

That is the blessing of a submissive heart.

Judgment is coming. The nation has crossed the line. Centuries of idolatry, rebellion, and disobedience have piled up, and the Babylonian invasion is now inevitable. 

Do you see what happened?

The nation will be disciplined, but Josiah will not. 

He will live in peace, die in peace, and he will not experience the judgment coming on Judah. Because he had a tender heart and because he humbled himself and because he trembled at God’s Word.

One of the most priceless things you can possess is a tender heart before the Lord.

Josiah had that, from age sixteen onward, and God honoured it.

What Does “Living in Peace” Mean Here?

Some commentators say Josiah would not face war. Others say he would have personal peace — inner peace — even if the world around him shook…. Which is of course, correct?

I personally think both.

He would not live to see the Babylonian invasion, and he would enjoy personal peace because he walked with God.

Either way, the point is unmistakable: 

A humble heart avoids discipline.

A proud heart invites it.

That’s the message.

And it leads to a simple truth: If you want to avoid God’s discipline, keep a tender heart and obey Him.

But that’s the Old Testament. Is this still true today?

Yes…. Let me show you.

Come with me to 1 Corinthians 11 for a moment.

The church in Corinth was observing the Lord’s Supper, but doing it in a selfish, unloving way.

Some were overeating. Some were getting drunk, and some were ignoring the poor.

Paul says, “Shall I praise you in this? I do not.”

Then he adds something sobering. Verse 30: “For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

“Sleep” here actually means premature physical death.

That is divine discipline — in the New Testament.

But Paul doesn’t stop there.

He gives the key to avoiding discipline.

Verse 31: “If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”

Mark that verse, make a mental note of it.

Underline it.

It is the New Testament equivalent of Josiah’s story.

Because it tells us that if you deal with your own sin, God doesn’t have to.

Every parent says the same thing: “Just obey me and you won’t be punished.” God says the same to us.

The simple path to peace is.

Obey the Lord, and you enjoy peace.

Disobey the Lord, and you lose peace.

It’s not complicated.

Do what’s right, and life is lighter.

Do what’s wrong, and life gets heavy.

But better still, do what’s right early, and you avoid all kinds of trouble later.

That’s true at work, in school, in college, or at the university, and it’s true in life…. And it’s true with God.

The Message of 2 Kings 22 is: If you want to avoid God’s discipline:

·         Keep a tender heart.

·         Humble yourself before the Lord.

·         Respond quickly to His Word.

·         And judge yourself — so He doesn’t have to.

Obey Him — and enjoy His peace.

It’s simple. It’s profound. But it can also be life‑changing.

Outro:

As we wrap up today, remember the simple but genuine truth that rises from Josiah’s life:

A tender heart before God is one of the greatest treasures you can possess.

Josiah discovered the Word of God,

He trembled before it,

He humbled himself,

And he obeyed.

And because of that, he avoided the discipline that fell on his nation and enjoyed the peace that only God can give.

The message couldn’t be clearer:

Judge yourself, and God won’t have to judge you.

Walk in obedience, and you’ll walk in peace.

It’s simple.

It’s practical.

And its life‑changing.

Now, in our next episode, we’ll see what Josiah does next.

Because he doesn’t stop with humility.

He doesn’t stop with repentance.

He doesn’t stop with hearing the Word.

He will soon lead one of the greatest spiritual renewals in Israel’s history.

In 2 Kings chapter 23, Josiah takes everything he’s learned

and puts it into action — and the nation is transformed.

Our theme will be:

“How Revival Begins — and How It Begins with You.”

If you’ve ever wondered:

What does real repentance look like?

How does a heart stay tender?

How does a life stay aligned with God?

How does a community experience renewal?

Then you won’t want to miss the next episode.

Until then,

Walk humbly,

Keep your heart soft,

And enjoy the peace that comes from simple obedience.