Hello Mike C. and Dove family, Not sure if this is the answer below but I was determined to try and find out what you meant by 2 Kentucky 22. Love In Christ, CRussell     http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/464028/jewish/King-Josiah.htm The Prophetess Huldah At that time Jeremiah, the great prophet of the Jewish people of whom we shall speak in a later chapter, was not in Judea. At G-d's command he had traveled to the far flung corners of the Assyrian empire where the remnants of the people of Israel lived in exile. The king's messengers, therefore, went to the Prophetess Huldah, who gave them the following reply; "Tell the man that sent you: Thus says G-d: I shall bring misfortune upon this place and its inhabitants even as all the words of the Book read by the king; because they have forsaken Me and have served strange gods to anger Me. Yet tell the king of Judea who has sent you to consult the voice of G-d: Thus speaks G-d: Because thy heart was moved and thou hast humbled thyself before G-d when thou didst hear the words I had spoken against this land and its inhabitants... because thou hast torn thy clothes and wept before Me: Therefore I have heard thee; therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers; thou shall be gathered into thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see the disaster I shall bring upon this place!" Spiritual Revival These words were faithfully reported to the king. Josiah was profoundly impressed by the words of the prophetess. He was determined that the words of the Torah and the warning of the prophetess should spread through the length and breadth of the land, in order that the people might be moved to a wholehearted return to G-d. For this purpose he gathered the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea in the Holy Temple. There he read to them the message of the Holy scroll that had been discovered in the Temple, and solemnly vowed to follow in the way of G-d, and to observe His commands and laws with his whole heart and soul. The people, too, impressed by the impending disaster and the sincere repentance of Josiah, took a holy vow to return to G-d and to exterminate all forms of idolatry from their midst. As a result of this solemn assembly, the entire population of Judah turned against the false priests and pagan altars that had sprung up like mushrooms during the rule of the previous two kings. Spurred by Josiah, the people thoroughly purged their land of every kind of idolatry. Passover, the festival of Israel's liberation from Egyptian bondage, was approaching. Josiah was determined that this festival should serve to strengthen the bonds between Israel and G-d, and commemorate the people's return to their Heavenly Father. The festival was therefore celebrated with much solemnity and splendor. Not since the time of the Prophet Samuel had such a Passover been held. Military Strength As soon as Josiah believed that the spiritual reforms had been sufficient, he began to strengthen and increase the political power of Judea. He reorganized his army and built fortifications along the borders. About this time the Assyrian Empire, to which Josiah's predecessors had paid tribute, was on the verge of collapse and Josiah dreamt of reuniting under his scepter all the people of Israel and of recovering all the land that had once belonged to the kingdom of the House of David. But Josiah was rudely awakened from his dreams. War against Egypt; Josiah's Death Egypt, under the able leadership of Pharaoh Necho, was determined to wage war against Assyria. The Egyptian army marched north-eastward, planning to attack the Assyrian army. King Josiah decided to oppose the advance of the Egyptians, despite the objections and warnings of the Prophet Jeremiah. The King of Egypt assured Josiah that he had no designs upon Judea's independence, and requested free peaceful transit through the land. But the request was refused. In the plains of Meggido the two armies met and Judea's troops were mercilessly crushed. King Josiah himself was wounded and brought back to Jerusalem. There he died, deeply mourned by the entire people.           Josiah Reference II Kings 22:1 - 23:30 II Chronicles 34:1 - 35:26 Reign 31 years (640 - 609 B.C.) Theme Serving God wholeheartedly can save multitudes. Lesson When you serve God without compromise or turning, you bring blessing to everyone around you. Key Verse "For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father" (II Chronicles 34:3). Remember "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enought to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Application The Christian should never be dismayed by living a right life before God, but at times seeing no fruit result. For just as sin spreads and destroys, so righteousness permeates and saturates those associated with it. Spiritual Epitaph "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself ... and weep before me; I have even heard thee also" (II Chronicles 34:27). Josiah descending from the loins of Amon is every bit as improbable as Manasseh descending from the loins of Hezekiah. For as wicked as his father and grandfather were, Josiah was exceedingly righteous. The monarch who reigned for 31 years was responsible for tearing down the altars of the Baals; smashing the Asherah poles; purifying and repairing the Temple; finding the Book of the Law, reading it to the people and making a covenant to observe it; and removing the idols from all the land over which he held dominion, far exceeding the borders of Jerusalem and Judah. Josiah also celebrated the Passover, something not done in Israel since the time of Hezekiah. More than anything, however, Josiah, like Hezekiah, brought salvation to his people. After finding the Book of the Law, Josiah sent his officials to consult with the prophetess Huldah, who delivered this message: "Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place ... [But] Because thine heart was tender, and thoud didst humble thyself before God ... Behold I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace" (II Chronicles 34:24,27-28). The kingdom of Judah would survive almost 23 years following the death of Josiah, allowing that much more time for repentance to be sought by those who had the heart to do so. Had it not been for the righteous acts of Josiah, Judah could well have been judged and sent to captivity much earlier than it was.         Michael Colunga (28 July 2011) "2 Kentucky 22"   Hello, John and Doves,   The Church is running full tilt into a brick wall [apologies to J.K. Rowling]. We'd better hope there is a Open Door that no one can shut in that wall. That wall represents the Great Tribulation, that starts with the seventh seal.   What am I talking about?  See what Huldah has to say. Where can I find Huldah?  Hint:  2 Kentucky 22. [I am sure, though, that the good king Josiah never heard of Kentucky.]   [btw, I was resting in my car prior to work, this morning, when I heard the voice of the LORD say--matter of factly, "The answer can be found at 2 Kentucky 22."]   Baruch HaShem Adonai, Mike C.           Matthew 24:42 (KJV): Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Acts 13:52 (KJV): And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Hosea 4:6 (KJV): My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Matthew 24:27 (KJV): For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Ephesians 4:30 (KJV): And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV): And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:23 (KJV): And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Deuteronomy 30:6 (KJV): And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Do not delay.  Do it now.  Search your hearts.  Ask MY SPIRIT to search your hearts, and come to ME with a repentant heart, replace your carnal heart with a repentant heart and let yourselves be filled with the Glory and the Truth and the Purity of MY SPIRIT.  What are you waiting for? Today may be too late. The clock ticks away the seconds ... TICK ... TICK ... TICK ...  www.fivedoves.com Sabrina