NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passages: 2 Kings 18:1-6, 22:1-2, 23:1-3
Discussion Questions:
- What idols do you need to remove from your own life so that you may walk with the Lord more faithfully?
- What is the relationship between the Word of God and our obedience to and worship of the Lord?
- What areas of your life require a renewed commitment to the covenant God?
Food for Thought:
We always want revival, but revival doesn’t have to be a big event. It doesn’t have to include mass audiences and press and social media coverage. Revival can start in the heart of one person, who can start a chain reaction in others.
That’s what happened for the southern Kingdom of Judah when Hezekiah and Josiah became kings. Though they had the office of king and could influence a nation, each was just one man who was faithful to God which led to a revival.
Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he became king, and he “did what was right in the Lord’s sight” (18:3). He took down altars to false gods and even “broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made.” What God gave the Israelites to heal them in the past had become an idol the people worshiped. It’s amazing how many good things God has given us can slowly become idols in our lives, whether it be wealth, prominence, popularity, family, a good job or even a ministry position.
The Israelites took something good that God gave them and instead of worshiping the Giver, they worshiped the gift. Hezekiah saw how that gift corrupted the people and broke it into pieces.
We also see the example of Josiah, who became king at eight years old. You can never be too young to be influential for the Lord. He also “did what was right in the Lord’s sight” (22:2). When he was older, he helped the people turn back to the Lord by reading Scripture in the temple. He renewed their covenant to the Lord to follow Him only and keep His commands with all their heart and all their soul (23:3), and the people agreed. With his own heart revival, he led the people toward revival as well.
What do we learn about revival then? A removal of sin, a love of God’s Word, and a renewed devotion to God are the ingredients. It simply starts with one individual willing to make a commitment toward God.
If there is a stirring in our hearts for a closer intimacy with the Lord, you need to lean into that and ask God how you can live more for Him. God wants all of us because He gave all to us. We see this especially through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we now have His eternal presence with us and His working through us. Through Him the new covenant can never be broken. We have salvation and continued intimacy with God through forgiveness. May our hearts be revived in more love toward Christ because of it.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/gospelproject.
