Psalm 9:17 — “The wicked shall be TURNED into Hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
2 Kings 23:2-3 — “…he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book.”
King Josiah
I always loved this story. King Josiah, at 8 years old, began his reign. At that juncture in history, Judah had pretty much forgotten and forsaken their covenant with their God.
Making a covenant was a serious affair. Genesis 6:18 reads, “but I (God) will establish My covenant with you (Noah)…” We find “covenant” all through the O.T. The LORD God made a “covenant” with Abram (Genesis 15:18), with Isaac (17:21), with Moses and many that followed.
“Covenant” = Hebrew, beriyth = “a compact confederacy, league.” Peter says in Acts 3:25, “You are sons of the prophets and the covenant which God made with our fathers…” Paul writes in Romans 9:4, “Who are Israelistes, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law; the service of God, and the promises.”
“Covenant” = Greek, diatheke = “a contract, testament.” The New Testament Book of Hebrews uses the word “covenant” many times.
What we find is that God made “covenants” with men and nations, and men made “covenants” with Him, and with one another, as in Galatians 3:15.
Turn Back!
The admonitions “turn back,” “turn again to Him,” “turn away from,” etc., are found many, many times, especially in the prophets. Just go through the Old Testament and count!
We find the LORD pleading for His people to “turn from their wicked ways” and “turn unto Him again,” warning that if they did not, that He would TURN against themin judgment/punishment.
Isaiah 59:20 — “The Redeemer will come in Zion, and to those who TURN from transgression in Jacob (Israel), says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 3:14 — “RETURN, O backsliding children, says the LORD.”
Ezekiel 3:19 — “…if ye warn the wicked, and he does not TURN from his wickedness, nor (TURN) from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity…”
Daniel 12:3 — “Those who TURN many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
Hosea 5:4 — “They do not direct their deeds toward TURNING to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the LORD.”
Joel 2:12 — “Now, therefore, says the LORD, TURN to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
Amos 1:3 — “Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not TURN away its punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron.”
Jonah 3:8 — “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one TURN from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.”
Zephaniah 3:20 — “At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; for I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I RETURN your captives before your eyes, says the LORD.”
Malachi 4:6 — And he will TURN the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Do you think God has cursed the land today because the inhabitants refuse to TURN to God and TURN back to God? (See the latest Words of the Spirit at https://jesuscallstoall.com/blog. – Prophetic Words that are STARK and CUTTING!)
Turning Back to 2 Kings
During Josiah’s reign, paganism was epidemic. Josiah went about sponsoring repairs to the temple, at which time a book of the Law was found. This book changed all Judah because it led the backslidden nation to REPENTANCE! In 2 Kings 12:11 it says that Josiah “tore his garments,” an act of repentance and fear of the LORD. This zeal led to Judah’s spiritual renewal. It also led to the REVOLUTION against the pollution of IDOL worship.
My God! Do we need this ZEAL today! The Family, Church and State are FAR from God. We either TURN BACK to God or perish as a nation. We are cursed at this time. It is time for personal and national REPENTANCE – TURNING to God.
— Gen. Jim, POW
