2 Kings 23:15-20: a reflection

15Moreover the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah. 16As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the LORD’s word which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17Then he said, “What monument is that which I see?” The men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel.” 18He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. 19All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 20He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.

As King Josiah tears down the idolatrous altar at Bethel, something remarkable is noted: he is fulfilling a word spoken long before. Generations earlier, a man of God had stood at that very altar and proclaimed that a king named Josiah would one day come and do exactly this. Now, centuries later, that word is fulfilled to the letter, by the very Josiah named in advance. God's word, spoken long before, came to pass in its appointed time, exactly as it had been given.

Notice that God's word, spoken generations earlier, was fulfilled precisely in its time. The prophecy at Bethel had been given long before Josiah was born, naming him and describing what he would do; and now, in God's appointed time, it was fulfilled exactly. The long delay did not make the word fail; it waited for its appointed time, and then came to pass to the letter. God's word does not fall to the ground, however long between its speaking and its fulfillment; it comes to pass in its time.

That reliability of God's word, fulfilled in its appointed time however long the wait, is worth resting in. God makes promises that may not be fulfilled quickly; long years may pass between his word and its coming to pass, and we can wonder whether it will be fulfilled at all. But the prophecy at Bethel, spoken generations before, was fulfilled exactly in its time; God's word waited for its appointed hour, and did not fail. When God's promises seem long delayed, and you wonder whether they will come to pass, remember the word fulfilled at Bethel generations after it was spoken; God's word does not fail, but comes to pass in its appointed time. Do not doubt God's word because its fulfillment is delayed; it waits for its appointed time, as the word at Bethel waited generations and then was fulfilled to the letter. Rest in the reliability of God's word, which comes to pass in its time, however long between the promise and its fulfillment.

Lord, as King Josiah tore down the idolatrous altar at Bethel, something remarkable is noted: he was fulfilling a word spoken long before. Generations earlier, a man of God had stood at that very altar and proclaimed that a king named Josiah would one day come and do exactly this. Now, centuries later, that word was fulfilled to the letter, by the very Josiah named in advance. Your word, spoken long before, came to pass in its appointed time. Show me that your word, spoken generations earlier, was fulfilled precisely in its time. The prophecy had been given long before Josiah was born, naming him; and now, in your appointed time, it was fulfilled exactly. The long delay did not make the word fail; it waited for its appointed time, and then came to pass to the letter. Your word does not fall to the ground, however long between its speaking and its fulfillment. Let me rest in that reliability of your word, fulfilled in its appointed time however long the wait. You make promises that may not be fulfilled quickly; long years may pass, and I can wonder whether they will be fulfilled at all. But the prophecy at Bethel was fulfilled exactly in its time; your word waited for its appointed hour, and did not fail. When your promises seem long delayed, help me remember the word fulfilled at Bethel generations after it was spoken. Keep me from doubting your word because its fulfillment is delayed, Lord; help me rest in its reliability, for it comes to pass in its time.