What does God think of disobedience? How does He treat those who disobey Him? The Bible is full of the warnings of God, condemnations of God, and punishments of God.
2 Kings 22:12-20 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king, saying,
Go inquire of Jehovah for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the Words of this Book which is found.
For great is the wrath of Jehovah which is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the Words of this Book, to do according to all which is written concerning us.
What was Josiah asking them to do? He wanted to know if God’s righteous and just punish of the people of Judah was imminent. He assumed that these priests and scribes would inquire of God themselves. But, they had forsaken God for so long they did not have a clue on how they could inquire of God themselves.
And Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. And she lived in Jerusalem in the second part. And they talked with her.
The best they could do was to go to someone else. This was a wife of one of the tribe of Levi, those whom God has set apart for Himself to assist the High Priests in the service in the Temple. There was no prophet so they went to the prophetess. What did God confirm?
And she said to them, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to me, So says Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on the people of it, all the Words of the Book which the king of Judah has read; because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
Bad news! God’s patience or long-suffering had come to an end. Judah had forsaken Him. They had worshiped other gods. They had taken the incense from His Temple and used in their idolatry. They were not innocent and their ignorance was of their own doing. God would unleash His wrath and judgment upon them. Nothing would stop Him from executing His divine judgment.
But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, so you shall say to him, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, The Words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you have humbled yourself before Jehovah, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its people (that they should become a waste and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before Me), I have heard you, says Jehovah.
Josiah’s sincere and humble response was not ignored by God. God responded to this young king’s prayer with mercy. But, it did not remove His soon coming divine wrath.
Behold, even so I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace. And your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place. And they brought the king this word again.
While this was certainly comforting to Josiah, it was also terrifying. The wrath of God would come, but not on his watch. God extended mercy to the entire nation due to Josiah humble and earnest repentance.
Never underestimate your humble and sincere prayers before God. Never think they will have no effect upon God’s judgment. God repeatedly tells us to pray with the faithful expectation of His answers to our prayers. But, it is His answer we seek, not an affirmation of our desires or plans.
James 5:16 Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous one avails much.