I have found the
Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 22:8).
Hezekiah’s
great-grandson Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old.
The writer of 2 Kings tells us he did what was right in the eyes of
the Lord (22:2). Whereas
Hezekiah had to strip gold from the temple doorposts to pay Assyria tribute,
Josiah authorized a capital funds campaign to restore the temple to its
original condition.
It was during the
renovation process that Hilkiah the High Priest found the Book of the Law
(possibly Deuteronomy), and passed it on to the king. Josiah was grief-stricken
upon hearing God’s commandments, and implemented a sweeping reform of Judah. It
is in reading of this reform (chapter 23) that we see how far Judah’s downward
spiral had progressed in just two generations, due to the evil influences of
Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh.
Josiah had never met
his great-grandfather, but had probably heard stories. Possibly because of his
mother Jedidah (the writer carefully includes her name), he developed a heart
for God. So the question is: Did the discovery of the Book of the Law fan into
flame this passion for God? Or did God reveal his Word to Josiah because he
knew Josiah was already primed to do something about it?
Just goes to show
what we could be missing when we neglect our Bibles.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How is God preparing your
heart to answer his call in your life? Ask him to make you ready.
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