Find The Book of The Law: God's Word
Josiah was eight years old when he became king . . .
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD . . . Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. . . . "
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
. . . Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest . . . "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us." 2 Kings 22:1-13
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD . . . Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. . . . "
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
. . . Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest . . . "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us." 2 Kings 22:1-13
God chose the nation of Israel to be His own special possession. Through them, the rest of humanity would come into a saving relationship with God. The centerpiece of God's covenant relationship with Israel was the keeping of the Book of the Law. The Book of the Law (the word of God) spelled out how God wanted them to live as His people and how to relate to the people around them. Living according to the Book of the Law was to ensure that they remained a Holy People set apart for God Himself. It would also ensure their continued blessing just as God had assured Joshua that keeping His word would bring him success and prosperity (Joshua 1:8).
With the passage of time, however, the people forgot about Yahweh. Led by their kings, they started worshiping all kinds of idols. They even worshiped the stars and the moon. Obviously God was very displeased and was poised to pronounce upon the people the consequences He had warned would come upon them if they were unfaithful to Him and rejected His Law.
It is rather amazing that the nation had so forgotten about God that God's temple was in ruins and the Book of the Law had been totally neglected -- it was actually lost somewhere in the temple! The high priest happened to find it when King Josiah ordered some clean up and repair work on the temple!!
King Josiah tore his clothes when he heard the news and listened to God's word from the Book of the Law. He realized that their forefathers had done them a great disservice by ignoring God's word and serving all kinds of gods. He knew there was trouble on the horizon!
The word of God is central in our relationship with Him. Whenever the word is "lost" in our relationship with God, we only invite trouble upon ourselves because we live life according to our own rules and terms. Unfortunately, we live in a time when the Word of God is "lost" in God's temple (His Church). No wonder there is so much pain and confusion in God's Church and in the lives of God's children. It is time to find the Book of the Law and make it central to the lives of God's people. It has to be foundational to all we do. Without it life is painful, meaningless and full of confusion. Put the Book of the Law at the core of your life and you will never regret it!
With the passage of time, however, the people forgot about Yahweh. Led by their kings, they started worshiping all kinds of idols. They even worshiped the stars and the moon. Obviously God was very displeased and was poised to pronounce upon the people the consequences He had warned would come upon them if they were unfaithful to Him and rejected His Law.
It is rather amazing that the nation had so forgotten about God that God's temple was in ruins and the Book of the Law had been totally neglected -- it was actually lost somewhere in the temple! The high priest happened to find it when King Josiah ordered some clean up and repair work on the temple!!
King Josiah tore his clothes when he heard the news and listened to God's word from the Book of the Law. He realized that their forefathers had done them a great disservice by ignoring God's word and serving all kinds of gods. He knew there was trouble on the horizon!
The word of God is central in our relationship with Him. Whenever the word is "lost" in our relationship with God, we only invite trouble upon ourselves because we live life according to our own rules and terms. Unfortunately, we live in a time when the Word of God is "lost" in God's temple (His Church). No wonder there is so much pain and confusion in God's Church and in the lives of God's children. It is time to find the Book of the Law and make it central to the lives of God's people. It has to be foundational to all we do. Without it life is painful, meaningless and full of confusion. Put the Book of the Law at the core of your life and you will never regret it!
Prayer: Lord, please forgive us for ignoring your word and living our lives according to our own rules and dictates. Help us to make your word central in our lives and your Church. Amen.