Bible Reading: 2 Kings 22; Hebrews 4; Joel 1; Psalms 140 &141
2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
For fifty-seven years, the people of Judah had kings that did not read the Bible. Manasseh and Amon were both idolaters and occultists.
2 Kings 21:5-6 And he [Manasseh] built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
During his reign he apparently got rid of many of the copies of the Scriptures because when Josiah began to reign they found a Bible! The king began his reign when he was eight years old. At thirty-six he sent the scribe, Shaphan to do repairs on the temple. During their rebuilding they discovered a book. Shaphan read this book to the king.
2 Kings 22:11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
The king knew that God’s wrath was kindled against Judah because they had sinned against God. Josiah’s grandfather had led the people astray to worship other gods. They had not been obedient to God’s Holy Word!
This is much like the situation in our day in America. Once, the leaders of our nation feared God and read and revered the Bible. Today many are actually followers of other religions. Many today try to change the Words of Scripture. This nation cannot prosper in this situation. We must return to the Word of God. What a difference it makes in a person’s life when they hear the Word of God and obey. In Josiah’s day it led to the king getting rid of idolatry in the land. He led the people to make a covenant before the Lord to return to him with all their heart and all their soul.
2 Kings 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
We need leaders like Josiah. We may not have them in the government, but we MUST have them in the church! Be a person who turns to the LORD with all your heart! Get into the Bible and see what God wants!
In Christ,
Rody
