In my eighth year, my daily life was filled with play. School was the most serious thing I experienced, and in third grade even that was still pretty much fun. My world was small. I was allowed to play in my own yard and could ride my bike a distance of one block in my own neighborhood. Serious events occurring in the world didn't concern me.
For Josiah, life was much the same as mine. Then, one night as he was sleeping, the servants in his house killed his dad, King Amon. Josiah went to bed a child and dreamed childish dreams, but awoke as a king. Kings are powerful. As an eight year old king, if he had ordered someone killed, their execution would have been carried out without hesitation.
Josiah's father and grandfather had both been Kings of Judah, but they had abandoned God and His instructions for carrying out the responsibilities of kingship. In fact, no king of Judah had properly worshipped God for centuries. The Temple still stood on the Temple Mount, but it was in bad repair. As King Josiah matured, he noticed the sad state of the temple building and ordered it repaired. He hired stonemasons and carpenters. He sought only physical repair. As a third generation backslider, he had no thought of spiritual renovation. Then an odd thing happened. The workmen found a book (a scroll) in the temple and brought it to him. (vs 8) Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it.... and a few verses later -- Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
Few books existed in Josiah's kingdom. Most had been read to him repeatedly, and had stimulated and informed his intellect. But this was the first time the young King had ever heard the Word of God, and when he heard it, it stimulated his heart and spirit, and he responded -- When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. King Josiah recognized himself as a sinner in the eyes of God, and immediately responded. -- 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant saying, 13 "Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us." Having encountered the Word for the first time, the King couldn't wait to share it. -- (Chapter 23) 2 The king went up to the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.
King Josiah inherited his father's position and power but declined his father's spiritual waywardness. For centuries Judah's kings before him had considered themselves among the highest and most powerful men on earth. Upon hearing God's Word, Josiah submitted himself to it and led a nation back into right standing with God -- 3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
The transformational power of the bible is only released when it is heard. Have you heard it? Do you listen to it daily? Have you submitted to its authority in your life? Have you told others about it? Has anyone you know experienced spiritual transformation because you have shared the Word of God with them? Don't tell me you aren't qualified to share the bible. God used Judah's youngest king to instigate Judah's greatest revival but simply exposing them to scripture.
In the book, Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, researchers found that lack of exposure to scripture and eventual submission to its authority is an absolute impediment to spiritual growth and that those who fail to submit to scripture wither and fade away from faith. And the opposite is also true. Those who submit to God's Word are enabled to grow to the highest level of faith.
Where do you find yourself in this equation? If you are stalled or failing with withering faith, turn your heart to the Lord through the simplest of methods -- read the bible daily. It changed Josiah's heart, then all of Judah. It can change yours too.
Copyright 2014 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com
In the book, Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, researchers found that lack of exposure to scripture and eventual submission to its authority is an absolute impediment to spiritual growth and that those who fail to submit to scripture wither and fade away from faith. And the opposite is also true. Those who submit to God's Word are enabled to grow to the highest level of faith.
Where do you find yourself in this equation? If you are stalled or failing with withering faith, turn your heart to the Lord through the simplest of methods -- read the bible daily. It changed Josiah's heart, then all of Judah. It can change yours too.
Copyright 2014 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com
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