Josiah nodded. "Read it."
Saphan cleared his throat, and started to read the book.
Josiah heard the words being read to him. He wanted to throw up and punch the wall next to him. This wasn't some trivial book. This was The Book. This was the Book of the Law.
A law they had sorely kept.
Finally, the Book was finished. Before he could even think, he dropped to the floor and the sound of the his clothes being tore was the only sound in the chamber. He covered his face with his hands. How had he governed God's people for so long without properly following or even knowing the Law? So many things ran through his mind. He was filled with rage at himself. Remorse. Begging for mercy.
What now?
Did he continue as they had been? Now that he knew, now that they had found this treasure, how could he continue like nothing had changed? Everything had changed.
He locked eyes with Saphan. "Get Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, and Asaiah. Go and inquire of the Lord for me, and for all the people, and for all of Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."
Based on 2 Kings 22:8-13
I read this section of Scripture a couple weeks ago in my own daily reading. A thought immediately came to my mind, and I scribbled it in the margins of my Bible.
What things should we have known since the beginning?
Think about that for a moment. What should we know, but don't? What things should we be doing, but don't? What facets of God should we understand, but don't?
When the Book of the Law was found, it was because Josiah had ordered repairs for the Temple of God, which had fallen into disarray in previous years due to the people and the kings of Judah not following after God. That book was lost and forgotten, but then found. And after being found and Josiah had sent out his men, Huldah the prophetess told Josiah's men that this was basically a turning point. Judgement would be coming for the people of Judah who had ignored God for so long, but Josiah would have peace because of his heart for God. Even after that, Josiah went and made some major changes to the kingdom of Judah so that he and the people would be following God's Law.
What things should we have known since the beginning? What things should we have been doing all along? And how do we fix that? The answer to that isn't for the faint of heart. It isn't something you can only half do, or pretend to do. It's something that YOU DO.
Pick up your Bible. Follow God.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success." Joshua 1:8
We have easy access to the Bible today. If you don't have one, you can pick one up at a grocery store for goodness sake! Don't continue on your way like nothing has changed. Pick up your Bible. Follow God. Don't come to a day where you ask yourself what should you have been doing all along. Do it. Know it now. Amen.
V. Joy Palmer
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