Scripture:
II Chronicles 34:19-21 NKJV
[19] Thus, it happened when the king heard the words of the Law that he tore his clothes. [20] Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, [21] “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
Observation:
I have been writing about the bible and how it has spoken to me for over a year now. I know that some people have moved on and gotten tired of reading what is written every morning. I get it. Some might not agree with it and have decided to hide the notification from this group thread. I get that, too. But as I was listening to the Holy Spirit this morning about what to write about. This scripture came to my mind. Israel, at this point, had been through a lot. They had seen many kings come and go. Some would do the right thing, and some would not… most of them would not, and that would lead to GOD’S chosen people getting further and further away from GOD. Eventually hiding the book of the law deep in the temple where they thought no one would find it. But King Josiah had plans to reopen the temple and get back to the roots of what made Israel great. During the remodeling project, the book was found and brought to the king. As he sat down to read it. He could see how the nation was so far away from the LORD, and his heart was convicted. To the point of tearing his clothes and commanding his servants to inquire about the LORD for him how to fix what had been done. He knew that the path had to be corrected. In fact, his words were, ” Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Isreal and Judah concerning the words of the book this is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do all that is written in this book.” Josiah knew that what was going on in the kingdom was a direct result of what their fathers had done. Ignoring the word of the LORD and following what they wanted to do instead of what the book says. It convicted his heart, and he knew it had to change. So he did all he knew how to do at that point and sought the LORD for counsel.
Application:
What happens when you read GOD’S word? What does it do to your heart? Can you read it and not want to change the things that don’t line up with it? Honestly, these are all just questions that came to my mind as I got to reading about Josiah and his decision to let the word of GOD have its way in his life. So my question to you is, does it affect you in this manner? Because it does me. When my life is out of order, it doesn’t feel good. When I am doing something that I shouldn’t, the word of GOD points it out to me. I know I have to do something about it. For me, there is no way to leave it alone until I have done my best to fix it. Now that happens in 2 different ways. The first way is the one I appreciate the most. I pray to GOD that he helps me overcome this behavior and he delivers me from it. Or I try and try and try to overcome whatever it is and have no success until I pray to GOD, and eventually, the behavior is corrected. My point is that the word of GOD is a road map to life. When we follow our own way, we get further and further away from where HE wants us to be. But when we look into the perfect law of GOD, we can see who we are and make some attempt to do something about it. Therefore, being a doer of the word. If the bible does not convict us for where we are out of line. If we are clinging to our sins more, then we are reaching out for GOD. we need to take a look at our relationship with HIM. Now listen, I’m not talking about condemnation. I’m talking about conviction. There is a difference, and I don’t want that to get confused. Over and over in the bible, GOD points out that we have a choice. The Holy Spirit is a perfect gentleman. He will point out where we are out of line and leave it to us to do something about. Condemnation is different. That’s what the enemy uses to convince us that we are not what GOD says we are. What I am talking about this morning is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. As we read the road map to life. The Holy Spirit starts to do what HE is designed by GOD to do and convict us where we are wrong. Then it is up to us whether or not we do something about it. The amazing thing about grace is that we get to take the same test over and over again until we pass it, and it’s an open book test. All the answers are in the book. We just can’t hide it on a shelf. We have to open it and let it do what GOD has always intended for it to. Convince rebuke and exhort. Be doers of the word, not just hearers, only. Cling to GOD, not your sin.
Prayer:
Father, we do not want the life we had before you found us. We want the life you have intended for us to have. We know that the book you left us is not just words on a page. You have given us instructions to life, and we want to cling to them. Meditating on them, letting them change our lives. We pray for conviction. We want our hearts to line up with what you want for us. We do not want to do or say anything that is not of you. Help us to allow your word to shape us. We want more of you and less of us. Overcome us direct us lead us we are lost without you and we can do nothing good apart from you. Help us to stay connected to the live giving source that is your son Jesus Christ. It’s in HIS holy name we pray amen.