Scripture:
II Kings 22:8-13 NKJV
[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, and he read it. [9] So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.” [10] Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. [11] Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. [12] Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, [13] “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
Observation:
Sometimes it takes me a little bit of time for the Holy Spirit to identify where HE wants me to begin writing. The one thing I was to do no matter how long it takes is allow HIM the time to point out what HE wants said. This morning as I was thumbing around in my Bible, I had several ideas of what I wanted to write about… but that’s the problem… I don’t need to be writing these SOAPS. The idea is to allow HIM to speak, not me. Not that the ideas I had were bad or that they would not come from biblical principles, I’m just not the one who needs to be writing. So as I looked and did my best to keep my spiritual ears open this scripture kept coming to my mind. It just wouldn’t let go, so I felt like the persistence was from the Holy Spirit. Josiah the king had given some orders to Shaphan the scribe, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.” What Shaphan encountered when he got to the house of the LORD wasn’t really excited. He had a job to do. The objective was to deliver the money and have it counted, that’s it. They were rebuilding the house of the LORD and needed more lumber. Being a carpenter this is something I understand. Without money the project does not move forward, and having what you need when you need it is vital and using the money faithfully is just as important having it accounted for seemed to be a top priority. As Shaphan approached Hilkiah with the bag of money, I picture Hilkiah standing there with a heavy look on his face, “Shaphan, wait, I have something I need to show you. Look at the book I found. It’s the Torah, written by Moses himself. I think we need to read it.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan the scribe and he sat down to read it. As he did I see the same heavy look come over him, knowing what the book says and how the kingdom is going about things. His only decision was to show this to the king. Quickly gathering the book and the paperwork given to him by Hilkiah, he was on his way to the king, “Did you give him the money? Yes sir I sure did and he gave me something in return. I think you should see it, what is it… is it the paperwork for the money, was it enough? Yes sir, and more, it seems that the Torah was hidden in one of the walls of the temple and they found it, I think you should read it. OK let me see it, I’ll give it a look.” Josiah was the king he needed to know what GOD’S desire for HIS people was. As he opened the book and began to read. It was more than a heaviness that came over him. He was responsible for leading GOD’S chosen people…. In the wrong direction. It may not have started with him, but it was up to him at this point, and something needed to be done. As the weight of this responsibility sat on him, he knew he was in the wrong. Tearing his clothes and giving orders that had to be corrected the kingdom was at risk. It had been opened up to what was going on due to the way it had been run up to this point. “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for 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 aroused against us,because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” As Shaphan returned to Hilkiah with the request from the king, instructions were given. We need to return to the LORD…. There is no time to waste….. It needs to happen now, without hesitation. The remorse felt by the king opened the door for GOD’S restoration.
Application:
When was the last time you sat down to read the bible with a tender heart and was so convicted that you came to tears over your behavior. I’m going to be completely honest with you… that’s where I want to be with GOD’S word. I want it to change me, to shape me, to see the will of GOD for my life and desire it more than anything else. It’s not just a book to sit down and read, it’s the very life of Jesus. The pictures painted from cover to cover, are all about HIM. As I was reading this scripture this morning, the last several years of my life played in my mind. Reading the Bible and doing everything I can to feed those around me. My desire to make an impact for the kingdom drives my every decision. I want the word of GOD to impact my life as well as all those whom HE places in my path. I found the Bible in a jail cell years ago. I hardly knew how to read, but I knew that the LORD had something to say to me once I found it. After years of reading and trying to understand it, the Holy Spirit finally revealed what I needed to know through a man named Dwayne Johnson. He was not the one you thought of when you saw the name but he did however expose who the rock is to me. He showed me Jesus Christ through the words he spoke from a pulpit in the town I live in. What a vessel of the LORD. My point is this, GOD’S word is like a scalpel. It’s made to operate on our heart’s, and when our hearts are out of position with HIM and we read what HE has to say to us, it should have an effect much like Josiah had. I never want to read GOD’S word as a religious act. Trying to earn HIS favor…. I already have that. It was given to me the day I asked Jesus to be my LORD and SAVIOR, right there in the little church. I want to read GOD’S word and allow it to conform me to HIS image. My desire is to become more like Jesus Christ. The one who set down HIS life for me. My question is this, when you read what GOD has to say to you, do you just pick out the fluffy parts that require no change at all, or do you allow the Holy Spirit to have HIS way in your life. I don’t want to be that sane old washed up drug addict who thinks of no one but himself. My life is not about me. I was not brought to salvation for me. It’s all about HIM and we all should desire to be consumed by HIM. I want less of me and more of HIM. As HE removes the things in my life that I don’t need, HE will replace them with the things HE has always intended for me to have. But even that is not for me, its for you. So you can see how incredibly good HE is and desire more of HIM for yourself as well. Allow GOD’S word to convict your heart. Change what is needed and fall in love with HIM all over again.
Prayer:
Father, what you say matters to me, and I don’t want to modify your words to fit my life… I want my life to be modified to fit your word. That’s the two ways we can read what you say. So what I’m asking for today, is that you allow our hearts to be soft and pliable so that they are clay on the hands of the POTTER. we do not want to justify our behavior through your word we want to be entirely new creations, made new, made with a desire to be Spirit led. Fill us to overflowing so that there is no room for us. We want more of you GOD. Help us to see exactly what you want for us. Your plans are so much bigger than what we might think or imagine. We just want to be right in the middle of it. We pray for the anointing you desire to be poured out over our lives. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.