Forthright Fixation

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “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. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and 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 kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

2 Kings 22: 1-2, 8-13

Why is the story of Josiah worth considering? The answer: Josiah exemplifies a right response to the Word of God.

Such an example puts me to shame. To me, the Word of God is often simply an old leather-bound volume lying in the drawer next to my bed, accessible when I feel like reading it and ignorable when I don’t. But to Josiah, the Word was altogether more valuable.

Upon hearing the words of God, Josiah could have chosen simply to shrug and have it stored for later reference. Yet instead, Josiah responded to the Word of God as an authority. Though the words were printed and read, Josiah responded as if God Himself had physically spoken specifically to Josiah and the people of Jerusalem.

My attitude towards God’s Word is revealed by the way I respond to it.

If God decided to speak to me literally, verbally, I have no doubt that my response would be far more radical than my habitual response to the Word. The Scriptures take on an entirely new profound dimension when I realize that Scripture is God condescending to speak to me.

God demands a serious, humble attitude towards His Word. In Psalm 119 (verses 4-5) the Psalmist writes, “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statues!”

A right response means saying, “Where Your words disagree with the way I am living, I will change.” A right response means going to the Word of God not so that it can affirm the way I am living, but so that it will reform the way I am living.

A right response to God’s Word also means diligent study. Neglecting to study the Word is the equivalent of ignoring the fact that God has something to say about the way I live. The Psalmist in Psalm 119 (verse 6) continues saying, “Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.”

How wonderful that God has given us free access to His Word (something that past generations, and those in hostile nations have known to be a gift worth dying for). The Bible is God’s glorious gift to us! He didn’t have to speak. But in His grace, He has given us words that are “all that we need for life and godliness”.What grace!

Even more gloriously, the story of Josiah didn’t end in verse 13. God rewards those who respond rightly to His Word. At the end of the passage, God speaks the following to Josiah,

“Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you declares the Lord.’” (2 Kings 22:18-19)

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[As a note, I was inspired to read the story of Josiah by a message by Joshua Harris that can be accessed here. I highly recommend it.]

Filed under: God's Word