2 Kings 23:1-3
Josiah's Reforms
Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And 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 perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
Tag: Revival begins with God's Word in the Heart
In the above passage we read about Josiah's reforms. The King, at a young age, is impacted by the Word of God. It is God's Word that begins to change His life and, as a result, the life of the nation. We are not going to have any significant change in our lives absent God's Word. In this passage we see that He read the Book of the Covenant. The Book of the Covenant could mean the entire Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy) or, better, portions of the Torah where the Law was given to Moses a second time. The point of the verse is to show that God moves in the hearts of men with the Word of God, even the law. God uses His Word to convict and guide mankind. Those who respond to it are blessed. Those who do not, are cursed. It is that simple. God's Word mixed with faith and, then, obedience is a formula for all kinds of success in the Christian life. Josiah shows us in these chapters. Joshua said it to the entire nation in the beginning of his book:
Joshua 1:8-9
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 then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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