Just like Josiah

Imagine finding something earth-shatteringly important.  Like when looking through old paper work, you discover that years ago you inherited a mansion, or that you had a twin brother that was taken away at birth.  What would your reaction be?  Would you seek that thing out with every bit of energy you possess?  How far would you go to make sure that you had the information correct?  To what lengths would you go?

Something like this happened in ancient Israel.  For years, the kings of Israel had been drifting farther away from the Lord and towards syncretism, idolatry, and sin.  The kingdom that David had established had been divided after the death of Solomon and, while the northern kingdom had always been sinful, overtime, even the southern kingdom fell away from what God had desired of them.

In fact, the people had become so idolatrous and sinful that even the Torah, the Book of the Law, which was the foundation for all of their faith had been lost.  Not even the priests, the keepers of the Law, knew where the Book had gone.  Throughout the Book of the Kings (1 & 2 Kings), Israel and Judah become increasingly apathetic and apostasy, eventually being deported at the hands of the Assyrians, and later the Babylonians.  It is at this point in the nation's history when a young, God-fearing king ascends to the throne.  His name is Josiah and his story is told in 2 Kings, chapters 22 and 23.

Eight years old when he begins his thirty-one years reign in Jerusalem, the Word says that Josiah, "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 (2 Kings 22:2)."  He was a good, godly king.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, he decides to spend some money and for some much needed repair of the Temple.  It is at this time that while doing the repairs, the Book of the Law is found.

Although it is both shocking and appalling to think that the Israelites had become so idolatrous that they had actually "lost" the Book of the Law, what is remarkable about the story and about Josiah is his response to the Book's finding.  Josiah does two stunning things in reaction to discovering the Book of the Law that have immediate contemporary applications for us.

The first thing that Josiah did was to have the Book read in its entirety both to himself and to the whole nation.  Josiah understood immediately that the Law was God's Word for Israel and, though their forefathers had abandoned it, he intended to reinstitute it as the Book for Israel's faith.  He didn't do this half-heartedly.  No, he knew that God's Word demands full allegiance with no hint of turning.  Moreover, Josiah was excited and energetic to do this.  We should take a mind like this when we consider instituting God's Word in our lives.  And we should do so with as much fervent intent and energy as Josiah.

The second thing he did was to destroy all the idol worship that had pervaded Israel.  He destroyed altars, killed priests, and purged the nation of the sin of idolatry.  This is huge.  Think of the effect of such a decision.  Not only was his move bad for the economy, as idol worship was big business, but also it challenged all of the Israelite idol worshipers to get their act straight.  We should do this same thing, definitively purge the idolatry and sin both from within ourselves and from within our churches.  While we should do so with grace and gentleness, we are commanded to take seriously God's call to purity and holiness.

Again, the Old Testament should not be neglected for its antiquity but studied for its usefulness and worth.  All of Scripture speaks to the glory of God and Christ Jesus.  Therefore, we need to put on our miner's hats and interpreter's tool-belts to dig into the Scripture for the endless worth thereof, both practical and theological.  Let us then be like Josiah, exalting the Word of God and striving with all passion to live it out!

Faith like Hannah

The story of Samuel is one of the greatest stories in all of Scripture.  His role in shaping the nation of Israel is unmistakable and remarkable.  The two books that bear his name tell the story of Israel transitioning from the time of the judges to a kingdom with a king, and he plays a major role in the transition.  And though the stories of Saul and David often overshadow the story of Samuel, it is a fertile one worth mining.

Hannah, Samuel's mother, was barren.  She had been praying to God for several years to have Him bless her with child by her husband, Elkanah.  Every year, Elkanah took Hannah and his other wife, Peninnah, to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord.  Hannah would weep bitterly because of her barrenness that was exacerbated by Peninnah's chiding.

One year, Hannah was in the street one night in Shiloh during her families yearly pilgrimage when the priest, Eli, noticed her.  Eli thought Hannah was drunk and told her to leave for her debauchery.  But Hannah cried out that she was not drunk but stricken by her barrenness, explaining that she was troubled in spirit from her condition.  Eli blesses the woman and tells her that God will grant her petition because of her faith.

In response, the Lord blesses Hannah and she becomes pregnant with Samuel.  Hannah is overjoyed by God's faithfulness.  She determines to devote her son to the Lord and gives him to the service of Eli and to the work of the Lord.  Though she visits him yearly, she gives up her son to the Lord.  In doing so, she offers one of the most beautiful songs in all of Scripture, echoed by Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Gospels.

The point of the story is submission in thankfulness.  Though Hannah had been struggling her whole life in barrenness, waiting for a child, when God finally blessed her with a child, she offered the child up to God as a sacrifice and offering.  Hannah is an example of what true devotion looks like.  She gave her everything to the Lord with utter joy.  We should strive to take the same mind among us in offering our best to God with all thankfulness and faith.