2 Kings 23:1-28
2 Chronicles 34:29-33, 35:1-19
Nahum 1:1-15, 2:1-13, 3:1-19
2 Kings 23:2-3, “And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets — all the people from the least to the greatest. There, the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple. The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all His commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”
When you think of feeling refreshed, what comes to mind? A dip in the pool on a hot day? A Sunday afternoon nap? A tall glass of iced tea? What about feeling refreshed spiritually? Likely, spending time in God’s Word comes to mind. Now, imagine if the Bible had been missing for fifty-seven years. That is what had happened in Judah until King Josiah had ordered the temple to undergo some renovations when the Book of the Law — God’s Word — was finally located after over five decades! This was evident in how the people of Judah were living as they partook in idol worship and other sinful practices.
King Josiah had been faithful to follow the Lord, but even he hadn’t been exposed to the power of God’s Word. When he first heard it read, he was so overcome with emotion that he tore his robes. He was shaken to the core because it so exposed his sins and the sins of his people. Soon after, he heard a prophecy of Judah’s coming judgment. But instead of being discouraged, he intensified his effort to get his fellow Hebrews back on track with God, calling for the Book of the Law to be read before all the people and re-establish the covenant between God and His people, to refresh and renew their relationship with the Lord.
Today’s reading is a great reminder of how easy it is to slip and slide off the righteous path God has set before us. It proves how important it is to spend time regularly in the Word, be involved in church, and rid ourselves of anything distracting us from living out God’s best. So, today, take a few moments to refresh and renew your relationship with God. What steps do you need to take to reconnect and recommit to whatever’s been lacking in your daily walk with Christ? Because when He comes first, everything else falls into place as we live in the sweet spot of His blessing and grace!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word. I seek to obey all that’s in it as I walk the path of purpose that You’ve placed before me. Help me rid myself of anything distracting me from keeping You at the forefront of my life. Amen.