Days 184&185: Zephaniah 1-3, 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35

What a fascinating character Josiah is! He becomes king of Judah when he is 8 years old. 2 Chronicles tells us that he began seeking the Lord, the God of his father David, when he was 16 (2 Chronicles 34:3). At age 20 he begins to purge Judah and Jerusalem of all the pagan idols and practices which had become so prevalent (also 34:3).

And then, in the 18th year of his reign (he is 26 years old), while the workers are cleaning up the temple and getting it ready to be used for what it was intended, something remarkable happens...

     Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
     When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:8-13)

There are a couple of things that amaze me here. One is that the book of the law was lost in the first place. How could that happen? These were the very words of God given through Moses. This book spells out the covenant God made with the people...and that the people agreed to. How could it be lost? Was there not a single person, a single priest or prophet who thought to preserve and protect this priceless volume?

The second thing that amazes me is that Josiah begins his journey to seek God and to bring his nation back to God 10 years before this book is ever found. Everyone acts as if they didn't even know it existed! How does he go about seeking the "God of his father David" without it? How does he know what to do to turn his nation back to God without this important document?

I was raised in the independent Christian Church. The Bible was, and is, our only source of faith and practice. It is the Word of God. It is God's revelation of Himself to humanity. I'm beginning to wonder, though, if maybe we have gotten to where we equate the Bible and God. We can get to know God through the Bible, for sure, but knowing the Bible does not equal knowing God. How many people do you know who can quote scripture but don't know God? Somehow, Josiah started down a path of getting to know God apart from any written communication from Him. How did he do that?

I think what I'm starting to learn is that God can't fit in a book...not even the Bible. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I still believe everything that I've been taught about the Bible...it is our only source of faith and practice...it is God's revelation of Himself to humanity...we need to get to know it well. But let's be real - God is God. He can reveal Himself however He chooses...and to whomever He chooses.

God is alive in the present...not just in the pages of the past.