How King Josiah Regarded The Written Words

“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” (2 Kings 22:10-11, ESV).

Notice the reaction of King Josiah when his secretary read the Book of the Law or the books written by Moses. He tore his clothes.

Why? What did he hear from the book?

The king said, “… 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" (verse 13).

He did not take the words of the book lightly. He acknowledged that their ancestors transgressed what were written and they offended not just another human king, but “the wrath of the Lord … is kindled against us”!

Later, God Himself declared, “…Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched” (vv. 16-17).

The king regarded the words that he heard the very words of the Almighty God. And because of his right reaction to His words, he was spared from the punishment of the people.

Notice carefully what God said:

“But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 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. Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place” (vv. 18-20).

God pointed out to the king, “Regarding the words that you have heard…” When the secretary read the words of the book, “…your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord…” The king did not just regard the words he heard as the words of any man. So, his heart was penitent and he humbled himself before the Lord.

After God declared how the king humbled himself, He proceeded to say these significant remark: “…when you heard how I spoke against this place…” 

Did you get it?

When the king heard the secretary reading the words of the book, he regarded those words from God! And God Himself validated it, “…when you heard how I spoke…”

How do we also regard the message of the Bible? Do we consider it just the ideas of men, which some words of God?

Or, do we humble ourselves before God as we read the Book, like King Josiah who regarded the words he heard as the very words of the Living and Sovereign God?

Read The Whole Bible Repeatedly

It was said that Benjamin Franklin wrote to his son, “My son, my advice is that you cultivate an acquaintance with and a firm belief in the Scriptures for this is your certain interest.”

That quote was not the factor why I started to read the Bible. I encountered it when I was already reading the Book and I quoted it before to encourage others to become interested also in the Bible.

Now, it's my purpose to relate to you not just why I read the Bible, but why I became interested to read through it – reading it from Genesis to Revelation. And after I finished reading the whole Book, I would start again reading it.

Actually, I started before to become interested in the Bible, because of my desire to know the events that would happen in the future – about prophecy. However, through the years of reading it, I encountered some Bible passages that shifted my desire from knowing the future events to a different, but more exciting area of desire.

Among those passages was Jeremiah 9:23-24:

“Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD'” (ESV).

In Hosea 6:6, we read the Word of God in the New Century Version: “I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”

And we are familiar with the words of Paul in Philippians 3:7-8a, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...” (ESV.)

My interest to know what would happen in the future was drowned by my overwhelming desire to become more familiar with the One who determines the future.

And that interest became more intense, when other passages in the Bible confronted me like John 17:3, wherein Jesus said: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” For me, it was then the Biblical definition of eternal life – life that is not just eternal inhaling or exhaling of air, or eternal consciousness, but life of eternal “knowing” – knowing and becoming more intimate with God and His Son.

I was overwhelmed with the thought that we could not fully comprehend God in our lifetime. It would take an eternity to really know Him.

Reading Christians books with topic on the characters or attributes of God helped me to know God more. But, the Bible, I realized, is His Autobiography. Jesus in His prayer told His Father in the first part of verse 6 of John 17, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world...” And in verse 26 of the same chapter, He declared: “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”

If I just read the Bible once, I told myself, I would not comprehend what Jesus would like to tell me about the Heavenly Father.

So, the first reason I read through the Bible is to know what God is revealing about Himself to me, or to become more familiar with Him.

The second reason why I read through the Bible is to feel the enjoyment of God.

Again in John 17, we read these words of Jesus to His Father in verse 13: “But now I coming to you in these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” In John 15:11, Jesus also told His disciples:

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Those passages were spoken in different context, but in a general sense, for me, the words of Jesus or God's Word is intended for His people to experience also His joy. We read in Galatians 5:22 that joy is also the fruit of the Spirit. And Jesus declared in the last part of John 6:63, “... The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

The Psalmist declared it explicitly in Psalm 119:162-163, “Princess persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.”

Then, to experience God's joy, why do I read through the Bible, not just the Psalms, or the book of John, or some books in the Bible?

Because the third reason, but it's the most important, why I read through the Bible is that it is the very Word of God and I must value all of it.

It is not just the words of David, of John, of Paul, or other writers used by God as His “secretary.” In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read in part: “All Scriptre is breathed out by God...”

It is not just the Psalms, Proverbs, or the Gospels, but also 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles and other books that are included in the Scripture and should be regarded as the Word of God.

When I was still single, I joined my two friends in hiking that turned almost into climbing halfway on the side of Mayon Volcano. When I read through the Bible, it was not always just walking on the beach, sometimes I was walking uphill.

But, whether we walk on the beach (reading our favorite books in the Bible), or we walk on difficult ground (reading some parts of the Bible we seldom read), we need to dig, if we want to find gold (or to find the truth). It is not always easy. But, it's a thrilling and rewarding tour.

In Psalm 119:72, we read: “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” In Psalm, I noticed that “laws, rules, precepts, statutes and commandments” are used interchangeably with “the word.” So, we can read the passage, “The word of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

And if we consider the Bible as God's Word, then, we should regard highly all of it, as we worship God in all of His attributes, natures, or characters. We regard highly not only His steadfast love, but also His justice, and righteousness.

There are other good reasons why we should read the whole Bible. But, for the meantime, let's remember the points I related.

First, to become more acquainted with God. Second, to experience His joy. And third, to value the Bible as the Word of God as a whole.

To paraphrase the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Brethren, my advise is that you cultivate an acquaintance with the Scripture and a firm resolve to read all of it, perhaps, again and again, for this is your certain interest.”

Why Follow Jesus

"Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, 'Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?' When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!'" (John 21:20-22, ESV.)

After Peter denied His Savior three times, we read in some verses before the text above that Jesus gave him the opportunity to express his love for Him also three times.

Then, Peter noticed John. 

Who is John? 

He wrote the Book of John. He referred to himself as "the one whom Jesus loved" (John 20:2). During His last supper with His disciples, when Jesus said that one of them would betray Him, John asked: "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He entrusted His mother to John (John 19:26-27).

After Peter acknowledged his love for Jesus, He told him: "Follow me" (John 21:19). And in verse 20, we read in part: "Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them..."

Peter saw that John was also following them. 

How about us? As Jesus instructed Peter to follow Him, John also followed them. 

If we also feel that Jesus loved us, our tendency would be to follow Him. John did follow Him, though Jesus did not directly tell him to do so. 

But, let's be sure that we follow the real Jesus who really loved us. The One who chose us, so that we could choose Him. The One who loved us, so we could also love Him. The One who died not just for everyone, but for all His sheep -- for the special people whom God the Father gave to Him. The One who prays for and guards His followers, so that not one of those He chose and He died for will be lost.

And if we also follow the real Jesus, take note His reply to Peter:

"If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" 

As we follow the Biblical Christ, we have to resign to the Wisdom of His Will. We have to pursue Him wherever He leads us. We should trust Him that whatever He will do to us is for our good, for He loved us. And it should not be our concern or even the concern of others on what He would do to us. 

Our only concern is to follow Him, who loved us and whom we learn also to love -- not just any Jesus, but the One followed by John, Peter and the other apostles.

The Elector Who Makes His "Candidates" Win

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:3-5, ESV).

God chose us in Christ – the believers in Christ – not when we began to change our life, not during our birth, but “before the foundation of the world”!

In other words, if we have faith now in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have faith not because we just decide or choose by our own selves. It is God who chose us even before our birth – yes, before the creation of the world. Before we have our consciousness, before we could choose what is desirable or not, God chose or elected us to be “in Him” – to belong to Him as holy and blameless adopted children, to have faith in the Son.

On our own, we were spiritually dead to will or decide or choose to believe in Him. But, because of His mercy, He elected us long before that He would enable us to have the faith.

As God could create something out of nothing, He could also make those whom He elected to win.

We chose to have faith in Jesus or we decide to follow and be in Him, because God had first chosen us to belong to Him and be adopted as His children. And to have that position is more glorious than to win in any elective position on this earth!

Praise the Sovereign Elector who chose us to be in that position -- to be "in Him" and granted us the victory!

Embrace God's Precepts

The Psalmist declared, "Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!" (Psalm 119:40, ESV).

The writer of the Psalm displayed great longing for God's precepts or words. Could we also see the importance of what he perceived?

Listen further to him:

"Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your precepts" (Psalm 119:134).

"I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts" (Psalm 119:141).

"This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts" (Psalm 119:56).

"I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts" (Psalm 119:100).

"...the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Psalm 19:8).

"Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love" (Psalm 119:159).

In spite of those God's-precepts-exalting-words, why is it we tend to value the words or precepts of ordinary men more than the declaration of God?

Why is it we take lightly the Word of God and readily embrace the precepts of frail human beings?

Why is it the precepts of God do not appeal to most of us?

One of the reasons, perhaps, is that we are really ignorant about it. We are spiritually blind to its illuminating light. What we could easily perceive is the logic or acceptable propositions of men.

God's thoughts are not our thoughts. They are so high that we could not easily grasp its beauty. Perhaps, we need to pray what the Psalmist declared in Psalm 119:27:

"Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works."

And also in verse 20, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

May we grasp and regard God's precepts, rules, statutes, commandments, laws, instructions, or commandments as high as He allowed us to appreciate them! 

May we be awed by His Living Word, which is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29). May it became a joy and the delight of our heart (Jer. 15:16).

Great Value Of God's Word

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on yourways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (Psalm 119:9-16, ESV).

We could see here how King David valued the Word of God.

And we ought to understand that God's Word refers not only to His promises, but also to His instructions, testimonies, laws, precepts, statutes – every declaration that comes out from the mouth of God.

For David, we can keep our way pure, by guarding it and it should be guarded according to God's Word – not according to our own measurement of goodness or according to the general acceptance of the majority in this world. So, we need to draw close to God and pattern our ways according to His commandments.

Next, David said: “I have stored up your word in my heart...” – he memorized God's Word, not only put it in his memory, but in his heart – in his desire. If we remember God's instruction and if we have our interest in it, we will avoid to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.

Then, not only to keep his way pure, to avoid sin that David treasured God's Word, but also for his very high regard for Him. David declared, “Blessed are you, O LORD...” So, David longed for to be acquainted with His Word, to learn about it. Further, he was not only contented to enjoy its benefit alone by himself, but also to share all of it with others.

And David would like to declare or share with others the rules or words that he learned from God, because he said in verse 15, “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches...” He experienced joy or gladness in it more than having all the material riches! And because of this kind of gladness in God's Word, David would not like to forget it.

May we also see the value of God's Word and experience it's joyful benefit. And as we do, let it drives us to share it also with others and store much of it in our hearts.

Will Not Be Lost

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24, ESV).

The passage shows that the safety of God's people or the true believers, especially their spiritual security, is certain and nothing could prevent them to reach their Divine destination.

Their security depends not on their own effort, but on the Sovereign Grace of God. Consider the beginning words of the passage, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord...” No matter how difficult is the way, they could go on and walk toward their goal, because God established their steps.

In Today's New International Version, we read the passage:

“The LORD makes firm the steps of those who delight in him; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD upholds them with his hand. 

In the ESV, it seems God establishes our steps, if He delights in our way; but in the TNIV, He establishes or makes firm our steps, if we delight in Him.

Of course, the Bible tells us that we please God or He will delight in us, if we have faith (Heb. 11:6). Also, when we intimately know Him and delight in Him, so we have faith in Him (Psalm 9:10).

Anyway, if He delights in us or we delight in Him, not only He makes firm our steps, but He upholds us with His hand! So, we “will not fall.” In the ESV, we read: “...though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong.”

Because of our sinful nature, we sinned and failed many times to hold on the hand of our Heavenly Father. But, He will never leave nor forsake His children. We read in Psalm 73:22-24:

“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”