JAN 23

2 Chronicles 34:1-33
Memorise 2 Chronicles 34:19
“…when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.“

Josiah was a godly king. His grandfather, King Manasseh, and his father, King Amon, had caused the land of Israel to sin grievously. When Josiah became king he resolved to purge Judah and Jerusalem of all idols. He also wanted to repair the house of the Lord. It was in the course of the repairs that a book of the law of the Lord was discovered. It is a sad day when the word of God is hidden and out of sight. It is meant to be read and made known to all people that they might hear the glorious salvation written therein. When Shaphan the scribe read it before the king, there was an immediate reaction. It made a deep impression on him and he was convicted of the sins of the people who had not obeyed the Lord. They had gone whoring after other gods. As a godly king, Josiah took God’s Word seriously. When he realised that they had not fully obeyed certain aspects of the Word of God, his heart mourned. He rent his clothes as a mark of his sorrow and grief. He repented of the sins of his people and wanted to lead them to walk in the way of the Lord.

This incident shows the power of the Bible to convict sinners and bring about a change of heart. The Word of God has power to open the spiritual eyes of men lost in their sins. For Josiah, all it took was for the Word of God to be read to him to show him the areas where his people had disobeyed the Lord, and that God’s wrath would be upon them if they did not repent. Subsequently, he gathered the elders of the land and read the same word to them, knowing that the Word of God was what they needed to be convicted in their hearts. He then made a covenant before the Lord to henceforth walk in His ways.

Dear teen, if you own a Bible but know little of the glories of God that are contained therein, what good does it do for you? You have learnt that the Word of God in King Josiah’s days was suppressed and kept away from the people. They were totally ignorant of the commandments of God. Today, the Word of God is printed and sold everywhere. It is easy to buy and own one, but the Word would be useless to us if we do not know the contents well. Resolve then, dear teen, to know your precious Bible and use it as your spiritual sword to fight temptations, to walk in the ways of the Lord and to witness faithfully to your classmates and neighbours.

Thought: Receive God’s Word with a tender heart.
Prayer: Lord, may I have a thirst and hunger for Your eternal Word of Life. It is living bread for my soul. Feed me till I want no more.