2 Chronicles 34:14-18: a reflection

14When they brought out the money that was brought into the LORD’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the LORD’s law given by Moses. 15Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing. 17They have emptied out the money that was found in the LORD’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.” 18Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king.

During repairs to the temple in the reign of the young king Josiah, the priest Hilkiah makes a discovery: I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. The book of God's law, given through Moses, had been lost, neglected, buried and forgotten in God's own house. Now it is found and brought to the king, and Shaphan the scribe reads it aloud to him, a rediscovery that would spark a sweeping return to God.

Notice the striking fact: the book of God's law had been lost in God's own house. The word of God, which was meant to guide the whole life of the nation, had been so neglected that it had to be rediscovered, as if by accident, during a building project. God's people had drifted so far that they had lost his very word. And it was the finding and hearing of that word again that began their renewal; when God's word was recovered and read, the people turned back to him.

That is a sobering and hopeful truth. It is possible even for God's people to let his word be neglected, crowded out, buried under other things, so that it is all but lost to us. And it is the rediscovery of God's word, the returning to it and hearing it afresh, that brings renewal. Do not let God's word become lost to you, neglected and buried under the busyness of life. And if it has grown neglected, take up again the book that renews, return to Scripture, hear it afresh, let it speak. The renewal Josiah's people found came from recovering God's word; keep it central, not lost, and let it renew you as it renewed them.

Lord, in Josiah's day the book of your law had been lost and forgotten in your own house, until it was found again and read to the king, sparking a return to you. Keep me from letting your word be neglected like that. It is possible even for your people to let your word be crowded out, buried under other things, so that it is all but lost to us; and it is the rediscovery of your word that brings renewal. Do not let your word become lost to me, neglected under the busyness of life. And where I have let it grow neglected, help me take up again the book that renews, to return to Scripture, to hear it afresh and let it speak. The renewal Josiah's people found came from recovering your word; help me keep it central, not lost, and let it renew me as it renewed them. Speak to me through your word, Lord.