2 Kings 22:8-13: a reflection

8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.” 10Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king. 11When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13“Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the LORD’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.”

The book of the law, long lost and neglected, is found in the temple; and when it is read before King Josiah, he is pierced to the heart. He tears his clothes in grief, and urgently sends to inquire of the LORD, saying, Great is the wrath of the LORD kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book. The word of God, truly heard after long neglect, convicts and humbles Josiah, and moves him at once to seek God and to act.

Notice the effect of God's word truly heard: it convicted, humbled, and moved Josiah. The law had been neglected, lost; but when it was read and Josiah truly heard it, it pierced him, showing him how far his people had strayed, humbling him, moving him to grief and to urgent action. The word of God, when we truly encounter it rather than merely having it around, has power to convict, humble, and move us. Josiah did not hear it and shrug; he was pierced by it.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can have God's word around us, familiar, and yet not truly hear it, not let it pierce and move us. Josiah's people had the law, but it had been neglected, lost; and even when we have God's word, we can hear it without truly hearing, letting it fall on us without conviction or effect. But when we truly encounter God's word, it has power to convict, humble, and move us, as it convicted and moved Josiah. Do not have God's word around you and yet not truly hear it, letting it fall without effect; let it pierce you, convict you, humble you, move you to seek God and to act, as it moved Josiah. When you come to God's word, come to truly hear it, not merely to have it around; let it do its convicting, humbling, moving work in you, as it did in Josiah when he truly heard the long-neglected law. God's word has power to pierce and move; do not blunt it by mere familiarity, but let it truly reach you, convicting, humbling, and moving you to seek God and obey.

Lord, the book of the law, long lost and neglected, was found in the temple; and when it was read before King Josiah, he was pierced to the heart, tearing his clothes in grief and urgently sending to inquire of you, for great was your wrath because their fathers had not obeyed this book. Show me the effect of your word truly heard: it convicted, humbled, and moved Josiah. The law had been neglected; but when Josiah truly heard it, it pierced him, humbling him, moving him to grief and urgent action. Your word, when I truly encounter it rather than merely have it around, has power to convict, humble, and move me. Take that to my heart, for I can have your word around me, familiar, and yet not truly hear it, not let it pierce and move me. Josiah's people had the law, but it had been neglected; and even when I have your word, I can hear it without truly hearing, letting it fall on me without conviction or effect. But when I truly encounter your word, it has power to convict, humble, and move me, as it moved Josiah. Keep me from having your word around me and yet not truly hearing it; let it pierce me, convict me, humble me, move me to seek you and to act, as it moved Josiah. When I come to your word, help me come to truly hear it, Lord, not merely to have it around; let it do its convicting, humbling, moving work in me. Let your word truly reach me.