After Josiah had been king for eighteen years, he told Shaphan, one of his highest officials: Go to the LORD's temple 4and ask Hilkiah the high priest to collect from the guards all the money that the people have donated. Have Hilkiah give it to the men supervising the repairs to the temple. They can use some of the money to pay the workers, and with the rest of it they can buy wood and stone for the repair work. They are honest, so we won't ask them to keep track of the money.
While Shaphan was at the temple, Hilkiah handed him a book and said, "Look what I found here in the temple--The Book of God's Law." Shaphan read it, then went back to Josiah and reported, "Your officials collected the money in the temple and gave it to the men supervising the repairs. But there's something else, Your Majesty. The priest Hilkiah gave me this book." Then Shaphan read it out loud.
When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God's Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow. At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, and his own servant Asaiah. He said, "The LORD must be furious with me and everyone else in Judah, because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Go find out what the LORD wants us to do."
The five men left right away and went to talk with Huldah the prophet. Her husband was Shallum, who was in charge of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in the northern part of Jerusalem, and when they met in her home,she said: You were sent here by King Josiah, and this is what the LORD God of Israel says to him: "Josiah, I am the LORD! And I will see to it that this country and everyone living in it will be destroyed. It will happen just as this book says. The people of Judah have rejected me. They have offered sacrifices to foreign gods and have worshiped their own idols. I cannot stand it any longer. I am furious.
"Josiah, listen to what I am going to do. I noticed how sad you were when you read that this country and its people would be completely wiped out. You even tore your clothes in sorrow, and I heard you cry. So I will let you die in peace, before I destroy this place."
The men left and took Huldah's answer back to Josiah.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I know this is a long scripture passage today, but I felt it was important that I share all of it. Doesn’t it seem to you like we have a lot of chances to look the other way in life? We get a printout for a medical bill that indicates we were overcharged, but insurance covered it, so we just let it go. We know someone is not doing what they should and causing harm to a lot of people, but since it doesn’t affect us directly, we keep quiet.
You are fairly sure your friend is drinking and driving… but you can’t prove it, so you don’t get involved.
- You think a child is being abused, but adults in charge of his/her care have a sketchy “explanation” for every bump and bruise. So you do nothing. If the apparent abuse is verbal and emotional, you hesitate to speak to the abuser/bully and “make a scene” - or risk making this person angry with you.
- You see people who are supposed to be Disciples of Christ behaving in ways that are questionable at best… or downright dishonest and disobedient, and you look the other way.
- It would have been so easy for Josiah to pretend he didn’t see the Book of Law. He could have set it in a closet and looked the other way as his people continued to sin and anger God. But he knew that he had to say something. He knew that one person can make a difference… or start the process.
How are we following Jesus’ example? Are we paying attention and looking for the right thing to do… the way that God would have us proceed? And are we following through and doing what He asks? Isn’t it time we stood up like Josiah and said, “This is not pleasing to God! How can we set things right?” What type of behavior are you choosing these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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