“And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the book of the law (…of the Lord given by Moses) in the house of the Lord.'” 2 Chronicles 34:14,15
Dear Ones:
Rare are the singular events in history that have changed it. But sometimes, there is one thing that alters the course of humanity, and drastically changes men and nations. In the history of Israel, in the reign of a young, but godly king, Josiah, there was such an event. Josiah, as a young man, began seeking after the God of David, and sought to bring the people of Israel back to the true worship of God, and honorable service to Him. During his reign, he had instructed that the neglected temple built by Solomon, be restored to an honorable place of worship. In the course of the work on the house, “…a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses,” was found. Upon hearing the reading of the book, the king reacted by tearing his clothes, a sign of being overcome, and overwhelmed with the conviction that judgement was certainly coming upon the nation. The reading of that one book at that time would change the life of Josiah, and that of the nation.
In the city of Geneva, Switzerland, there is what is called, “The Wall of the Reformation.” Upon that wall are inscriptions of verses of the Bible, and the sayings of the great Protestant reformers. In front of the wall, in the middle, stand four, twelve-foot high statues. Calvin, De Beze, Farel, and Knox, prominent reformers of that time, are represented by these statues. In each of their hands is a Bible. The reading and adherence to the teachings of the truths found within its covers changed these men, and so many others, of the then known world. Why and how does this one book possess the power to change lives and nations?
In Psalm 119, verse 130, we read: “The entrance of Thy words gives light.” In Psalm 36:9, we read: “…in Thy light we shall see light.” The great basis for which change comes is the accompanying power of the penetrating of light into our hearts. Truth is light. What is found in the Bible is the eternal truth from God concerning Himself, and His relationship with man. It is ONLY as the truth enters into our hearts that we begin to see spiritual reality. Josiah’s eyes were opened by the truth, because it penetrated his heart and mind. The reality of it so moved him, that he would rend his clothes and seek the Lord for His answer to the situation at that time. The reformers were changed, motivated, and risked their lives, because of the entrance of the truth into their hearts. The world since that time has been changed by such a penetration of light, the light of the truth, into the hearts of men and nations.
Dear Father, Thy word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path. It is in the light of Thy truth, that we begin to see clearly, and understand Who Thou art, and what You will do for those who truly trust you. Give us grace to fling wide the windows of our souls, the door of our hearts, and the gates of any wall that we have erected, in order to receive Thy light, Thy truth, Thy power. Then we shall be changed. We thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad