Purge

For many the Old Testament is merely a collection of stories and wise sayings. They find no 21st century application in those writings. Yet, if they would look a little closer they would awaken to the truth, wisdom, and guidance found in those pages.

Josiah became king at the tender age of eight. 2Chron 34:2 "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."

Josiah's father and grandfather were wicked in the eyes of the LORD. He did not have a role model or a father figure to follow. He simply looked at the kingdom and knew that something was wrong, and he knew he was going to change that. Josiah began to destroy an desecrate all the temples and high places used for idol worship. He went through out the land removing the vile practices. He did all of this without knowing the law.

God's law had been hidden in the temple. His father nor grandfather heeded the law, they had no need for it. It lay hidden in plain view, out of sight and out of mind. When the book of law was found and read Josiah greatly grieved, he realized how far the nation of Israel had strayed from God.

Do we too hide the law in the temples of our homes? Is the LORD's will and word hidden in plain view on the shelf we keep our bibles? Isn't an unused bible hidden? Josiah didn't have the law, yet he knew something was terribly wrong and he purged the land.

Where are the altars and temples in our lives that need purging and destruction? Can we see those blindspots apart from God? God reveals his will to us in his word. May his decrees never be hidden in a temple of our own making, may we never hide his word in plain view, may we never hide God's word in a temple of our own making.