Spring Cleaning

In 2 Chronicles 34, we learn of the king of Judah and his response to a discovery in the Lord’s temple.

The repair of the Lord’s temple had already begun when this discovery was made.

2 Chronicles 34:14 (NET) - When they took out the silver that had been brought to the LORD’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the LORD had given to Moses.

The priest gave this scroll to the scribe who in turn brought it before the king.

The scribe then read the words to the king who had a remarkable reaction.

2 Chronicles 34:18-19 (NET) - Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.

The king understood that the people had departed from the law God gave Moses.

The king ordered that an oracle be consulted.

Huldah the prophetess was consulted.

2 Chronicles 34:23-25 (NET) - and she said to them: “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: “This is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’”

These words were not easy to hear.

The words for the king that followed were a bit more comforting.

2 Chronicles 34:27-28 (NET) - ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the LORD. ‘Therefore, I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’ Then they reported back to the king.

When the king heard these words, he first summoned all the leaders.

He then went up to the Lord’s temple in the company of all the people.

He read to them the words on the scroll and renewed their covenant with God.

2 Chronicles 34:32-33 (NET) - He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the LORD their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD God of their ancestors

Scripture reminds us that all the detestable idols were removed.

When we think of idols today we likely think of carvings made of would and stone.

In truth, an idol is anything or anyone that keeps the Lord from being first in our lives.

Even things that on the surface seem benign or beneficial can become idols if we are not careful.

As we enter the season of Lent we contemplate Jesus, the suffering He endured and the sacrifice He made for us,

Let us first clear away the clutter and the distractions from our hearts and minds.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 10, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 17, 2017