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They Found The Book Of The Law
They Found The Book Of The Law
Reading the history of Josiah brings up an interesting event. While cleaning out the temple in order to restore the worship of the LORD they discover The Book Of The Law (2Kings 22:8-11). In identifying just WHAT they found we find that a concordance search reveals that this phrase is used only in reference to the book of Deuteronomy (cp. Deut. 28:61; 29:21). The 'books' were actually scrolls in those days. The books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) were called the 'Torah' and were written together on one long (120 feet) scroll. We don't know if this particular scroll included all 5 books or just the book of Deuteronomy.
The people HAD referred to this 'book of the Law' in days prior to Josiah. David (1010-970 B.C.) referred to it (1 Kings 2:3); Jehu (841-814 B.C.) is said to have NOT been careful to walk in the law of the LORD (2 Kings 10:31). Amaziah (796-767 B.C.) did follow part of this law (2Kings 14:6). Hezekiah (716-687 B.C.) is said to have "… held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses" (2 Kings 18:6). We thus see that they had copies from the 1000's to 680's.
Thus it seems that under the awful reign of Manasseh (687-642 B.C.) the book was so ignored that they lost / misplace / destroyed the known copies of it. Now in the days of Josiah (620-608 B.C.) they have a copy and they can read the word of God. What upset everyone is that they reread the promise of destruction that was written in Deuteronomy. If they were unfaithful in keeping the words of this law they would be destroyed from off the land (Deut. 28-29-30). They knew that they had been unfaithful and now were facing the consequences.
Their hopes lie in the teaching that Jeremiah had revealed in chapter 18. There God states: "If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it" (Jer. 18:7-8).
Under the leadership of Josiah the people made a temporary return unto God. This was enough to avert the disaster in the days of Josiah (2Kings 22: ). Josiah was followed by Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin. It is stated of each of these that they "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD". Under their leadership the people again abandoned the worship of God and served idols. The second aspect of Jeremiah's revelation now comes into application: "And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it" (Jer. 18:9-10). The nation was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586. God keeps His word even if men don't keep theirs. He promised destruction and He brought it to pass.
Several quick observations can be made from this story:
- God's word is indestructible because God is eternal.
- Losing the 'book' does not remove the law and commands.
- Ignoring the book or rejecting the book does not remove the consequence stated in the law.
- In one generation people can become so ignorant of God and His word that they have no clue as to what is in it.
- Having the book and obeying it are different things.
- God allows people to return to Him - but they will do so by returning to what He has revealed to them.
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
