|
"And it came to pass, when the king had heard
the words of the law, that he rent his clothes."
2 Kings 22:11.
This quote is from the story of the discovery of "The
Book of the Law" in the reign of Josiah, King of Judah.
The finder was Hilkiah, the priest, who passed it on to Shammai,
the scribe, who read it to the king. It contained laws, rules
and regulations, and told of a way of life unheard of by him.
The effect on Josiah was such that he vowed reformation of
himself and the nation - back to old ways.
The book is the Old Testament Deuteronomy, the most quoted
Old Testament book in the New Testament. Jesus used it to
good effect. It was from it that He gave His disciples, the
Great Commandment:
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"
Deuteronomy 6:4,5.
His use of this is in Mark 12:28-31.
"And one of the scribes ..... asked him. Which
is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments
is, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with
all thy strength, this is the first commandment.
And the second is like namely this, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater
than these."
In His Temptation Jesus fortified Himself by recalling and
quoting from Deuteronomy.
The Book of the Law was written, probably, in the reign of
the good king, Hezekiah grandfather of Josiah, who had been
largely influenced by the prophets, Isaiah, mainly. Their
teaching, meaningful to him, had recognition and was meaningful
in his reign. But his son and successor, Manasseb, reneged
on Hezekiab's reforms when he restored idol worship. The Book
hidden away in Manasseh's reign was made with Josiah to give
speech to the silenced prophets. A reminder of the permanency
of the written word. It persuaded the king and his people
to recognise that the prophets spoke and wrote what God gave
them to say, precisely and pungently.
Christians when they value Biblical revelation are made aware
of their duties, responsibilities and privileges as believers
in Christ. The Bible can not be overvalued in its emphases
on God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and people, or doubted
as to its effectiveness in Christian thinking and living.
God speaks through the Bible directly to people.
Robertson Smith spoke of its value:
"I am assured that none other than God Himself
is able to speak such words to my soul." He echoed
St. Paul: "All scripture is given by inspiration
of God."
When King Josiah heard the words of The Book of the Law he
rent his clothes. He was determined to be different and to
encourage his people to think and act differently. The Bible
evokes response for the one who reads and heeds it is enlightened
and activated by its ever relevant advice on what is of crucial
importance to everyone, relationship with God and with people.
"The Bible stands alone in human literature in
its elevated conception of manhood, in character and conduct."
Henry Ward Beecher.
To C.H. Spurgeon "No one ever outgrows Scripture,
the book widens and deepens with the years."
"The Bible is God's Word to us,
Still fresh through all the ages;
But we must read it if we're to find,
The wisdom in its pages."
A prayer:
Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of Your Holy
Word. May it be a lantern to our feet, a light to our
paths, and a strength in our lives, in the name of your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
|
