THERE'S MORE!

2 Kings 23:1-25
1 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets--all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord--to follow the Lord and keep His commands, regulations, and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. . . . 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

It's often said that the Bible is its own best commentary. By exploring a person or event mentioned in more than one passage, we discover additional truth to guide our understanding and application. This is clearly seen in the story of Josiah.

In 2 Kings 22:1-3, we discover that Josiah became king at the age of 8, and at the age of 26 he experienced a dramatic spiritual renewal when the long-neglected Book of the Law was found in the temple. Josiah's commitment to God set him on a course of calling the entire nation to return to the Lord.

But there's more to the story. Looking up Josiah in a concordance leads us to 2 Chronicles 34:1-8, where we find details of his early spiritual growth and courage. When he was 16, "he began to seek the God of his father David." And at the age of 20, he began a campaign to remove idols and places of pagan worship from Judah and Jerusalem (v.3). Josiah's desire to purify the temple led to the discovery of the Book of the Law 6 years later (v.8).

Instead of a young adult who suddenly discovers God out of the blue, Josiah began to seek the Lord as a teenager and stood boldly for Him in a hostile environment. Being king was rarely a safe or popular occupation. But Josiah was strengthened by his faith in God.

Study the detailed account of Josiah's impressive spiritual reforms in 2 Kings 23:1-25, and ponder the tribute paid to him: "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses" (v.25).

As we study the Bible, a concordance will lead us to many "There's more!" discoveries. And may our lives, like young King Josiah's life, reveal greater heartfelt courage for the Lord at every turn. --Dave McCasland

DESTINATION POINTS

* In what ways am I seeking the Lord and standing for Him right where I am today?
* How can my boldness and conviction encourage others to do what is right?

bottom line: Search the Bible and you'll see "There's more!"

soul journey