Josiah Succeeds Amon
22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.
3 Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the Lord saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may [a]count the money brought in to the house of the Lord which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the Lord to repair the [b]damages of the house, 6 to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully.”
The Lost Book
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [c]Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
Verse 3 begins a familiar idea, as it’s the same thing King Joash did many years before. Things take a twist when Hilkiah finds the book of the law. No doubt he read it and was dismayed himself. But without the king’s support, what could a priest do? So he hands it over to Shaphan, who reads it himself, and then reads it to the king.
While the king’s reaction would be pivotal, Hilkiah played an important part here also. Hilkiah could have just buried the book again in a library, and forgot about it. But no doubt his heart was stirred so that he knew he had to do something about this book.
We all have a part to play in God’s plan. Whether great or small, God wants to use each of us for His glory, and has designed us on purpose. There are no accidents in His creation, no matter what we may think of circumstances. Everything God does is intentional, and so we need to be intentional with our lives also.
Don’t live life “by accident”, just sitting around waiting for something great to happen. See what part God wants you to play, and do your part for His kingdom, to show His love and mercy to those around you.