Prone to Wander

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. (2 Kings 22:11)

​In 2 Kings 22-23, we read that while the temple was being repaired under the leadership and direction of King Josiah who “did was right in the eyes of the LORD”, a copy of the “Book of the Law” was found inside the temple.  It was then carried to King Josiah and read to him.  And when “the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes” and then commanded them to “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us" (22:13).  Josiah responds to God’s Laws with conviction, guilt, and remorse.  Later, in chapter 23, Josiah makes “a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book” (23:3).  He then cleanses the temple of the “vessels made for Baal,” deposes the false priests, removes the high places and Asherah poles, and “broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes.”  Thus, Josiah first responds to God’s Law with conviction, guilt, and remorse, and then leads the people in repentance by turning them away from the worship of false gods.  What a great example for all of us.  This should be our response to the reading and hearing of God’s word.  Yet, so often, like the Israelites, we become dull and callused to God’s word.  We read it mindlessly during our personal devotional time.  We hear the Bible being read in church and yet our mind is someplace else.  The Israelites fell into sin because they had forgotten what God had done for them.  This is evident from the fact they had not kept the Passover for over 700 years (23:21-22).  May our prayer ever be: “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.  Prone to leave the God I love.  Here's my heart, oh take and seal it.  Seal it for Thy courts above.”