Believe it or not, the most revered King in Israel’s history is not David; it is Josiah. While David is the best-known king to most of us, the Jewish people value Josiah for the national spiritual reform he enacted.
Josiah’s story is fascinating. He became King when he was eight years old. When he was 26, he started the restoration of the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair through neglect. During the restoration, the “Book of the Law” was found. Scholars believe this book to be Deuteronomy — and its reading led Josiah to call the entire nation back to God. That’s why he is so respected today.
It’s hard to conceive that the Book of the Law could ever be lost. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was set aside. Then other things, “more pressing matters,” pushed it farther back. Maybe more interesting topics garnered greater attention. Before you knew it, the Law was forgotten.
It happens in our lives as well. Life happens, emails pile up, and the evening news takes precedence. Friends recommend great reads. Projects from work and around the house take longer than we think. Before you know it, you cannot find your Bible.
Maybe it’s time to mount a search for that Bible, dust it off, and read it yet again. Maybe even out loud?