I remember being a teenager, excited to start my job at the Dunes Hotel as a room cleaner.
My first day on the job, a girl about my age took me to a room and showed me step by step on how to clean it. She had me strip the sheets off the bed and put cleans sheets on. Of course, I tucked the sheets in wrong. Pushing them in between the mattresses wasn’t the correct way and she had to show me the proper way to smooth the sheets, fold the corners then tuck them under the mattress. A crisp neat bed ready for the next guest.
This small correction highlights a bigger truth:
Sometimes, our understanding of what is “good”, needs guidance. Just as that experienced worker taught the proper technique, the Bible offers us instruction on living rightly.
To be good and do good, we often rely on what society tells us, but true righteousness is found in the timeless teachings of the Bible.
Today lesson is about Josiah
2 Kings 22-23
2 Chronicles 34-35
Josiah became king of Judah at the age of 8 years old
He did right in the sight of the Lord
At age of 16, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David- (David and Goliath)
At age 20, he removes all the pagan’s idols, altars and shrines throughout his kingdom
At age 26- he rebuilt the temple of the Lord which had fallen into disrepair
-During the temple repairs, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law, which had been lost or forgotten when his evil grandfather reigned.
-The laws were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and was stored alongside the Ark of the Covenant before being kept in the temple
-Shaphan, the scribe, read the Book of the Law to King Josiah. Upon hearing the words, Josiah tore his robes in distress, realizing how far the nation had strayed from God’s commands.
-Distressed, he wanted to understand the full implications of their actions and what God planned to do.
– He sought guidance from a respected prophetess of the time.
-She confirmed that because of the people’s persistent disobedience and idolatry, God had decided to bring disaster upon Judah. The consequence of their long history of ignoring God’s laws and worshiping false gods.
-She delivered a message of mercy to Josiah… Because he had responded to the reading of the Law with genuine humility and repentance, tearing his clothes in sorrow and seeking to make things right, God decided to delay the impending disaster. Josiah himself would not witness the coming judgment during his lifetime; it would occur after his death.
-The impending disaster that Josiah would not witness was:
Babylonian would conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and its temple and exile many of its people to Babylon.
Josiah was obedient, prayerful, worshipful, he was pure in his heart, he had good priorities
Despite having a good heart, he was missing something….The Law of God
Josiah didn’t know how to guide people away from irresponsible behavior or how to warn and prevent evil from occurring. Without knowing God’s Word, you can’t understand why bad things happen or how to prevent them from happening again.
2 Kings 23:3
“And the king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes, 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.”
You can be a good person, do good deeds, and lead an effective life, but without knowing God’s Word, you won’t truly be doing what God wants you to do. without the knowledge of God’s Word, we lack the full understanding of His will for our lives. Without this guidance, we may miss the mark of what God wants for us. It’s through seeking the Word of God that we truly understand His desires for our lives. Let us commit to not just doing good but to seeking His Word diligently, so we can fully live out the purpose He has set for us and truly fulfill the calling He has for us
Every morning, with each new bible study, I gain a deeper understanding of who God is, a clearer understanding of my own life’s journey, and the reasons behind its different seasons — the storms and calm periods, the trials and their purpose. Guidance on life’s challenges and learn how to find peace during challenging times, making decisions that align with His will….I can go on and on.
This daily pursuit not only strengthens my relationship with Him but also guides me to live out His will in every aspect of my life, allowing me to experience His abundant grace, mercy, and blessings every day
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 25:4-5
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Let us consider how we can align our lives with biblical principles. allowing them to guide us in ways the world cannot.
