12 April | Teens
«And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.» 2 Kings 22: 11
In the ancient kingdom of Judah, there was a young king named Josiah who wanted to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. One day, during the repairs of the temple, Hilkiah, the high priest, found something very special hidden among the rubble: the Book of the Law. That book had been lost for generations, and its discovery was about to change everything.
King Josiah listened as Shaphan the scribe read the words of the book aloud. The words were like a mirror, showing Josiah and his people how far they had strayed from God's commandments and how “dirty” they were before Him. Josiah then tore his garments in distress, a sign of deep grief and repentance. He realized that his kingdom needed to turn to God, and to do so with all his heart.
Determined to make things right, Josiah gathered all the people of Judah and read to them the words of the Book of the Law. He led His people in a covenant to follow the Lord and keep His commandments with all their heart and soul. What we learn from this story is that, like King Josiah, we too should always be ready to hear God's Word and obey it. This can mean making difficult choices to do what is right, even when no one is looking, or turning away from things we know are displeasing to God. Remember, every choice we make may or may not bring us closer to God.
Take Action
Create a “scavenger hunt” for something important in your home, such as a favorite book or a family photo album. This will help you understand how exciting it must have been to find the Book of the Law in the temple.