Josiah became king at a very young age and during a very dark time, but “he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Chr. 34:2). He was very balanced and did not go to one extreme or another. Josiah was confronted with division, confusion, and every kind of evil work. But during those dark days, what brought revival back to the land was the light of God’s Word.

The Book of the Law was found; it had been neglected, forgotten, and lost in the temple. Perhaps some considered it an ancient relic that was out of date; perhaps this was why it was misplaced in the house of the Lord. According to commands given to Joshua, this book was not to depart from their mouth. They were to study it and submit to it (Josh. 1:7–9). Every new king, “when he sits on the throne of his kingdom … shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites” (Dt. 17:18). But this had been neglected for some time.

You and I live in a society that has in many ways neglected the Word of God. The Bible is seen as an out-of-date religious relic that no longer applies to where we live. But the very neglect of it explains why our cities, our nation, and our world are in the condition they are in. Many professing believers today have neglected the Word of God. Often the Bible is explained away, watered down, or simply looked at as not applicable to our world. But we need to be like Jeremiah, who said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer. 15:16). Let us be like Josiah and Jeremiah!