![2 Kings 22:1-10, [14-20]; 23:1-3, Josiah’s Reform](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/1569601487993-WFHTQDITY448DDS9XOQZ/Screen+Shot+2019-09-27+at+11.10.07+AM.jpg)
Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. ”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, November 24, 2019
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Even in the middle of turmoil, God can (and often does) give us moments of peace.
During the time of division of the northern and southern kingdoms, Josiah came to reign at the age of 8, following the murder of his father by courtiers. By the time Josiah was 20 he was already beginning to rid the land of places of idol worship and to rebuild the temple.
When the workers started work on the temple, they came across a long-forgotten scroll of Moses, indicating that God’s displeasure in the people’s wandering and idol worship led to disaster. Not wanting to anger God further, Josiah brought the scroll to a prophetess to determine if the scroll was real and accurate. The prophetess Huldah confirmed that the words on the scroll were correct. But she also indicated that the opposite would be true: if Israel walked in God’s ways, they would be spared from disaster and would live in peace.
Josiah immediately redoubled his efforts to bring Judah back to its roots by following God. He gathered the elders and all the people of Judah to read the scroll in their hearing. He made a covenant before God that the people would keep God’s commandments, walk in God’s ways, and do all the things the scroll commanded of them. The people of Judah followed Josiah in his commitment to the covenant. Judah remained untouched all the days of Josiah’s life.
This story shows that, even in the middle of turmoil (Judah’s armies were quiet, but not absent during Josiah’s rule), God can offer a moment of peace to those willing to seek God’s peace and walk in God’s ways. It’s also a reminder that God can (and often does) put clues in our path (as God did with the scroll for Josiah) that can help us remember God is always with us, even when we have forgotten God.
God, thank you for being with me, through the tumultuous as well as placid ones. Amen.
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