2 Chronicles 34 Devotional

Light Given to a Young Seeker

“In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.”2 Chronicles 34:3 (BSB)

Josiah becomes king at eight. At sixteen, while still young, he begins to seek the God of his father David, and at twenty he starts clearing Judah and Jerusalem of idols (34:1-3). All of this happens before the Book of the Law is found.

Then, during temple repairs, Hilkiah the priest finds the Book of the Law given through Moses (34:14). When it is read to Josiah, he tears his clothes, because he sees how far the nation has strayed from what is written (34:19-21). The prophetess Huldah confirms that judgment will come. But because Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself, God has heard him, and he will be spared from seeing the disaster (34:24-28). God gave more light to someone already seeking him. Hebrews says God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Wherever you are in your understanding, you can seek him with the light you have, and he is faithful to meet those who do.

To think about: What step of seeking God can you take today with the understanding you already have?