Bruce Collins, Evangelist

The personal website of Bruce Collins

Finding the Book

2 Kings 23:25 NKJV — Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.

Josiah

The revival under King Josiah who ruled the area referred to as Judah in the land of Israel, started with finding a copy of the Law of the Lord in the house of the Lord.  Josiah wanted to repair the house of the Lord (the temple) and when the renovations began, the book was found.  Kings were supposed to have personal copies of this book; but apparently if they had copies, they were collecting dust somewhere. Imagine, finding the Book of the Law that had been lost in the Temple.  That would be kind of like finding a Bible that had never been used or read in a place that called its building a church today.

Do We want Revival?

A true revival breathes new life into the work of the Lord.  It involves power in the Gospel.  People respond to the preaching in sorrow and true repentance as they consider the coming judgment on sin.  They don’t tell God how to save them but they let God tell them how to be saved.  

The book that Josiah found said that God was going to judge Judah for turning to idols and Josiah believed that. He said, “Great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us (2nd Kings 22:13.)”  But while wrath was coming and was deserved, mercy was shown to Josiah and to the nation of Judah because Josiah believed the words of the Book and started cleansing Judah of its idols and idol worship.  

It Started with a Book

Josiah must have had a reverence for God before he read the Book but reading the Book was an eye-opener.  It is obvious that because Josiah “believed” what was written and “humbled” himself, the nation was blessed and judgment did not come during his lifetime.  But it all started with finding and reading the Book of the Law.  And having a godly leader made all the difference.

Have We Lost the Book?  

Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and that hearing must be the hearing (understanding) of the Word of God.  I think churches that actually read portions of the Word of God when their people gather for worship are probably on the right track.  But more importantly we need to dust off those Bibles we have lost and we need to start reading them for ourselves.  I would suggest starting in the New Testament, but if you start in the Old Testament, I am sure that God will use His word to encourage you if you are saved and to convict you if you are not.  One thing is certain, judgment is coming because of sin. This world is going to be judged and we are going to be judged individually.  Only faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ can save us from the judgment that we all personally deserve.  Maybe personal revival will lead to revival in our churches and in the society in which we all live.

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of May 17, 2020

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