Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.”
2 Kings 22:8a NIV
When Josiah ascended the throne of Judah, he initiated a project to repair the temple of the Lord. In the midst of this effort, the high priest found the Book of the Law. It is shocking to think that Israel had lost the word of God, but it actually happened.
The Book of the Law represented the written record of God’s covenant with His people, a treasure that should have been protected and cared for. However, God’s people had failed to guard it. Ironically, the Book of the Law was lost in the temple, apparently for quite some time.
Good lawyers are keen to protect precious documents, especially those from our clients. No one wants to lose a signed deed, a will, or a marriage certificate. Let us not fail to protect and keep the Book of the Law, the word of God.
In the Old Testament, the priests were responsible to protect the word of God. In the new covenant, all believers are called to be priests, as we read in 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV): “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood”.
The calling for every Christian lawyer is to ensure that the word of God is not lost in the midst of our busy diaries. This means actively placing the Scriptures at the centre of our lives, our families, and our profession. As you study law, remember that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work". 2 Timothy 3.15-16 NIV
The book of the law was read publicly. Josiah and people of Judah entered into a solemn covenant to act according to its commandments. After realizing how far astray Judah had gone from the law, Josiah was humbled and tore his clothes, a sign of repentance. Committed to follow God`s word, Josiah led a reform program in the nation, "to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord" (2 Kings 23.24). Josiah and the nation were transformed by reading and obeying God’s Word. Will you do the same?
