The great treasure of God’s Word
Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. ~ 2 Kings 22:11
Have you ever been looking for something you misplaced, only to discover it was right in front of you the whole time? Maybe you searched the house for your glasses while they were sitting on top of your head. Or perhaps you’ve looked everywhere for your phone while holding it in your hand. Sometimes we can be so distracted by everything going on around us that we miss what’s right in front of us. The same thing can happen in our spiritual lives. We can get so busy doing life that we stop paying attention to the very Word God has given us to guide us.
In today’s scripture reading, we meet King Josiah, who became king at just eight years old. Unlike many of the kings before him, Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. During repairs to the temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law. When it was read to Josiah, the king was deeply troubled by how far the nation had wandered from God’s instructions. He tore his clothes in grief and sent messengers to inquire of the Lord. Josiah didn’t brush off what he heard, make excuses for the people, or blame previous generations. He recognized that God’s Word exposed a serious problem, and he took it seriously.
As I read this, it made me think of finding a treasure of great worth. There is something precious about finding a treasure, especially one you didn’t even realize you had. Psalm 119:162 says, “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure”. Think about that for a moment. God’s Word isn’t just a collection of stories, rules, and promises. It is a treasure filled with truth, wisdom, life, and the revelation of who our Heavenly Father is. When Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law, he was confronted with something of tremendous value that had been neglected. What had been lost to the attention of the nation was brought back into the light, and the truth changed the way he saw everything.
I can relate to that in my own life. There was a time when I was living far from God, even though I had once learned many Scriptures when I was young. For years, those truths seemed buried deep within my heart, almost like a treasure hidden beneath layers of life, experiences, and choices that had taken me away from Him. But God’s Word hadn’t lost its power, and what had been planted in me years earlier wasn’t forgotten by Him. As those Scriptures began coming back to my memory, they reminded me of the truth I’d once known and pointed me back to a relationship with my Heavenly Father. It was as though God was uncovering a treasure that had been lying dormant in my heart, bringing His truth back to the surface and leading me toward life with Him again. What a gift to discover that even when we wander, the truth of God’s Word can still speak to our hearts and help lead us back home!
There’s something powerful about a heart that is willing to be corrected by God. We live in a world filled with opinions, headlines, notifications, and people who are more than happy to tell us how we should think and live. If we’re not careful, God’s voice can become just one more sound competing for our attention. But His Word isn’t meant to sit on a shelf looking impressive. It’s meant to speak into our lives, guide our choices, and help us become the people He’s called us to be.
Josiah’s response shows us three important lessons about what happens when we take God’s Word seriously and allow it to change the way we live.
1. Stay tender when God shows you something that needs to change
When Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes as an expression of grief and humility. He understood that the nation had not been living according to God’s instructions. Instead of becoming defensive, he allowed the truth to reach his heart. That’s an important lesson for us because it’s easy to welcome the parts of God’s Word that encourage us while getting a little uncomfortable when it points out something we need to change.
We might love reading about God’s promises, His goodness, and His faithfulness. We can shout amen when we read that He’s our provider, our healer, and our peace. But what happens when His Word challenges the way we’re treating someone, exposes our pride, or shows us that we’ve been holding on to unforgiveness? Do we listen, or do we suddenly become Bible scholars with several reasons why that particular verse doesn’t apply to our situation?
Sometimes God’s Word brings something back to our attention that we haven’t thought about in years. A Scripture we learned as a child, a truth we heard in church, or a verse someone once shared with us can suddenly come alive in a new way. Don’t dismiss those moments. God can use the truth you’ve heard before to speak into the circumstances you’re facing today. What He planted in your heart years ago may be exactly what you need to hear in this season of your life.
God doesn’t show us areas that need attention to embarrass us or push us away. He lovingly brings truth into the light so we can grow. When you read Scripture and realize you’ve been impatient with your family, ask God to help you respond differently. When you recognize that you’ve been carrying resentment toward someone, invite Him into that hurt and begin taking steps toward forgiveness. When His Word challenges a decision you’ve made, be willing to reconsider it instead of insisting that you’ve already made up your mind.
A tender heart doesn’t mean you’ll never make mistakes. It means you’re willing to let God correct you when you do. The next time Scripture makes you uncomfortable, don’t rush past it or explain it away. Pause long enough to ask, “Lord, what are You showing me, and what do You want me to do about it?” That question can open the door to meaningful change.
2. Don’t just hear God’s word, respond to it
Josiah didn’t stop at feeling upset about what he heard. He sent his officials to seek the Lord and find out what needed to happen next. His response showed that God’s Word mattered more to him than just having a moment of emotion. He wanted to know what God required and how he should lead the people.
It’s possible to hear a great sermon on Sunday, feel encouraged during worship, and then return to Monday morning as though nothing happened. We can underline verses, write notes in the margins of our Bibles, and collect enough inspirational quotes to fill a filing cabinet without ever putting them into practice. There’s nothing wrong with taking notes, of course. But at some point, the notes need to make their way into taking action in our lives!
James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. If God’s Word teaches us to love our neighbors, we need to show kindness to the difficult neighbor, not just the one who waves back. If it teaches us to trust Him, we need to bring our worries to Him instead of letting anxiety run the entire day. If it teaches us to forgive, we need to take steps toward releasing the offense rather than keeping a mental list of everything the other person has ever done wrong.
Think about something you’ve recently read in Scripture or heard in a message. Maybe you were reminded to pray for someone, encourage a discouraged friend, or stop speaking negatively about yourself. Don’t wait until you have a perfect plan or an uninterrupted afternoon. Take one practical step today. Send the message, offer the apology, make the phone call, or spend a few minutes praying for the person God has placed on your heart.
Obedience often happens in ordinary moments, not just during dramatic spiritual experiences. You don’t have to do something extraordinary every day to be faithful. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is take the truth God has shown you and put it into practice right where you are.
3. Let God’s truth shape your direction, not just your feelings
In verses18 and 19 of this chapter, the prophetess Huldah delivered God’s message concerning the judgment that would come upon Judah because of its unfaithfulness. But she also spoke a personal word to Josiah. Because his heart was tender, he humbled himself before the Lord, and God had heard him. Josiah’s response mattered. He didn’t simply feel bad about the past. He humbled himself before God and took His Word seriously.
We all have moments when God’s truth brings conviction, comfort, or a fresh understanding of something in our lives. The question is whether we allow that truth to shape our direction after the moment has passed. It’s one thing to feel encouraged when we hear that God is faithful. It’s another thing to keep trusting Him when the answer hasn’t come yet. It’s one thing to hear that we should love others. It’s another thing to show love when someone has disappointed us.
Our culture encourages us to make decisions based on how we feel in the moment. If something feels right, we’re told to follow it. If something becomes uncomfortable, it is taken as a sign to walk away. But feelings can change several times before lunchtime. God’s truth gives us a steady foundation and standard to hold to when our emotions are all over the place.
For example, you may be facing a difficult decision about work, family, or a relationship. Instead of making a quick choice based only on frustration or fear, take time to pray, search Scripture for wisdom, and seek counsel from mature believers you trust. You may not receive every answer immediately, but you can choose to move forward according to what you already know is true about God’s character and His Word.
Maybe you’ve been discouraged because you’ve made the same mistake more than once. Don’t let discouragement convince you that change is impossible. Receive God’s correction, ask for His help, and keep taking steps of obedience. Growth is a process, and God is faithful to continue working in a heart that remains willing to listen. He never gives up on us.
Today I want to encourage you to make room for God’s Word to speak into your everyday life. Josiah’s story reminds us that one encounter with God’s truth can become a turning point when we respond with humility and obedience. You don’t have to be a king, a pastor, or a Bible scholar to make a difference. You simply need a heart that is willing to listen to God and follow what He shows you.
Don’t let the noise of the world drown out the voice of the One who knows you, loves you, and desires to guide you. Open your Bible expecting God to teach you. When His Word encourages you, receive that encouragement. When it corrects you, welcome His instruction. When it gives you direction, take the next step in faith. And when you realize you’ve wandered from what He has said, remember that you can turn back to Him and begin again.
You may not be able to change everything happening around you, but you can let God work in you. As you stay teachable, obedient, and hold on to His Word, your life can become a testimony of His faithfulness in a world that desperately needs His truth. Don’t settle for just knowing what God says. Let His Word shape how you live, how you love, and how you respond to the people He places in your path.
Today’s scripture reading: 2 Kings 22
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying:
4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.
5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—
6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.”
10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,
13“Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for 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.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her.
15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me,
16 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—
17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’
18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard—
19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord.
20 “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.
Journal:
- What has God recently shown me through His Word that I need to take seriously? Have I responded to it, or have I put it aside?
- Is there an area of my life where I become defensive when God corrects me? What would it look like to approach that area with humility and a willing heart?
- What is one truth from Scripture that I can put into practice today in my family, workplace, friendships, or personal decisions?
- What distractions are making it difficult for me to give God’s Word my attention, and what practical change can I make this week to hear Him more clearly?
