I am very excited this week. I love Bible Study—and I missed it so much over the Christmas break. I don’t want to say that I am addicted to it, but I just feel like me life is not complete with spending time in Bible Study. I must say, Rev. Carriker does not do everything great, but his Bible Study class is top notch! I really think the guy should have been a teacher. Anyway, we started Bible Study last night and I am so pumped! We are studying Deuteronomy—my personal favorite book in the Old Testament. Not only is it an important book in the life of the People of Israel, it is also important in my life too! You see, it plays an important role in my name, “Josiah.” Here is the story behind my name.
Way back, centuries ago, in about the year 639 BC, Israel had a young king named “Josiah.” Josiah was 8 years old when he began to reign. Imagine that? And to top it off, he was a good king! The book of II Kings records, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his ancestor David and did not deviate to the right or the left.” In other words, he was a good guy, like me!
When he was 26 years old, in the eighteenth year of his reign (621 BC) he instructed that the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem be repaired. In the process of repairing the Temple, Hilkiah the High Priest found a copy of “The Instruction Scroll.” He had it taken to the King and it was read to King Josiah. It was of course the scroll of Deuteronomy. When the scroll was read to Josiah, he was so moved by what it said that he tore his clothing saying, “The Lord must be furious with us in that we and our ancestors have not lived according to this scroll.” King Josiah then went to the temple and made a covenant with the Lord that he would turn to God—he and his people. He took the message of the scroll to heart and led the greatest reform in all of Israel’s history. In fact, II Kings records, “there’s never been a king like Josiah, before or after him who turned to the Lord with all of his heart, all of his being and all of his strength, in agreement with everything In the Instruction of Moses.”
He is a pretty cool namesake, don’t you think? My mother named me Josiah and told me that someday I would read a story about a King in the Bible that would make me proud of the name I had been given. It not only makes me proud, it also keeps me doing what is right in life. King Josiah has some pretty big shoes to fill. I too want to be known as one who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” That is why I am so excited that we are going to study Deuteronomy. It will be like King Josiah for me. I will have a chance to read the very book of the Bible that started the reform of Israel that he led.
Not that Bible Study really needs to be advertized, but you really should think about taking part in the study. They are so much fun—really, and you can get a great cup of coffee and catch up on the lives of all your friends at Church. I am telling you the truth when I say that it is one of the highlights of my week.
A few other things… Congratulations to the newly ordained elders: Leanne Moore, Jonathan Schwarz, Mina Alford and Jeff Neeley! I think they will do a great job for our Church. Also, I have to thank the elders who are rotating off the session for the work they have done: Robert Fisher, Joanne Foster and D. Askins. Remember the saying, “Once an elder, always an elder.” Many thanks for all the hard work you have done. And while I am thanking folks, let’s not forget Mrs. Betty Anzalone and Nick Ferrante. They work many hours keeping our finances straight—and though I can do a lot of things around the Church, keeping up with the money is not my strong suit, in fact you would not want me anywhere near the money!
Well, I have a little reading to do and I bet you can guess what it is. Here is a hint: It is in the fifth book of the Pentateuch.
Peace.
Josiah
