Read: 2 Chronicles 32-34
Focus Verse: “He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes, and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the word of the covenant written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it;” (2 Chronicles 34:30b-32a).
Devotion: There is power in the hearing of the word of scripture being read. When King Josiah heard the book of Moses’ law read he wept before God, he mourned, and he humbled himself to renew his relationship with God (34:19-21). He then read it to the nation, and they renewed their vows to God as well. Just hearing the word read aloud brought a nation back to God. Now scholars debate what book he’s reading, but suppose it’s the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible). Conservatively, after doing a google search, it seems that reading through the first 5 books of the Bible orally at a normal reading pace would take about 15 hours of total oral reading. Imagine what God could do with a church who had the dedication to sit and listen for 15 hours as scripture was being read. I debate suggesting this as a weekend even to my church. A Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday event where we read the Torah orally and receive it to hear what God has to say to us. Thoughts?
Pray: LORD bless the hearing of your word whenever it is read! Amen!
Additional Scripture: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)