Trent Cornwell

¹⁰And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. ¹¹And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. ¹⁹Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 2 Kings 22:10,11,19

“I’ve found the book with many authors yet one” is one of the lines I can remember from a song written by one of my college professors, the late Dr. Jerry Kiser. I will never forget how he made this story come alive when he would tell it. You could tell he was a man who had truly found the “the Book” and was responding to it reasonably.

I have thought about this story and the song I just mentioned over the last couple of weeks. We have been preparing our current church building for a move. In boxing up sound equipment, materials, and books I have found somethings that have been misplaced. I could not imagine stumbling upon the book of the law that had been forgotten for generations.

What I spoke to me from this story I have often overlooked is the response of the king. I normally focus on the finding of the book and not a man finding himself when he found the book. As the king heard the words of the law read to him he saw himself for he and the people truly were. He responds the only appropriate a person can after taking a look at the law.

People need to “find the book”. They need to be shown the law and they need to respond accordingly. This week as we move into our new location I pray in the the moving I do not forget the book of the law. It apparently can happen. I must stay mindful of its life and eternity changing importance.

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