Stress Test Devotional May 25
May 25, 2024
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
DAY 5
SUNDAY–MARCH 5, 2017
This passage describes a turning point in the history of Israel. Josiah, the 26-year old king, began a new project to mark his 18th year on the throne—he began to repair and reconstruct the house of the Lord. During the work, a “book of the law” was discovered and given to the High Priest Hilkiah who passed it along to the King through his secretary, Shaphan. That book, very likely, was Deuteronomy! Deuteronomy describes, in powerful and moving language, the will of God for His people in the Promised Land.
Josiah was stricken when he read it, and realized how far Israel had strayed from God’s ways. Notice how he uses the third person plurals “us and our” to describe these failures. This is humble leadership, that resists blaming, admits responsibility, and confesses, while calling everyone else to do the same.
It takes courage to face personal or national failings. Do you agree?
FAMILY TIME:
Deuteronomy was Jesus’ favorite, most quoted book. Using your smartphone or computer, Google some of his Deuteronomy quotes and look them up in their Old Testament and New Testament contexts.
