Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

We're continuing to wrap up the final days of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. We're not too far off from the days prophesied by Isaiah where this kingdom will be overthrown

by the Babylonians. But as for now, we've got eight-year-old King Josiah on the throne.

Forgive me, but I can't help but picture a little half-sized throne made of Legos.

Josiah is a good king. Once he grows up a bit, he tells his servant Hilkaya to make financial

arrangements for the

house of God to be repaired. And at some point during the process of restoration, Hilkaya finds the

book of the law, which is likely a reference to the scroll of Deuteronomy. It's somewhere in the

temple. We don't know exactly where he found it, but given the state of the temple, it's probably

shoved behind some idols somewhere

and covered in dust. It's been a long time since anyone has read or reflected on the words of the law.

Most people have probably forgotten what it says, or maybe even that it exists at all. It seems

like no one was looking for it or felt distraught that it was missing. They were all just doing

their own thing, living were all just doing their own

thing, living their lives and fighting their wars and making their decisions, all without the

guidance of God. Hilkaya passes the book along to the secretary, who reads it, then brings it to

Josiah and reads it to him, and Josiah is wrecked. He realizes just how far off track their hearts and lives are and how the

kings before him have led the people astray for generations. As it turns out, what you don't know

can hurt you. When we forget that truth exists, when it gets covered in the dust of our

busyness, our hearts can't help but go astray.

Josiah tells his leaders to seek God and see how they should proceed.

So the priests and his team go to a local prophetess named Hilda.

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