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-size-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 idol 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 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 offtrack their hearts and lives are and how the kings before him

have led the people astray for generations.

...