Have you ever lost something important—your phone, car keys, or maybe an important document—only to discover it later and realize just how much you needed it? Imagine losing something so valuable that finding it again could literally transform an entire nation.
That’s exactly what happened in Judah during the reign of King Josiah.
The Forgotten Word
The temple in Jerusalem had fallen into such disrepair that it needed major renovations. As workers cleared away debris and restored the space, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law.
What he found was probably the Book of Deuteronomy, the instructions for how they were meant to live and serve the Lord.
The fact that this book could be “lost” tells us everything we need to know about the spiritual state of Judah, following years of Manasseh’s reign.
God’s Word hadn’t just been misplaced; it had been forgotten, ignored, and pushed aside for generations. The nation had drifted so far from God that His written revelation was buried under the rubble of their neglect.
A King’s Response
When Shaphan read the book aloud to King Josiah, the king tore his clothes in deep grief and repentance. Josiah knew the people hadn’t been living according to God’s standards because they didn’t even know what those standards were.
The nation had been spiritually blind, fumbling in darkness while the light was buried in the temple..
Josiah’s humility is worth noting. He was only eight years old when he became king, and the Bible tells us he “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” Yet even this righteous king realized that good intentions weren’t enough.
Without God’s Word as their guide, the entire nation had veered dangerously off course.
The Power of Rediscovery
Josiah’s immediate action after learning the nation’s broken covenant with God was to seek counsel. He sent officials to the prophetess Huldah, who confirmed both the severity of Judah’s situation and God’s recognition of Josiah’s humble heart.
The message was sobering: judgment was coming because of generations of disobedience, but Josiah’s genuine repentance meant he would be spared from witnessing the disaster.
This discovery didn’t just impact one man. It sparked a nationwide revival. Second Chronicles gives a more complete picture of Josiah’s reforms: he cleansed the land of idolatry, reinstituted proper worship, and led the people in renewing their covenant with God.
One lost book, once found and followed, literally changed the trajectory of an entire nation, even if only temporarily.
Think with me for a moment: how does a nation lose God’s Word?
It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual drift, one generation becoming a little less committed than the last, until eventually, what was once central becomes peripheral, then forgotten entirely.
Reflections
So what does this story mean for us today?
Unlike Josiah’s generation, we’re not lacking access to Scripture. Most of us own multiple Bibles, have apps on our phones, and can access countless translations online.
Can it be that we’ve “lost” God’s Word differently—not physically, but functionally? It sits on our shelves, unread. It’s downloaded on our devices, unopened.
Here’s a plan to help us rediscover God’s Word in our lives:
Audit Your Relationship with Scripture
Honestly assess how much time you spend in God’s Word versus how much time you spend on social media, streaming services, or other activities. Write down your findings without judgment—just awareness. This is your baseline.
Create a Sacred Space
Designate a specific place and time for prayerfully reading the Bible. It might be your morning coffee spot or a comfortable chair with good lighting.
The key is consistency. Train your mind to know that when you’re in that space, you’re meeting with God through His Word.
Read to Be Changed
Instead of reading liking you are taking your morning vitamins, approach Scripture with Josiah’s heart.
Read slowly, asking, “How does this apply to me? Where have I drifted? What needs to change?”
Share Your Discovery
One of the blessings of writing blog articles and producing videos with Rudy Ross and Bruce Kirby is I benefit from learning and sharing what I read in the Bible.
Sometimes, I receive insights while writing or speaking. I expect your experience of sharing what you read will have a positive impact on your relationship with the Lord.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 