I am always stunned when I read about Josiah, one of the last kings of Judah. Things had been going downhill for a long time, and shortly they will be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years…He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD—the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.” Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it…Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. (2 Kings 22.1 – 11, NIV, emphasis mine)

How do you lose the Book of the Law? The book containing these clear instructions to future kings:

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17.18 – 20, ESV)

The prophet Zephaniah speaks to the issue:

The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah…in the days of Josiah…, king of Judah…At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.” (Zephaniah 1.1, 12, ESV)

Complacency! Most of us wouldn’t say, “Quit bugging us about reading the Bible and spending time with God! I’m not going to do that. It’s silly.” We don’t say that, but we might as well, judging by the way we act. No intentionality. No urgency.

³²  Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³  Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
³⁴  Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
³⁵  For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.
³⁶  But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8.32 – 36, NIV)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4.4, NIV)