Musings

This morning I read 2 Chronicles 34 and was moved by the story of Josiah and his truthful heart before the Lord. The temple was in ruins at this time as Israel had turned away from the Living God and had returned to worshipping Baal under the reign of Manasseh. Despite his idolatrous surroundings, Josiah ‘began to seek the God of his father David’ at the age of 16 (see verse 3). He then destroys all the wooden, carved and molded images of idolatry in the ‘high places’ and the altars where incense was burned. The temple is restored and the Book of the Law is found. Shaphan appears before the king with the Book and reads the contents. Josiah’s reaction spoke to me most. We read, ‘he tore his clothes’. This was an outward symbol in the Old Testament of repentance. The words of God brought true repentance when he realized he and his people had not been keeping God’s Laws. The prophetess Huldah warns that God has been provoked to anger through their idolatry and an outpouring of His wrath

I came across the expression 'seek God's face' twice this morning in my reading. Before I get on my kness to do so, I want to put these two powerful readings on my blog with the hope that God's people will seek His face today. ..if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face . Selah Psalm 24:3-6 God bless you today. xxx

I love this little anecdote from F.W. Boreham's 'A Pathway of Roses'. The incident happened to his mother at Canterbury Cathedral. ‘ “Excuse me,” he said, “but whilst I was chatting with the friend who has just left me, I could not help noticing that you were eagerly watching for somebody who, evidently, has not arrived. Were you thinking of inspecting the Cathedral?” I admitted that I was, and explained to him the situation. “I wonder,” he said, “if you would very kindly allow me to show you around. I am deeply attached to this place and happen to know something of its story.” His manner won my confidence, and I accepted his offer. And what an experience it was! As he conducted me from point to point, I seemed, under the witchery of his silver tongue, to see the coming of Augustine to Canterbury in the days when England was very, very young; I actually beheld those quaint and picturesque pilgrimages that Chaucer has described so vividly in his Canterbury Tales : I