Really? Do you realize that you will be held accountable for sins whether you knew they were wrong or not? For today's illustration I am referring to II Chronicles. I will be piecing together several parts of chapter 34.
2 Chronicles 34:1-2(NKJV)
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he
reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and
walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to
the right hand or to the left.
New king. Good guy. Trying to do the right thing.
2 Chronicles 34:3-5(NKJV)
For in the
eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of
his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem
of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded
images.
They broke down the altars of the
Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he
cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he
broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of
those who had sacrificed to them.
He also
burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and
Jerusalem.
He kept growing in the Lord and doing the right thing.
2 Chronicles 34:14(NKJV)
Now when
they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah
the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses.
2 Chronicles 34:19-21(NKJV)
Thus it
happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the
son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a
servant of the king, saying,
“Go, inquire of
the Lord for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the
words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that
is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to
do according to all that is written in this book.”
Priest finds the Book of the Law which had been missing for many years. King has it read and freaks out because he had been doing a lot of stuff wrong. Now look what happens.
2 Chronicles 34:23-28(NKJV)
Then she
answered them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to
Me,
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will
bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are
written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah,
because they have forsaken Me and burned
incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of
their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be
quenched.’”’
But as for the king of
Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to
him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you
have heard—
because your heart was
tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against
this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and
you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says
the Lord.
“Surely I will gather you to
your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes
shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its
inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
My first point it that it all could have been avoided if they had been reading the Scripture for themselves instead of depending on the handed down rituals of the priests. The second point is again pointing out the difference the heart makes. The King who was trying his whole life to provide leadership and follow the Lord is given a pass because even thought he didn't get it all correct, his heart was in the right place.
The people on the other hand are going to have to pay the price for the same exact sin. What was the difference? I believe it was the fact that the people's heart wasn't right, they didn't really care.
We are blessed that we all have access to Bibles. Want to increase your chances of not getting on God's bad side? Then read your Bible, don't take someone else word for it.
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