2 Kings 22:1-10, 23:1-3 - November 26, 2023

Everyone totally understands that story from 2 Kings, right? 

I’ll be honest: That lesson was confusing. It had a bunch of names of people we’ve never heard of, and it’s kinda boring. There isn’t a lot of action going on. There’s no connection with that text, and when there’s no connection, we don’t care. 

And I’ll admit, it didn’t really make sense to me when I started my sermon preparations. And maybe you’re in the same boat. What does that mean, and why should I care about it?

And let me tell you something: it’s really hard to write a sermon when those are one’s predominant feelings. 

On top of that, the Gospel lesson for today is a small slice of post-Easter Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Here we are on our first Sunday of Advent and we get a resurrected Jesus talking to disciples who don’t recognize him. Along with the misplaced timing, we don’t get any of the build-up to that resurrection story - there’s no drama, no questions, no dashed hopes. All we get is the big reveal of who Jesus is in the breaking of the bread and the revelatory phrase, “Were not our hearts burning within us?”

It seems like these stories could not be any further apart in meaning or familiarity. 

Except, when I read these stories over and over, there was something that started to kindle as the scriptures were opened to me. 

It started because I began to understand what the text from Kings actually meant. So, maybe that’s a good place to start. 

We meet a young king named Josiah, who takes the throne when he is just eight years old. Instead of getting a bike for his birthday, he got a whole kingdom. Now, surprisingly, Josiah was a really good king, so much so that he gets favorably compared to the legendary King David. Josiah makes up for some of the not-so-great decisions his dad and granddad made. 

In our story today, Josiah has ordered a complete renovation of the Holy Temple, God’s House, which had been totally neglected and left to crumble away. As the workers were doing the repairs they made a discovery - a dusty old scroll, the “book of the law.” Hilkiah, the priest, hands it over to Shaphan, the messenger, who then takes it to show King Josiah. 

When Josiah hears the words of this scroll, it hits him hard. (That’s why he tears all his clothes.) It’s a giant wake-up call. The laws written in it reveal how far off course the people had gone. Josiah realizes the people, including himself, need to make some changes. 

So, Josiah gathers everyone - from the highest officials to the regular folks. He read the words of the rediscovered book of the law. And there, they renew their commitment to the covenant God made with Israel. 

So, to summarize that story: the scriptures made their hearts burn for God. They were able to rediscover God’s word - the laws for living, but also the promise of covenant. In the scriptures, Josiah and the people were able to read and hear again exactly who they were and who God is. God is one who persistently loves, constantly gives grace, is always present and ready and active.

God’s Word causes something to burn within us. 

Which just goes to show the importance of sharing the story. Of learning. Of reading and hearing and letting God’s Word speak to us - even those stories that are unfamiliar, confusing, or even kinda boring. God’s Word still speaks. And we are called to pass it on. 

And when we think of “passing it on,” we probably think of kids. And that is important. One of the promises we make at baptism is actually to “place in their hands the holy scriptures.” And as parents, teaching Bible stories is an important, foundational piece of faith. We want them to have a familiarity, a connection with the Bible because, as I said earlier, when there’s no connection, we don’t care. 

But here’s the thing about that promise: it’s not just something we make the parents do. It’s all of us. When I meet with families who are preparing for a baptism, we walk through these promises. And I let them know that yes, they have a major role in shaping the faith of their child, but they are not alone in that. They have sponsors, God-parents, and a whole community surrounding them to help them in this journey. There are people to help with Sunday school and VBS; there are nursery attendants and choir directors; there are adoptive grandparents and supportive friends. There is a whole community there to have faith taught, lived, celebrated - to have it burn within their hearts. 

For the more mature among us, there are loads of opportunities to have faith and scripture be rediscovered. Of course, there’s church and sermons and stories we may not have ever heard before. But there are small groups and Bible studies, places where we can wrestle with what the Bible says, and live into the nuance and the promises. God’s Truth can both comfort us and call us out, and we have places where we can better understand and dig deeper. There are opportunities both individually and with others, places here and elsewhere, places where we can dust off God’s word and let scripture burn within our hearts. 

And here’s the thing with that: We all know we should be better at it. It’s part of my job, and I know I can do better at letting God’s word set fire to my heart. But I don’t want you to walk away from this sermon thinking that the main point is to “do better.” You and I both knew that long before we even showed up today. 

Instead, hear this as I think Josiah did. God’s word changes us. Calls us. Shapes us. God does something through scripture. It's not just about rules; it's about reconnecting with God's promises. It’s not just a story; it’s the story that gives meaning and hope and life. It shows us a new vision of what God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do. God uses scripture to set our hearts on fire. 

That’s really what God wants, and that is what I want us to remember. God’s word changes us. 

And that’s also why God doesn’t just communicate in the one way of scripture. God changes, calls, shapes, and forgives us in other ways, too. 

God calls us in worship, through song, with these people, in prayer. God works on us and in us, setting the Spirit loose in our hearts. 

God shapes us in communion, in the breaking of the bread. We see Jesus feeding us and feeding others, in nourishment for body and soul, in hearing the words, “given and shed for you,” God fills our hearts. 

God comes among us. God’s Word becomes flesh and lives among us; the Word of God incarnate ensures grace and love and forgiveness for us. Were not our hearts burning within us?

The stories of the Bible shape us, guide us, and give us hope. These stories tell us about God’s grace and love and persistence in the face of anything and everything. These stories are God working among people in our world, people like us, making powerful things happen.

Things like covenants renewed. Like Christ in our midst. Like stones rolled away. Like life out of death. Like hearts on fire.

That’s the promise. That’s what God does as God opens the scriptures to us.