August 2

Effect of Jeremiah's Preaching - 2 Kings 22:3-20, 23:1-24, 23:28; 2 Chronicles 34:8-33, 35:1-19, 35:26-27

The Levites -- all who were skilled in playing musical instruments -- had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. 2 Chronicles 34:12-13

A lot going on in this reading. Josiah's reforms and attempt to return the people to the Lord, taking down the idols to Baal, the Asherah poles and human sacrificial altars to Molech. The discovery of the Book of the Law. Major stuff.

In the midst of all this there is this verse about musicians overseeing the repair of the temple. Musicians? Miraculous! I wouldn't think a musicians creative mind would be the best candidate for this managerial position.

How do you get a musician off your front porch? Pay for the pizza.

"Mommy! Mommy! When I grow up I want to be a musician!"

"Now, Johnny, you can't do both."

Sorry, couldn't help myself. This verse just weren't a couple of musician jokes.

Anyway, the High Priest Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law and King Josiah directs them to the Prophetess Huldah to see what God wants them to do. [2 Chronicles 34:14-28] All of these begs a couple of questions. What was the high priest doing without the Book of Law? How were the Levites correctly performing all of their duties? Did they get so set in their ways they put away God's book assuming they knew it only to lose it?

And -- why did they have to go to female prophetess? Couldn't the high priest inquire of God what He wanted them to do?

Lord knows.