Most of what we are hearing from our news media is that America is in turmoil. There are shootings, bombings, and riots; and the people involved are saying they are simply exercising their rights.

I get it! Everyone wants to be heard, and everyone wants to express their views about the things that concern them. They want to convince the public that their way is the right way.

We have all kinds of issues. Guns vs. no guns. Abortion vs. life. Legalized drugs vs. no legalization of drugs. Smokers want to smoke anywhere. Non-smokers want clean air. The list goes on and on and on.

I truly believe that if we look to the scriptures, we can determine what is right and what is wrong. The answer may not come right away; but with study and being willing to accept the answer, even if it is not the answer we want, we can determine what we should do.

There is an example in scripture that clearly represents the attitude we need to have in determining right and wrong. The story is found in II Kings 34.

Josiah was only eight years old when he became king. In verse 2 we read, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (ESV). Here we see the first step in Josiah’s determining right from wrong—he did not turn to the right or the left. Josiah walked a straight line. He didn’t compromise.

At eight years old, he was not quite ready to lead a country without some help. A priest named Hilkiah seems to have been a mentor to Josiah. He looked to Hilkiah for guidance. We need good mentors of faith. We need to be good mentors of faith, and the only way we can do this is to know what God wants us to do.

In verse 3 of our text it says, “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father.” He was 16 years old, and he sought God. He looked to God for answers. He didn’t look to just his mentor, but he looked for answers from the Father.

When we want answers about right and wrong, to whom do we go? Do we ask family, friends, experts, or God, our Father?

As Josiah sought answers from God, scripture says he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the idols the people had worshipped. He broke the images and even made dust of them, scattering the dust over the graves of those that had sacrificed to them. He destroyed the things that had corrupted his people.

When Josiah was 18, there were repairs being made to the temple. In the process of making the repairs, Hilkiah found the book of the law. Hilkiah passed it on to Shaphan, the scribe, who read it. Shaphan then took the book and read it to the king.

When King Josiah heard the words Shaphan read, verse 19 says the king tore his clothes. Later in the text we read he wept. Josiah realized the people had disregarded the laws of God. What would those in authority find in the scripture today if they truly read it for guidance in leading our nation? Would they tear their clothes and weep? Would it change our direction? Would they not turn to the right or the left, but follow a straight and narrow path?

Josiah made a covenant with God to “Walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statues, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in the book. He took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers” (II Chronicles 34:32-33).

 What is so interesting to me is that we can find the answers to our questions in the New Testament; but when we find the answer, someone will say, “I know it says that, but that isn’t what it means.” What they are really saying is, “I don’t like the answer, and so I am going to find a way around it.” Remember, I said we need to let the scripture provide the answer.

The prophet Isaiah warned the wicked to forsake his ways and return to the Lord. He promised mercy and pardon. Then he said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In the end, it will be the Lord’s way, not our way, just as it was in the time of Josiah. Josiah’s people were in turmoil. Josiah, as their leader, sought God. In this time of turmoil, we need to pray for our leaders and for their opening the Bible, reading the Word, and obeying it.

Sandra Oliver