November 1-3, 2014 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: 2 Kings 22:1-11 WE ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING REFORM

REFORMATION SERVICE

November 1-3, 2014

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: 2 Kings 22:1-11

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING REFORM

2 Kings 22:1-11 (NIV 1984) “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ²He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. ³In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: ⁴”Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. ⁵Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD—⁶the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. ⁷But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully.” ⁸Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. ¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.”

          Brothers and sisters, why do we continue to observe and celebrate the Lutheran Reformation? I mean it’s something that happened almost 500 years ago. It’s not an event in the life of Christ that the Church year calendar follows. I suppose we could say the reason is because we are a Lutheran church and that is what Lutherans do. Historians would say that even thinking about not observing the Lutheran reformation would foolish because of its historic significance to the world. Google, if you will, like I did, the most important events in history of the second millennium and see how many lists include the posting of 95 Theses on the church door on October 31, 1517 as the most influential event of the last millennium and if not the  top always in the top 5. Sometimes we Lutherans can feel a little uneasy celebrating the Reformation. We don’t want to give the impression that we are deifying Martin Luther, making him anything more than he was a claimed to be, a simply German monk that God used to help his people. We also don’t want our celebration or observance to come across to our Catholic neighbors and friends as another round of Catholic bashing. So why do we celebrate it?

          To answer that question I want to take you back to the time and words of our text in 2 Kings 22. It’s about 600 BC. Josiah is often known as the “boy king” because he became king at age 8. He’s described as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord which is surprising because the two kings before him were evil. Somehow God worked in faith in him. When Josiah was 26 an important event took place. He set about to do some repairs to the Temple. No doubt it had been sadly neglected when the evil kings were in place. Something happened during that renovation that should have caused your ears to perk up. ”Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” What do you mean he found the Book of the Law, the Old Testament Bible to that point? This was the Temple, the place where God’s people were supposed to gather to hear God’s words. Where else would it be? Well it was there but not used, set aside. Probably under old records in some store room. That would be like coming here to church but neither seeing or using any Bible. I wonder what they talked about instead of what God said.  In any case this found book was brought to King Josiah. “And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. ¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” He tore his robes and then Reformation began. The Reformation of the people of Judah as Josiah led them to a renewed commitment to God’s word and actually living it in their lives.

          Brothers and sisters this is why we continue to celebrate the Reformation. It’s because we need the reminder to have ongoing reformation in our own lives and our own church. I could have started back much earlier than with King Josiah to the time of the Judges when instead of following God everyone did what was right in their own eyes and God’s words were ignored. Reformation was needed. God did it through Samuel. Things go well for a while. The people get a king who is supposed to help God’s people stay close to God. But some kings and God’s people ignored God’s words and Reformation was needed again! Read the books of the kings! How about at Jesus time. They had the Old Testament Bible complete but the chief priests and teachers of the law were not teaching the people to repent and to see their sin and need for a Savior. Reformation was needed so God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. The church goes on. God preserves His word but over time it is ignored and replaced with the teachings of popes and councils. Reformation is needed. So God used Martin Luther to bring the focus back to what God said. Salvation by grace alone and through faith alone, not by works.

Are we starting to see a pattern yet, my friends? A pattern where God blesses His people with His words and gradually they stray from it and so Reformation is needed. This is why we continue to celebrate the Reformation. Things are a little different than with God’s people of centuries past. We have His words, the Bible easily accessible. Bibles are everywhere, even at our fingertips with our smartphones and tablets and yes if I see you on your phone during church I will assume you have your Bible app going. We can read God’s words in our own language. But are we? Or is Reformation needed?

It’s so important. God’s words are given to bless us. God’s word gives life. It gives life eternal by proclaiming Jesus the Christ as Savior of all. Whoever believes in Him will be saved. God made it that simple. It gives life now when guilt of sin overwhelms it God’s word and Sacraments proclaim forgiveness to us, they take us to the cross to see our every sin on Jesus laid. The word gives life by proclaiming we are righteous, perfect in God’s sight right now through the perfect life of Jesus. That  frees us to live lives of loving obedience to God rather than out of fear of punishment or the burden of earning God’s grace which can’t be earned. It frees us from having man made laws bind our consciences. Only God’s word does that. It proclaims Jesus. No wonder the Devil keeps trying so hard to hide the Bible even when it’s in plain sight.

Besides being known as the “singing church” Lutherans used to be known as people of the Word. Ask them what they believe and they tell you. When Lutheran pastors or church bodies have strayed from God’s Word it was the people in the pew who said, “Now wait a minute. That’s not what God’s Word says.” At the end of this service we’ll sing about God’s word as our great heritage that shall be ours forever. That’s only going to happen with ongoing reform. When King Josiah realized reform was needed he tore his clothes. Now you can do that if you want. I’m not going to because I’m too cheap to buy new ones. Better that we recommit ourselves to opening our Bibles so that God’s word s reform us on a daily basis. There’s a good reason to celebrate the Reformation. Amen.