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February 16, 2007
The Best Find
I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. —2 Chronicles 34:15

In 1987, a West Michigan couple, the Zartmans, bought four books at an estate sale. They were excited to find that the books contained two collections of letters and sermons by the preacher and hymnwriter John Newton (1725–1807), who wrote the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace." Also included was a two-volume set of his sermons based on Handel’s Messiah.

Newton’s family had preserved these writings by passing them down through the years. Then in the 1840s his heirs brought the books to the US. They are currently being used by an organization that plans to republish all of Newton’s works in 2007 in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of his death. The books will then be donated to a museum in England.

An even greater find is recorded in 2 Chronicles 34:15. During Josiah’s reign as king of Judah, he ordered the repair of the temple. In the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law that had been given to Moses by the Lord. When Josiah "heard the words of the Law" (v.19), he felt convicted and later stood before his people to make a covenant to keep all that was written in the book (v.31).

The Bible is still the best book we can discover. In it we learn what God wants us to do to please Him.  — Anne Cetas

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.  —Newton

The written Word reveals the Living Word.


For similar resources, search these topics:

Bible in One Year: Mark 7–11; Proverbs 16:22-33
http://www.rbc.org/devotions.aspx?id=9574
© 2008 RBC MINISTRIES, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA.
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