A biblical perspective on “the good ole days”
You remember those “days,” right? “Days” defined by nostalgia and memories, sweet smells of grandma’s cooking on Christmases long ago. It takes us back to a time less-stylized, when folks knew about things like “chivalry” and “courtesy” or “common sense” and “decency” with “integrity” and an honest sense of good humor, just like them folks there in that little town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show!
(Read with your best southern flare accent and hospitality!)
Mayberry: that little town with a big heart and their kindly good sheriff with his friendly-wide grin. Pert' near every time you watch, you can bet you’ll be greeted by Andy's cheerful, “Howdy folks!” His trustworthy, wildly high-strung stallion of a sidekick, Mr. Barney Fife will be close by his side, with his one bullet tucked firmly inside the front pocket of his dress shirt. Soon, in will walk little Opie Taylor with his innocent charm asking all them adorable questions, with each one receiving just the most amazing, mighty-wise answer that there ever could be from his ever-lovin' daddy, who just so happens to be Sheriff Andy Taylor himself. You’ll also get to meet a whole host of just the friendliest cast you ever did meet, and especially Miss Aunt Bee. If you lean in real close now, you might even smell her pecan pie through that TV screen of your’n…... mmmm, it’s goo-ood!
Now I didn’t grow up watching Andy, but I enjoy The Andy Griffith Show as a grownup, so I wouldn’t dare pick on it. But there are certain ways our tendency to affectionately long for days gone by from yesteryear and the accompanying assumptions that life was better way back when is often alluded to by our enjoyment of the famed show.
In the final decades before the Babylonian invasion, a boy king named Josiah begins to reign. He’s described as the last “righteous” king in Judah and serves as the final hope for a fallen nation in an effort to win back what is lost by restoring covenant with Yahweh. Activating his faith with steps of obedience, Josiah’s passion is on full display as he leads the nation in holy reformation. It’s from this vantage point that we glean a biblical perspective of “the good ole days.”
Josiah is faced with a people who assume God’s blessing is upon them even though they live without ever hearing from Him. They presume their history automates their present, for they own God of covenant but fail to adhere to the covenant of God. They imagine themselves living in God’s favor though they know nothing of His will. In sad reality, they are too far removed from the One deemed so close, and Josiah must cleanse the nation of her idolatry and sin.
In the midst of his purge, a Book is found and hope is reborn. The priests find the Book of the Law written by Moses and given to the people for the purpose of following the Lord with all their heart, reaping the blessings of keeping His commands written in His Law. Upon hearing the Book read aloud, Josiah’s pathos spills over as he leads the nation in corporate repentance. The text reads as follows:
And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:19-21).
The king’s impetus for reform is his holy reverence for the LORD. He reveres Yahweh and His Word, so all other allegiances must be removed. Remarkably, the nation follows his lead, and the chapter ends with renewed covenant fervency.
Josiah’s reform reestablishes Israel’s days of old when God’s Word was first heard and the hope of blessings by obedience were instilled in everyone who listened and applied what was taught, teaching us a valuable biblical truth: what qualifies as “the good ole days” has nothing to do with nostalgia or distant memories; rather, the good ole days are those days in which the people of God respond to the Word of God by faith and obedience… today!
Glorify. Train. Engage. 