In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a youth, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast images.
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them’;
I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held on to him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house – to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
I have not spoken in secret, somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek me in a wasteland. I am the Lord, who speaks righteously, who declares what is right.
When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.’
‘Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: “I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me for ever. But now,” this is the Lord’s declaration, “no longer! For those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disgraced.