"AND TURNED NOT ASIDE TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT"

It is said of Josiah, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2). Here was a bright star in the dark night of sin. His father and grandfather had been wicked and Josiah was only eight years old when he begins to reign. What does it mean that, “he...turned not aside to the right hand or to the left”? Moses, when giving final instruction to the children of Israel, told the people they would want a king. He describes the kind of king they should have. He said, “That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel” (Deut. 17:20). In Numbers 20 Moses sent messengers to the King of Edom and ask for permission to go through their land. He said, “we will not turn to the right hand or to the left” (Num. 20:17). The King of Edom refused their request. We see this phrase again in Proverbs. Solomon is encouraging the reader to keep his heart with all diligence and he said, “Turn not to the right nor to the left” (Prov. 4:23-27). There are lessons we can learn from these statements.

1. Stay Focused. Moses said to the King of Edom, we just want to go through your land to get to Jordon. We will stay focused. We’ll not eat your food or drink your water but if we do we’ll pay for it. Moses was focused. So many folks start the journey of the Christian life and after a short time they fall away (Matt. 13). Why? They don’t stay focused. Peter admonishes us to “make our calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:5-11). Many brethren start sowing the seed and as soon as someone objects or begins to criticize and complain, they stop sowing. In Matthew 13 the sower didn’t stop sowing to go chase birds. He kept sowing. There will always be birds to chase.
   
2. Do Not Be Tossed To And Fro With Every Kind Of Doctrine. Some turn aside to the right hand or to the left at every new doctrine that comes along. It is not difficult to identify those congregations who will accept a new doctrine. Paul said, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). Notice those congregations that start hand clapping after a baptism. The next thing they will do is to put microphones in the hands of certain members in the audience (they say to help their singing). It won’t be long until they have those with the microphones up front leading the singing. If the denominational world comes up with something different, they will soon adopt it. They are turned aside to the right hand or to the left.
   
3. Know Where You Are Going. Moses knew where the children of Israel were going. They were going to the land of Canaan. It is easy to be lured aside to the right hand or to the left when you don’t know where you’re going.

Larry Acuff