2 Kings 22-23     and   2 Chronicles 34-35
Original Post:  August 12, 2014

Today we read about one bright spot in the later years of Judah's history.   King Josiah.   The northern kingdom has already fallen, and most of it's people have been taken away as captives.  Because of the godly activities of his great grandfather Hezekiah, the southern kingdom still remains.   However, it is doomed because of the actions of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son.   He was so evil that he incited God to destroy the whole area.   You will remember from previous readings how corrupt Manasseh was spiritually.  In today's reading we see just how bad idol worship had become.   The kings of Israel and Judah had fashioned and set up INSIDE the temple idols to other gods.   They had created housing for shrine prostitutes INSIDE the temple.    It's bad enough to have this sort of thing at all, but to have it inside the temple itself is a complete departure from what is holy.  No wonder the Lord is angry.

Josiah tears his clothes when he hears the words of the book of the law.   His secretary has already read them, and there is no record of him tearing his clothes.   It is the leader that god impresses his desires upon, so that they will be accomplished.   Without the leader, (or the shepherd) the people wander into all sorts of problems.

Josiah removes all the idols, and demolishes the high places.   Several kings before him went part way, but not wholeheartedly as Josiah did.   He's the first one who also takes down all the Asherah poles and other high places.

There's something to be said for zealous obedience.  I wonder what Israel would have been like if Josiah had followed king David.   What if we were as zealous for the Lord as Josiah was?   What would our lives look like if we removed with extreme prejudice anything that conflicted with holy living?   We used to refer to this as "sanctification".   The zealous believer would "go all the way" in their devotion to the Lord.  Really, the requirement is the same today.   God still expects us to "cast off the sin that so easily entangles" and pursue Him with all our heart.  That's what Josiah did.  He was a good example of wholehearted devotion.

One last thing.   In just three short generations the book of the Law has not only been lost, but forgotten.   This young king has no idea what is written in it.   How sad that the temple that was erected as a tribute to the one who gave the words of the Law is now so completely overlooked in His own temple that His Words are forgotten.   Even the book itself had been misplaced.     This serves as a warning to us to always keep God's Word in front of our children.   God's Word is precious.  It contains life, wisdom, peace and happiness.  (along with many other things).  A person cannot enter into heaven without knowing some of what is contained in the Book.   A person cannot please God without knowing what God wants, and that is all included in the Book.    The Bible should be the centerpiece of our home, our church and our nation.  

It should be the functional centerpiece, not an idol....that would be a dusty volume that is never opened, yet often looked upon as we pray to a God we choose not to experience.   But rather it should be read as a love letter, closely read and re-read as we allow our spiritual imagination to carry us away to a place where we walk hand in hand with our God and Heavenly Father.    It should be used to foster a close interpersonal relationship.  It should inform our actions and our prayers.


PR