Category: Old Testament

King Josiah – The Renewal

~ Sowmya Gali ~ 1 Comment

2 Kings 23: 2He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.

2 Kings 22 records of Josiah’s discovery of God’s word. He had not been brought up with the Law of God. He was totally ignorant of the rule of law because his predecessors have not set a good example. However, when he heard the scriptures being read by the high priest, he tore his clothes and repented before God. He sought to find out more about God. Because of his desire to know more about the true God, God Almighty spared him from the curse. He was promised a peaceful life and that during his reign he will not witness any evil.

Josiah, in honor of the living God, cleansed the temple of all idols, and ensured every altar and every high place all across the kingdom were burned down. He invited the citizens of his kingdom to the temple and in their hearing, read the Word of God. He made a covenant before the Lord that day in the hearing of all the people – to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. 2 Kings 23: 3

Not only the king repented but the entire nation of Judah repented before the Lord. The king and his people pledged to follow the Lord. A revival of an entire nation happened that day. Not only he destroyed all the idols and high places in Judea but he also went into Samaria and destroyed the high places there. He spared no high priest who offered or sacrificed to the idols and killed them. Until he finished cleansing the land of all the idols and idol worship, he didn’t return to Jerusalem. Such was his zeal for the Lord.

Soon after his return to Jerusalem, he commanded his people to celebrate the Passover. He understood the significance of the Passover – the shedding of an innocent lamb for the redemption of sins. The Bible records that such a Passover was not celebrated since the days of Samuel and never was celebrated since then. Even during the reign of the kings of both Israel and Judah, such a grand Passover was not celebrated. During the Passover, King Josiah, priests, the Levites and other officials gave animals as freewill offering. They did everything according to the ordinance written in the Word. The blood was sprinkled by the high priests on the people and the entire nation was sanctified that day. They renewed their covenant before the Lord that day.

2 Kings 23: 25Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

Can you imagine such a revival in these last days? Imagine an entire nation repenting of their sins and the sins of their forefathers, renewing the relationship with God and ensuring that there is no evil in the land! Is it even possible to be sanctified at such a large scale today? If a little ember can set a forest ablaze, can’t a single flickering soul set ablaze a revival fire in the hearts of people in this land and in the world? Yes, there are pastors, leaders who are striving to bring the Good News of the Gospel and they are sounding the alarm of the impending Rapture and Tribulation. God, in His mercy, is giving us opportunities for us to return to Him and renew our relationship with Him once again. Alas, the hearts of people have turned stone cold!

We, who are believers, must continue to fan into flames the holy fire that has set our hearts ablaze so others around us can catch it. Let us not hide this little light under a bushel but set it high on a pedestal so everyone can see. The time is now. Let us be the torchbearers for the Lord in these last days. One renewed soul on fire can bring a whole nation to its knees before the Lord.

King Josiah – Discovery

~ Sowmya Gali

2 Kings 22: 2

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

King Josiah was eight years old when he became king over Israel. His great grandfather was Hezekiah, who followed God and whose life was miraculously extended by fifteen years. His grandfather Manasseh, on the other hand was a devious king. He set up altars for Baal in the temple in Jerusalem. He shed innocent blood so much that it filled Jerusalem from end to end. Surprisingly, for reasons unknown, God allowed him to rule for fifty-five years. Manasseh was followed by Amon, his son, who was twenty-two years old when he became king. He too followed his father in committing grievous sins and forsook the Lord. After ruling the land for just two years, he was assassinated by his own officials, in his own palace. His murder was, however, avenged by the people of the land and eight-year-old Josiah was appointed king of the land.

We don’t know what kind of upbringing Josiah had. Even though he was preceded by evil kings, he chose to do right in the sight of the Lord. In every aspect, he followed his ancestor, David. He must have heard stories about King David. All those brave and righteous deeds of David must have inspired him to follow in his footsteps. Despite who his parents and grandparents were, Josiah chose to do what was right and adhered strongly to those values. He didn’t let the current culture of the land dictate his life. He, as a king, recognized the authority he had in influencing the people of the land. He might have witnessed the apostasy of his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon, which might have been repulsive to him. All the sins of his previous generations were so abhorrent, he just didn’t let that influence him. Such was his conviction.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he was twenty-six years old, he summoned his officials and charged them to repair the temple of the Lord. While the refurbishments and repairs were going on, Hilkiah, the high priest found the Book of the Law. He handed the Book to the chief official, Shaphan, who took it to King Josiah right away. In the presence of the king, Shaphan read from the Book. When King Josiah heard the words, he tore his robes. He realized God’s anger towards his fathers because of their disobedience. He realized that so many of them have not followed God’s commandments and how grievously they have sinned against the Lord. He asked his officials to inquire of the Lord.

King Josiah, who was never exposed to the Word of God all his life, instead exposed to terrible sin and apostasy, chose now to follow God wholeheartedly. His immediate reaction when he learned from the Book of the Law reveals his heart condition. He cleansed the temple and every high place in the country. He removed the idols and burnt them in the Kidron valley. He appointed Levites to resume their duties as priests in the temple. Despite leading a righteous life thus far, he felt shameful and abhorrent before the Lord for the sins of his forefathers that they caused the nation to commit.

How do we react to sin and apostasy going on around us? Are we being complacent and compromising? Or are we being guilty and shameful before the Lord, even though we did not commit those sins? Are we becoming tolerant of the apostasy that is prevalent in our culture? Are we turning a blind eye to the apostasy in our midst thinking it is not going to affect us? Or are we crying before the Lord for the sins of our nation? Are we rending our hearts before the Lord for our complacency? Where do we stand? On the side of the Lord or the side of the sin? We can neither be sailing in two boats nor standing on the fence. Let us chose this day, whose side we are on.

In exhortation:

Deuteronomy 4: 39

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.