January 19, 2022
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Reading along with us in 2 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Kings 23 (NIV)
Josiah Renews the Covenant
1 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants 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. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.........Continue Reading
2 kings 20-23
Talk about cleaning house! I was struck by all the evil things that had become part of Jewish life that had to be eradicated by Josiah. And yet he was faithful to do it all. I love the verse that says no one before him or after him turned to the Lord the way he did. It was that verse that lead me to name my son Josiah. King Josiah is certainly one to be emulated to take the conviction that comes from the word and follow it to its logical conclusion. And even though there is no mention of opposition to what he is doing, you can imagine there were those who clung to the evil ways that needed to be corrected and Josiah provided the leadership to do so. It was sad to read how he died, to have his influence end before it’s time, but God knew what He was doing and knew full well that things would go downhill under the next kings. And that is even more sad.
2 Kings 23
2 kings 24&25
Amen to this house cleaning Josiah!! The extent of this house cleaning was a massive undertaking. The evil and disobedience had taken hold in so many areas of their daily lives I imagine what this must have looked like! This was a complete upheaval and I loved the stark and sharp end Josiah was putting to all the evil but sad to see that even though he removed the “stuff” the people’s hearts were not changed as they so quickly went back to evil ways which clearly God knew was coming as well.
Josiah completely destroys all of the idols and places of worship throughout the land.
Unfortunately, his sons do not do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and they are taken under the control of Pharoah Necho.