The affairs of state took a decided turn for the worse on the death of Solomon, as soon there after, the country was split in two; to form the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel.

The litany of rebellion against God continued in both Israel and Judah, with Israel being the more incorrigible. After a succession of evil kings and wanton idolatry, God in judgment sent Israel into exile. Judah fared a little better but only for a time.

Occasionally the sequence of evil kings in Judah was broken by a righteous king, but that the nation was following fast in the footsteps of Israel in behaviour and destiny was evident.

It is to be noted that in all the rebellion and apostasy of Israel and Judah, God sent a steady stream of prophets to both call the nation back to Himself and to warn them of their impending judgment. 

Note, the nation prospered and had peace when the Kings and the people were faithful to their covenant with Jehovah. 

By the time of King Josiah whose reforms will be the focus of our study, the die had been cast. God had already decreed the destruction and exile of Judah.

Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather has the dubious distinction of being the wickedest king to ever reign in Israel or Judah. He succeeded his father, the righteous king Hezekiah and immediately proceeded to reverse and overthrow all Hezekiah had done to bring the nation in line with their covenant obligations. We read of him:

His son Amon picked up where Manasseh left off at his death but was assassinated in a matter of months of ascending the throne. Josiah comes on the scene a mere eight years old and with the nation at the absolute nadir of idolatry, rebellion and apostasy.

Let us understand clearly the very precarious and unusual position of Judah when Josiah ruled.  The nation of Judah consisted of only the two remaining tribes which had escaped the fate of the much larger ten Israelite tribes. They formed the northern kingdom and had gone into captivity less than a century ago.  God had analyzed the character of both the northern kingdom and of Judah in

Jeremiah 3:4-11 and it was an ominous analysis which followed an accusation of spiritual whoredom.  It reads:

“Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

Will he reserve his anger forever?  Will he keep it to the end?  Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the King, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done?  She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me.  But she returned not.  And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but when and played the harlot also.

And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed idolatry with stones and with stocks.

And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned on to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.

And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.”

So these were incredibly desperate times for the people of God.  It is in these times that an eight-year-old ascended the throne. But as befitting the times, the all gracious and merciful God saw that the times needed a special person to save his people, or at least give them a chance at repentance, so we will note that this was the last of the righteous kings of Judah.

Most interestingly, as we study how the all merciful God deals with his people, we note that in 1 Kings 13 God had sent a man of God out of Judah unto Bethel. He was to cry against the altar of idolatry that the first King of the northern kingdom Jeroboam had built and at which he stood to burn incense.  Here we have an amazing prophecy uttered by this unnamed man of God.

“And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.

It seems then that Josiah was named before his birth and appointed to tear down the strongholds of the enemies of God.  His godly heritage was appointed.

Josiah certainly had a wicked father, no godly education or good example to follow and undoubted many who advised him to follow his father's footsteps. None the less, in evidence and testimony to God’s grace and mercy, Josiah was a righteous king, who in all his ways endeavoured to ‘walk’ in obedience to God. God protected Josiah even when he was young, from the influence of his father and grandfather, and he soon saw their errors.

He would have had regents and advisers at this early age.  His directions to the high priest and his familiarity with them indicates that they might have been among his regents.

We must note also that his terrible grandfather Manasseh did make some attempt to curb idolatry when he came back from exile.  He obviously had learned some lessons, but the nation was too far gone for his belated efforts to have the kind of effect that he might have hoped.  When his son Amon came to the throne and followed Manasseh’s previously wicked ways he was quickly killed in a revolt.

So it is likely that when Josiah came to the throne he was surrounded by godly regents who would make every effort to take the nation back along the road that the repentance Manasseh had begun to travel.

Though Josiah instituted laudable and widespread reforms in an admirable effort to rid the nation of idolatry, as it turned out, it was all too late. Despite his repentant heart, reforms and grief over the sin and rebellion of the nation, they were in fact living on borrowed time. Manasseh’s sins had sealed the nation’s fate.

Note, so it is in the life of believers who persist in sin. God’s judgment may already have been determined and its now just a matter of time before the hammer comes down.

It is to be noted at the same time however that God is gracious, and though destruction and terrible despair might surround Josiah or us, there exists a foundation and a mighty pillar that will never fall.

Josiah relied on God's trustworthy character and his strength to sustain him when everything else was crumbling, and even when the prophesied destiny of the nation was most bleak.

When a person is mighty in spirit and obedient to the instructions of God, putting all their hope and trust in the Covenant that God had established, that person will know for sure that God will honor his Word.  God will dwell in that person richly and though everything around will be shaken, the sure foundation will ensure that God will make things right and preserve those that depend on Him.

Josiah fought for the right way despite find the dangers in the environment and what he knew was coming on the nation.  He would never give up because he knew that his people were the Covenant people and that there was a permanent future for them.

The parallel account of this time in 2 Chronicles 34:3 puts the beginning of the reforms we study in our lesson, as in the twelfth year of Josiah’s reign. However 2 Kings 22 seem to tie the reforms to the discovery of the book of the law in the Temple, which happened during the eighteenth year of his reign. The 2 Kings account is clearly not meant to be chronological, but the culmination of an ongoing campaign which is given its final impetus by the discovery of the book of the law.

It is almost inconceivable to imagine that the solemn convocation of the leadership and the people at the Temple to renew the covenant under the patronage of the righteous Josiah (23:1-3), could have happened before the Temple and its environs were cleansed from all vestiges of idolatry. The sequence of events in chapter twenty three places the renewal of the covenant before the eradication of idolatry and is clearly not a chronological record.

In our lesson, we will again observe yet another renewal of the covenant and a ‘Passover’ observance not seen in Judah for over a century, but this one was only a temporary respite on the road to ignominious defeat and exile.

This was remarkable, given that he was following in the wake of arguably the two most evil kings in the history of Judah. Rampant and pervasive wickedness and idolatry however does not blot out God’s grace and mercy and he raised up a righteous king, even in those evil times.

Verse 3-7.   We can safely assume that Josiah immediately restored the worship of God that had been suppressed by his father and the people would have resumed their accustomed offerings at the temple.

It seems up to this point no one had even bothered to check the offering and apportion the Temple maintenance amount.

The events here inform us that there were already on-going restoration works at the Temple during the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. It appears the king wanted to have a more ‘hands-on’ involvement in the restoration work and we can only imagine the condition of the place following the idolatrous reigns of Manasseh and Amon.

Verse 8.   The simple statement of  Hilkiah to Shaphan that he had found ‘the book of the law’ belies the far-reaching and profound effects on the nation that would follow.  

‘The book of the law’ title, grammatically and historically identify the Temple find as the Mosaic book of the law, as it is designated in the Chronicles and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. 

Others have attributed the reforms Josiah implemented directly to the reading of the book and suggest the land was bereft of even one copy of the law, after the reigns of the evil Manasseh and Amon. Hence a general ignorance of God’s words pervaded the country and the acute reaction of Josiah (22:11). We know this was likely not the case for in the time of King Jehoshaphat, teaching from the law was universal throughout the land as we read in 2 Chronnicles 17:7-9.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

Further, Josiah’s entire reign is characterized by the statement: he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, which would be highly unlikely without the guiding light of the word of God, especially in that environment.

We also know that even Manasseh had guidance from God when he returned from captivity in Babylon. 2 Chronicles 23: 13-19 tells us that Manasseh did begin some repairs in the Temple and tried to remove idolatry from Jerusalem.

Very importantly verse eighteen tells us that there were Seers who talked to him in the name of the Lord God and there was some continuing repentance by Manasseh. 

So Josiah would have known much about God for there were prophets such as Jeremiah and other unnamed seers were speaking the word of God and who would have had access to the books of the law of God.

Verse 9.   Shaphan reports to the king that his wishes had been carried out regarding the restoration work at the Temple, including proper arrangement for the management of financing and trades issues.  Obviously there were honest men in Judah who cared much for the house of the Lord.

Verse 10.   In what reads like an almost ‘ matter of fact’ fashion, Shaphan showed the king ‘the book of the law’ he had gotten from Hilkiah and then proceeded to read the book to the king.  

It is important to note that Deuteronomy 17 instructs that every king was to have and to read his personal copy of the law. Josiah would have been in violation of this precept and being righteous it would have shaken him. 

As well Deuteronomy 31 instructs that the entire law was to be read to the nation at the Feast of Tabernacles, which was held every seven years. The words of the law would then always be before the people.

Verse 11-20.   These verses are a closely connected narrative of events that ensued upon the king hearing the book read. While the exact contents of the book remains unknown and how much of it was read to the king, it is fairly certain that it included parts or all of  Deuteronomy 28-31.

This section of Deuteronomy contains the renewing of the covenant in the plains of Moab and the most terrible invectives against the corrupters of God's word and worship. Other sections of Deuteronomy would also layout for the king his personal responsibility, which he could only violate at his personal peril.  He would've remembered what had happened to his grandfather Manasseh when he violated the terms of the Covenant. 

The rending of the king’s clothes showed his anguish of soul but gives no certainty as to his familiarity with the text. In all probability, it appears Josiah had not had any copy of the law in his possession or maybe even read it till now. So he was shocked at the extent of what the law required, and what the terms of the Covenant entailed.  Still, the thorough knowledge of the law that the prophets displayed clearly shows the existence of the Pentateuch in Judah, if only in prophetic circles. 

It was easy for Israel to think only of the blessings of the Covenant, and ignore what would happen if they did not behave according to what was required in the covenant.  We are no different, we do the same thing.  We like the blessings and fool ourselves that there is no discipline involved in following God. 

In light of what he heard and knowing the rebellion and idolatry of the nation, Josiah sent a delegation to inquire of Huldah the prophetess as to the fate of himself and the people.  The sending of a delegation to Huldah the prophetess is interesting, since Jeremiah and other prophets were in their ministry at the same time (Jeremiah 1).

Judah’s idolatry had invoked the curses in the covenant and that was to be their fate, but Josiah’s pious and repentant response to the reading of the word of God, meant he would be spared the grief and sorrow of  seeing God’s judgment on Judah.  

Huldah’s words were officially reported to the king.  The prophetess made no bones about God's intention to follow through with the fierceness of his anger, given the many provocations of the rulers and people.  

We pray that God will send strong women who know the word of God and who are prepared to stand for it against all comers.  Women like Deborah and Huldah are examples for all women in the church of God.

CHAPTER 23

The first three verses of chapter twenty three record the culmination of Josiah’s reforms and efforts to restore the nation to their right covenant relationship with Yahweh, the Covenant Keeping God.  

True to his righteous heart, although Josiah knew Judah would be spared the judgment in his lifetime, he was not content to allow his people to continue their slide into destruction and exile. It seems he determined to do everything that was in his power, to lead the whole nation to a true return to the Lord and maybe avert the judgment. After all, the Lord had promised forgiveness and mercy to the penitent. So in the year the book of the law was found, he pursued the destruction and purge of idolatry and its purveyors in Judah with renewed vigor.  

Josiah sought to have the remnants of idolatry eradicated, not only in Jerusalem and Judah, but also in Bethel and the other cities of Samaria. He commanded the people to dedicate themselves to covenant faithfulness towards the Lord by the celebration of a solemn Passover.

Verse 1-2.    Josiah summoned the entire nation to Jerusalem for a formal renewal of the covenant. Particular mention is made of the elders, priests and prophets and 2 Chronicles 34:29-32 mentions the priests and Levites as also being summoned along with all the people of Judah.  

Remember that it was the responsibility of the Levites, who were scattered all over the country, to teach the law to the people of Israel, and so they, along with the priests, had tremendous responsibility. 

Josiah realized he needed the cooperation of the entire leadership to sustain the reforms he had put in place. The leaders had the spiritual over-sight, prophets would warn and exhort; the king was using all means to maintain fidelity with the covenant. The participation of the leaders of the entire nation might avert national judgment. 

We know that the prophets Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Urijah were current during this time. God at all times maintains a witness to his people and their rebellion and sin is rarely done in ignorance. 

…And he read… might be evidence that Josiah could read but the phrase could also be rendered ‘he had it read, which is the normal duty of the priests. The solemn reading of the law was commanded in the Law itself once in seven years (Deut 31:10-13).  We can safely assume that this practice was not observed since the reign of Manasseh.  

Some point out that the pillar under which Josiah stood is literally the northern pillar called “Boaz” or “by Him is he mighty”.  Proclaiming the covenant from that position, reading from that ancient manuscripts, and committing himself to keep all the decrees and Commandments demanded by the Covenant of his forefathers would have had a powerful symbolic effect on the leaders and on the people.  Josiah did everything correctly, and in such a way that it would have maximum impact. 

Verse 3.   With the word of the law still in their ears, Josiah solemnly pledged himself on behalf of the people to observe the covenant in all its details to the letter, as outlined in the law. Commandments, testimonies and precepts cover the entire spectrum of God’s injunctions to his people.    

The covenant Josiah renewed was that made between God and His people in Horeb (Deut 5:2).  To the extent that it was possible to be done by the mere act of an individual, Josiah bound himself by a grave promise to the faithful performance of the entire Law. Remember in the previous covenant enactments, God was the Advocate and Author. 

…all the people stood… the people assented to all that Josiah had pledged on their behalf.

Verse 4-20.   Even though the prophetess had given comforting words to him personally, it shook Josiah tremendously and he set out to correct the bad situation in Judah.  He employed a ‘scorched earth’ policy in his campaign to wipe out idolatry not only in Judah but also in parts of Israel. The idols, places of worship and their priests were burned to ashes. Such was the zeal of this righteous king. 

There would be no observing of the Passover if there were abominations all over the land.  Full worship required that the people make every attempt to rid the land of whatever was detestable to God. 

It would not make sense for us to worship in a church filled with rubbish.  Neither would it make sense for us to sit down to pray at home surrounded by an untidy house.  We prepare our environment and our person before we approach the Holy God. 

So Josiah moved to clean up the land.  Much of the population worshiped different gods, depending on what they needed a God to do.  When they needed fertility or rain, their interest was in praying to Baal.  They had many other gods that they worshiped the likes of Molech, Ashtoreth, Milcom, and Anot, and all of them had their different altars, rituals, and priests, each one competing for the attention of the people. 

So there was a lot of work to be done.

Idolatry was deep in Judah and the “hosts of  Heaven” were worshiped in the very temple itself.  So Josiah began cleaning at the center and working outwards. 

He took the idolatrous items out of the temple and threw their ashes on the graves of the people to defile the idols.

He then removed the idolatrous priests, who permitted and promoted the abominations.

He tore down the ritual booths erected in the temple for sacred prostitution.  This shows how bad and disgraceful things that gotten.

He destroyed the sacred pillars and removed the horses that were dedicated to the sun god worship that the previous Kings had brought into Jerusalem.

It is clear that there was an expensive, widespread, elaborate commitment by the kings of Judah to these abominations of paganism.  All of these things cost money and effort to implement. 

Because the Assyrian Empire was weakening and on its way down and the Babylonians were not yet ascendant, Josiah used the opportunity to extend his reformation to Samaria and Bethel. 

He fulfilled his prophecy by tearing down the pagan altar in Bethel that Jeroboam had set up hundreds of years earlier.  He removed the occult and all traces of spiritism. 

Josiah obviously spared no effort in turning the people of Judah and Israel back to the clean, pure worship of God. Then and only then was he ready to celebrate Passover.

Verse 21-23.   Josiah here commanded a Passover observance throughout the land, after the remaining traces of idolatry had been erased.   

Josiah’s reforms were comprehensive and involved not only a prohibition against evil but the observance of all the instituted ordinances (Lev. 18:30) and so he commanded all the people to keep the Passover. The Passover was not only a memorial of their deliverance out of Egypt but a token of their dedication to God for that deliverance.                                          

…there was not holden… this Passover was distinguished from all others in that not only Judah and Benjamin participated but all Judah and Israel, (2 Chron 35:1-19). 

Another distinguishing feature of this Passover was the fact it was kept in strict accordance with the precepts of the Mosaic law, as compared to say that of Hezekiah. In Hezekiah’s time there were many necessarily points of departure from the dictates of the law,

 (2 Chron 30:2-3,17-20).  The intent here is that during the times of the kings, no passover had ever been kept, that so strictly adhered to all the Mosaic laws. Seemingly custom rather than the strict word of the law was the norm and many things were necessarily changed and neglected.  

…the days of the judges… 2 Chron 35:18 clarifies this phrase:

There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

CONCLUSION

A further reading of the history of Judah shows that the nation eventually reverted to their evil ways, bringing God’s curses on themselves, as they were taken into exile in Babylon.  

Josiah managed to turn back idolatry for a time and righteous leaders can do much but the people are still held responsible and will have to face God’s wrath or mercies. 

While God’s mercies are ever lasting, his wrath is terrible and his people are hereby warned.  

Each individual must like Josiah do all as the Spirit empowers us, to be faithful in covenant with our God. 

Notice the speed which with Josiah acted to read the words of the law to the people and get them to commit themselves to it.  Then notice how quickly he moved to clean up the nation, and to remove all traces of idolatry and evil. 

He would not live for one minute more than necessary among the abominations of paganism.  He was zealous for God and was indignant, filled with righteous anger against everything that was  displeasing to God. 

This is a great example for us, no traces of idolatry and paganism should be in our ways.  We should be zealous in keeping the Commandments of God. 

Josiah found out that the nation's most important heritage and foundation had become a forgotten thing of the past.  It was shameful and he immediately led his countrymen to renew their relationship with God.  He made dramatic reforms and turned the people back to the original foundation. 

How could the people of Israel have so neglected the Book of the law? We should ask ourselves the questions as to how we can so easily neglect and trivialize the Word of God, in spite of the evidence of what happened in Israel. 

We close by reminding the young men and women of the church that they like Josiah can learn the word of God and commit themselves to God, stand up for the Word of God despite the environment and the dangers that come with standing up for the Word of God. The reward for standing for the Word of God is beyond our imagination.  

So we pray that Deuteronomy 4:9 will ring in our ears

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.