2 Kings

2 Kings 23:1-14

Josiah called together all the priests, elders, prophets and the people together and read the words of the book of the covenant.  What an event!!  What a tremendous show of leadership from Josiah to put God's word before his people and lead them to Him.  It's worth noting that he read all the words; not just the easy or comfortable, not just the good promises but also the responsibility that comes with them. 

At the reading of God's word, Josiah made a covenant to walk with the Lord; keeping His commandments and statutes with all his heart.  This is serious business and Josiah isn't just playing religion.  He then instructed the people to enter into the covenant with him. 

This began a revival and formation across the land.  This was a major purging of all the false gods and idolatry.  This list gives us an idea of the widespread idolatry in the land.  In verse 7 the 'perverted persons are the male cult prostitutes; he broke down their houses.  Topheth was destroyed so that no more childrend would pass through the fire to Molech. Guzick sites Clark, saying that Topheth got its name from Toph meaning drum.  Drums were used to drowned out the cries of the children that were burning.  These were sweeping reforms changing lives by purging the evil among them.  Where did this start?  We can see Solomon honored some of the neighbors by honoring their gods; a little compromise here, a little there, down the slippery slope.

2 Kings 23:15-21

Josiah even went to Bethel, which was part of the former Northern Kingdom.  This was one of the places of false worship where Jereboam set up a gold calf.  He cleaned up that mess that he been there for the entire time of the Northern kingdom.  In verse 16 he is even digging up the bones of the idolatrous priests buried there.  The grave of the man of God was left alone.  We see the fulfillment of a prophecu (1 Kings 13:1-2) made long ago:

And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. ² Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.' "

Josiah went up to Samaria, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom.  He cleaned up that mess and put the pagan priests to death. 

2 Kings 23:22-25

Passover was celebrated again after many years of bad leadership.  Not one king of either the northern or southern kingdoms had celebrated Passover.  It had not happened since the time of the judges.  Josiah gets the distinction of being the king like no other before or after.  All the other kings of Judah were measured agasint David, the standard.  Josiah stands alone. 

See also 2 Chronicles 35:2-17.

2 Kings 23:26-30

None of this reformation changed the judgment ordained against the nation.  We hope Josiah reformed the land because it was the right thing to do.  Then, who knows that the Lord might relent.  However, the prayers must remain, "Thy will be done."  All the reformation couldn't buy the nation out of their sins.  We can't do enough good to overcome the bad. 

Pharaoh Neco killed Josiah as Neco was forming allegiance with Assyria against Bablylon.  Josiah died taking a stand against those who would invade the land. 

See 2 Chronicles 35:21-22, 25; Lamentations 4:20; Jeremiah 22:10-11.

2 Kings 23:31-37

Jehoahaz was 23 when he became king and reigned 3 months.  His short reign was charactized by evil.  How disappointing this must have been to all, including the Lord, after the reformations of his father.  Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz and made Eliakim king in the place of him.  His name was changed to Jehoiakim.  He was 25 years old and reigned 11 years.  He also did evil.

©2016 Doug Ford