2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 34:1-7

Josiah was Judah's last good king. He re-established temple worship and celebrated Passover. He was like Joash in that he was very young (just 8 years old) when he came to the throne. If we looked beside and behind this young man, we'd likely find godly influences. This may have come from advisors, priests and possibly his mother. More importantly though, his heart was inclined to the Lord and his eyes were on the Lord. He reigned 31 years and did what was right in the sight of the Lord.

As a young sixteen year old, Josiah sought after the Lord. By eighteen he was about the good works of the father; purging the land, cleaning up the idolatry and leading the people back to the Lord. He extended this clean up project to the northern tribes as well, just as Hezekiah had done.

Josiah burned the bones of the priests on the altars of the high places; see also 2 Kings 23:19 for more details. These were the high places in the cities of Samaria. This is the fulfillment of the prophecty given in 1 Kings 13:1-10.

After the land was cleaned up, he returned to Jerusalem to focus on the temple. This wasn't just a cleaning but it was a restoration project. It had been neglected off and on for some time.

2 Chronicles 34:8-21

Josiah was twenty six years old and had reigned 18 years when he began to repair the temple. The Levites that kept the doors collected the funds for repairs. During this time Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. It's hard for us to imagine how this could happen. The Book of the Law defined how the temple was to function; this gives us some idea of the idolatry and how far they had fallen away.

Yet, God always preserved a remnant. Within this remnant was Hilkiah (name means: 'the Lord is my portion' or 'Jehovah's protection') and Shaphan (prudent or 'shy rock'). Shaphan read the Book of the Law to the king moving him to grief and mourning. His grief wasn't just for himself but for all those of Israel and Judah. This young man sees clearly that God's wrath abided on them because of their failure. Ignoring the law didn't relieve them of the penalty for breaking the law.

2 Chronicles 34:22-28

These men went to see the prophetess to inquire of God as instructed by the king. They went in fear and trembling for the wrath that they had realized. The prophetess delivered a bad news/good news answer. The bad news was that God's wrath would be poured out for the sin debt that was owed. This is a fulfillment of the warnings of the law. The good news was that Josiah wouldn't live to see it because of his heart and humility towards the Lord. This is again reminiscent of the 2 Chron 7:14.

2 Chronicles 34:29-33

Josiah conducted a public reading of the law. He then established a national response to the law, leading the people back to the Lord. He brought a renewed covenant before the people. In the days of Josiah they did not depart.

©2017 Doug Ford