August 5: 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35

August 5, 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35

2 Kings 22 is where we are introduced to one of the greatest Kings of Judah, Josiah, son of Amon, son of Manasseh (both evil Kings). He was only 8 years old when he began to reign! “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of David his father, and he did not turn to the right or the left.” Just by the introduction we learn what Josiah was all about - obeying God. When he was 26 years old, he sent a servant to go to the priest and to count the money in the Lord’s house and distribute it to the workers of the Temple that was being restored. While they were there collecting, they found a book. That book was the words of Moses, the Book of the Law. It had apparently been missing for quite some time, and obviously neglected. They read the Book of the Law to Josiah and he tore his clothes in mourning and commanded the priest and servant telling them to go inquire of the Lord concerning what the Lord would have with them, because God was so angry with them. 

So, Hilkiah the priest and the servants went to a prophetess, Huldah. She told them this, 

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me… I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants… Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods… therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place… But to the king of Judah…Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel… because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord… and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king… 

2 Kings 23 Josiah wanted to go back to what God wanted and also to undo what had been done for years. He brought all the people together and they made a covenant before the Lord to follow Him and keep His commandments and statutes with all their heart and soul. All the people joined him in the covenant.

Josiah commanded all the priests and leaders to go throughout the lands and tear down all Baal alters, Asherah poles and anything of the like. Also he immediately kicked out the priests who were doing the offerings to false gods. He was in the process of eliminating all idolatry, because God hates it so much. 

Then Josiah holds a passover. This had not been done since the days of the judges. Josiah also got rid of all the witches, necromancers (magicians) and the like. All the household gods were now gone. There was no king like him before him or after him. 

God was still furious at the sins of the Judah and they were to be exiled just like Israel was, because of how they provoked God to anger. Josiah was in good standing before the Lord though. 

Josiah dies in battle… The king of Egypt went to the King of Assyria. Josiah met him and the King of Egypt killed him. He was buried in his own tomb and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place, but not for long. He reigned for about 3 months and he did what was evil in God’s sight. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, took him captive and made his brother reign in his place. He changed his brothers name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz died in Egypt. Jehoiakim gave silver and gold to Pharaoh and taxed all the people of Judah to give to Pharaoh. 

2 Chronicles 34 The Chronicler does not say much more than what was recorded in 2 Kings 22 here. He does add however that when Josiah was younger he had already started to seek God and began to tear down the idols. The rest pretty much follows 2 Kings 22.

2 Chronicles 35 Is also a recap of 2 Kings 23, except much more detail is given about the Passover that was kept. In detail, we learn that Josiah held the Passover to a tee. Kept ever part of it and did it how it was supposed to be done. He even gave of his own animals for the Passover. This is how David & Solomon would have done it, out of their generosity. No Passover had been kept like it since the days of Samuel. 

The details are more as well in the death of Josiah. It shows a conversation between Josiah and the King of Egypt. In battle, Josiah was shot by archers (which would have been indirectly by the King) and was wounded in battle and died. 

Jeremiah (who was a prophet we will be reading about soon) also uttered a lament for Josiah… He was a great King who obeyed God.

To sum it all up: 

• Josiah was a great King because his heart was for the Lord, especially when he read the Law and came to the realization that Judah had not been obeying the Lord at all. He was not taught this from his father or grandfather and God’s Word had been gone for some time. Because of his heart, God would spare him from what was coming. 
• regardless of what your parents have taught you or may or may not have done, where is your heart? Are you more like Josiah or Manasseh?
• Like Josiah, get rid of all idols in your life. You may not have Asherah poles in your living room, but what else is in your living room that you bow down to? How much time do you spend bowing down to your TV? Sounds goofy? Well, I am serious. If you watch a movie a day (2 hours of TV a day), over the course of a year, you have spent nearly 31 days of the year bowing down to your idol. Over a month straight! I am not saying TV is evil, but does it bring you closer to God and help you pursue purity and holiness?