What actions demonstrated Josiah's commitment to the Law of Moses? Setting the Scene: Rediscovering the Book of the Law • During temple repairs, “Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses” (2 Chron 34:14). • When Shaphan read it aloud, “the king tore his clothes” (2 Kings 22:11)—a public sign of deep repentance and reverence for the very words God had spoken through Moses (Leviticus 10:6; Joel 2:13). Josiah’s Personal Response to Scripture • He sought prophetic confirmation, sending emissaries to Huldah (2 Kings 22:12-20). • He humbled himself before God’s warnings (v. 19). • He gathered “all the people from the least to the greatest” and “read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant” (2 Kings 23:2). • He “made a covenant before the LORD … to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments” (v. 3), mirroring Deuteronomy 6:5 and Deuteronomy 29:1. Purging the Land of Idolatry 2 Kings 23 lists an aggressive, systematic purge: • Removed “all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for the host of heaven,” burning them outside Jerusalem (v. 4). • Deposed idolatrous priests “who had burned incense … to the sun, moon, constellations, and all the host of heaven” (v. 5). • Destroyed “the houses of the male shrine prostitutes” in the temple courts (v. 7). • Smashed the Topheth in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom to end child sacrifice (v. 10; cf. Leviticus 18:21). • Pulverized the horses and chariots dedicated to the sun (v. 11). • Broke down altars Solomon had built for foreign gods (v. 13). • Carried the reform beyond Judah, tearing down Jeroboam’s altar at Bethel, fulfilling the 300-year-old prophecy of 1 Kings 13:2 (2 Kings 23:15-16). • Killed priests of the high places and burned their bones on their own altars (v. 20), eradicating every trace of syncretism. • “Furthermore, Josiah removed from Judah and Jerusalem every abomination … so that they could perform the words of the Law” (2 Chron 34:33). • Expelled mediums, spiritists, household idols, and detestable things (2 Kings 23:24). Restoring Pure Worship • Cleansed and repaired the temple for exclusive Yahweh worship (2 Chron 34:8-13). • Re-established the Levitical priesthood’s proper duties (2 Chron 35:2-6). • Reinforced Mosaic regulations for offerings (Numbers 28-29). Celebrating Covenant Faithfulness: The Passover • “The king commanded all the people, ‘Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant’” (2 Kings 23:21). • The Passover was celebrated “in Jerusalem,” and “there had not been celebrated such a Passover … since the days of the judges” (2 Kings 23:22; 2 Chron 35:18). • Priests and Levites were set “according to their divisions … as written in the Book of Moses” (2 Chron 35:12), ensuring meticulous obedience to Exodus 12 and Deuteronomy 16. Living out Deuteronomy 6:5 2 Kings 23:25 summarizes the king’s passion: “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses; and no one like him arose after him.” Josiah’s deeds matched the greatest commandment—wholehearted love expressed in concrete obedience. Key Takeaways • Wholehearted devotion to God’s Word drives real-world change. • Genuine repentance results in decisive action against sin. • True covenant renewal blends personal humility, public commitment, corporate worship, and ongoing vigilance against idolatry. |
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