What parallels exist between Josiah's reforms and Jesus' cleansing of the temple? Josiah’s First Move Toward Purity “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, carved images, and molten images.” (2 Chronicles 34:3) Parallel One: Zeal for the House of God • Josiah directs his earliest reform to the Temple precincts (2 Chron 34:8) • Jesus’ first public act in Jerusalem is directed to the Temple courts (John 2:13-17; Matthew 21:12-13) • Both refuse to tolerate anything that dilutes pure worship—idols for Josiah, profiteering for Jesus Parallel Two: Removal Before Renewal • Josiah smashes, burns, and scatters every trace of idolatry (2 Chron 34:4-5) • Jesus overturns tables, scatters coins, drives out sellers (John 2:15) • Cleansing comes before rebuilding: Josiah repairs the Temple after the purge (2 Chron 34:8-11); Jesus teaches and heals there once it is cleared (Matthew 21:14) Parallel Three: Scriptural Authority • Josiah’s actions explode after the rediscovery of “the Book of the Law” (2 Chron 34:14-19) • Jesus bases His rebuke on Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11—“It is written…” (Mark 11:17) • Both reforms flow from an unshakable acceptance of God’s written Word Parallel Four: Restoration of Covenant Worship • Josiah re-establishes Passover “like none since the days of Samuel” (2 Chron 35:18-19) • Jesus cleanses the Temple in the days immediately preceding Passover (John 2:13; Matthew 26:2) • Each action prepares the nation to meet the Lord in covenant remembrance Parallel Five: Fulfilled Prophetic Zeal • 1 Kings 13:2 foretold a “Josiah” who would burn the bones of false priests—prophecy comes true in 2 Chron 34:5 • Psalm 69:9—“Zeal for Your house has consumed me”—finds its fullest expression in Christ (John 2:17) Parallel Six: Call to National Repentance • Josiah reads the Law aloud; the people stand in covenant again (2 Chron 34:29-33) • Jesus’ cleansing is an enacted call to repent: “My house…for all nations” (Mark 11:17)—a summons that reaches Jews and Gentiles alike Parallel Seven: From King to King • Josiah, Judah’s boy-king, points forward to the true Son of David who rules forever (Luke 1:32-33) • Both wield kingly authority to purify worship, and both acts anticipate a final, universal cleansing of God’s dwelling (Revelation 21:22-27) Takeaway Themes • Genuine reform begins with a heart that “seeks the God of…David” and expresses itself in decisive action. • Scripture—not culture or convenience—sets the agenda for cleansing and worship. • The Temple, then and now, must never be co-opted for self-interest; it exists for prayer, praise, and the glory of God alone. |
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