Why is it significant that "such a Passover had not been observed"? Text in View “No such Passover had been observed since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout all the days of the kings of Israel and of Judah.” (2 Kings 23:22; cf. 2 Chronicles 35:18) Historical Backdrop • Judah had endured generations of idolatry under kings such as Manasseh and Amon (2 Kings 21). • The Book of the Law was rediscovered in Josiah’s eighteenth year (2 Kings 22:8–11). • Confronted by Scripture, Josiah set out to realign national worship with God’s original commands (2 Kings 23:1–3). Unique Features of Josiah’s Passover • Celebrated “as it is written in this Book of the Covenant” (2 Kings 23:21), meaning every detail in Exodus 12; Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 16 was finally kept. • Centralized in Jerusalem, not on multiple high places (Deuteronomy 12:5–14). • Included all the tribes—remnant northern Israelites and Judeans together (2 Chronicles 35:17). • Led personally by the king, who supplied thousands of lambs so even the poor could participate (2 Chronicles 35:7–9). • Preceded by sweeping removal of idols, altars, mediums, and pagan priests (2 Kings 23:4–20). Why the Long Neglect? • Idolatry displaced covenant worship; pagan festivals crowded out God’s appointed feast (2 Kings 21:3–9). • Political convenience made local shrines attractive; Passover required costly pilgrimage (1 Kings 12:28–31). • Spiritual apathy grew as the Law was ignored and even lost (2 Kings 22:8). • Leadership failure: few kings before Josiah “turned to the LORD with all his heart” (2 Kings 23:25). Spiritual Significance Then • Covenant Renewal – Public reading of the Law and strict Passover observance reaffirmed Israel’s identity as God’s redeemed people (Exodus 12:24–27). • National Repentance – Destroying idols showed tangible rejection of sin (2 Kings 23:24). • Restoration of Unity – Hosting northern survivors symbolized hope for a reunited Israel (2 Chronicles 35:17–18). • Testament to Scriptural Authority – Obedience sprang directly from written revelation, underscoring the reliability and sufficiency of God’s Word. Implications for Today • Revival starts with returning to Scripture rather than novel methods (Psalm 119:105). • Genuine worship must align with God’s instructions, not cultural preferences (John 4:23–24). • Personal and corporate holiness cannot be separated; removing idols precedes meaningful celebration (2 Corinthians 6:16–18). • Leadership matters—Josiah’s zeal illustrates how one devoted believer can influence an entire nation (James 5:16b). Looking Forward to the Ultimate Passover • Josiah’s feast pointed ahead to Christ, the true Passover Lamb: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Just as ancient Israel experienced unprecedented renewal, the cross offers a once-for-all redemption never before seen in history (Hebrews 10:10–14). |
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