Josiah became king at eight years old and desired to please God.
2 Kings 22:1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
Josiah started to clean up the temple and honour the house of God; when he did, they found the Book of the Law.
2 Kings 22:11
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.
It is amazing to think the people of God had been operating or living culturally as Jews but had not read the word of God for years and years.
Josiah immediately recognizes that what they have been doing for generations is utterly offensive to God.
He sets out on a tour to reclaim everything for God—repenting of all the past sins of the leaders and the people.
Starting with the reading of the law to all the leaders.
2 Kings 23:1-3
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Then tore down all the idols and places of worship in the temple, but throughout Judah, Samaria, and the northern tribes.
I would encourage you to read all that Josiah did. Idols going all the way back to Solomon and his son. All the high places throughout the land and at the city gates. From Asteroth poles to male temple prostitutes and to all the false priests who lead all the false worship throughout the land.
Amazing!
2 Kings 23:25
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
Many people see themselves as Christians and even love God and want to do what is right. But have never engaged the Word of God to know what God says.
Culturally, we may be Christians, but we may have generationally accepted practices in our lives that offend God.
May we be like Josiah. Who seek God with our whole heart, mind, and strength. When we hear the Word of God, we will obey it.
