2 Kings 23:1-30
Josiah’s Reforms

The Book of the Law, discovered during repairs to the temple, had a tremendous impact on King Josiah. He turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul. Guided by God’s word, he cleaned house, removing idol worship from his kingdom.

The amount of detail recorded in this week’s passage reveals how ubiquitous idol worship was in Jerusalem and Judah. Take another look and note the names of the many false gods Yahweh’s people were worshiping – Baal and Ashtoreth, Molech and Chemosh, the sun – and all the “stuff” they used in their worship – altars, poles, sacred stones, household gods, prostitutes, and more besides. The paganism of the cultures surrounding God’s people had soaked into their lives; it must have seemed completely normal to worship false gods alongside the one true God. What about us? The culture that surrounds today’s church communities looks different – I haven’t seen any Asherah poles – but it is largely pagan. Has the culture seeped into our lives to the point that worshiping its gods seems normal and acceptable, as long as we go to church too? As you go through your day, ask the Lord to shine a spotlight on the false gods that beckon and lure. What is trying to capture your deepest affections? Ask God to reveal whether, when, and how you capitulate.

King Josiah took drastic action against pagan worship. He didn’t just tear down the pagan altars and symbols; he burned and defiled them. Pastor Todd explained that Josiah wanted to make sure they were gone for good, that pagan worship would not happen again. “Don’t keep souvenirs of sin,” he said. Jesus said, if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out … if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. (Matthew 5:29-30) If the Lord used the sermon on Sunday to convict you of a divided heart, ask Him to help you take drastic action to address it.

The people heard Josiah read the Book of the Law. They saw him destroy and defile their idols and pagan altars. They celebrated the Passover as he instructed. But Scripture suggests that most were just going through the motions; their hearts weren’t in it. They heard but didn’t listen. Lord, may that not be true of us. May we heed the warning Your word has given us.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

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