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2 Kings 22-23 • the Josiah Reforms

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2 Kings 22-23 • the Josiah Reforms 2 Kings 22-23 • The Josiah Reforms Introduction Why do we sometimes desire and pray for “revival”? Are we praying for something specifically we perceive is needed, or are we just desiring an emotional change in our self or church? It’s interesting that “revival” is not a word that exists in the entire Bible. Josiah’s reforms—which might be a biblical example of spiritual revival—began with one heart’s desire for God more than self. 1Josiah was eight years old when he [Read v.22:1-2] became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s Q: Compared to other kings, which way did Josiah “walk”? Against whom name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah is he measured? What else characterized his life? 2 of Bozkath. He did right in the sight of A: He “did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David…” He is compared to David in his whole devotion to the father David, nor did he turn aside to the Lord. His life was characterized by the fact that he did not turn aside to right or to the left. the right or to the left. What does that mean? How remarkable is it that (1) he was not like his father Amon nor grandfather Manasseh, and (2) he began reforms at such a young age. Application: What does the life of Josiah teach us about the spiritual component of parenting? Or if one’s parents AREN’T a spiritual role model? Q: What does it mean that Josiah (and David) were wholly devoted to the Lord? Does it mean they never sinned? A: It doesn’t mean that they did not sin. Primarily it means that they neither personally worshipped, nor allowed the corporate worship, of other gods. They were wholly devoted to the LORD God of Israel, and, unlike Solomon and the other bad kings, never strayed from either of these. Application: What would it take in your life to be “wholly devoted” to God; that is, have no idols controlling your heart? What is your role in others’ devotion to commonly known “idols”? How might you be allowing the corporate worship of other gods? 3Now in the eighteenth year of King [Read v.22:3-7] Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, Q: In verses 3-7, what was the initial work that Josiah set about to do, and 4 to the house of the LORD saying, “Go up how old was he? Why was the “house” in such disarray? to Hilkiah the high priest that he may A: He was 26. His initial work was to restore the temple of Solomon; that count the money brought in to the house is, to begin to refurbish it. The temple had obviously been neglected as a of the LORD which the doorkeepers have result of the idolatries of the wicked kings before him (Manasseh and 5 gathered from the people. Let them Amon). deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Q: How did he treat his workmen? the LORD, and let them give it to the A: He treated his workers with trust, based on their trustworthiness in the workmen who are in the house of the Lord. LORD to repair the damages of the house, 6 to the carpenters and the builders and the Application: Would you equate “the temple” to a church building, or to the masons and for buying timber and hewn church body, or to your own body? How does cleansing and restoring the temple 7 stone to repair the house. Only no apply to whichever you chose? accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully.” 2 Kings 23-24 • The Josiah Reforms, Page 1 of 6 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2003 – © 2006 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] 8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to [Read v.22:8-10] Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Q: What monumental and incredible event took place while they were LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to cleaning the temple? Shaphan who read it. A: Apparently in the temple there was left the single, last remaining copy 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king of the Law. This could possibly be all the Scriptures that were written up and brought back word to the king and to that time: the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), Joshua and said, “Your servants have emptied out the Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Job, all of David’s psalms, Proverbs, Song money that was found in the house, and of Solomon and Ecclesiastes; however, it is more likely that this book have delivered it into the hand of the was only the books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible. That workmen who have the oversight of the means from our perspective, we came within one copy of losing Genesis 10 house of the LORD.” Moreover, Shaphan through Deuteronomy. Only by the providence and grace of God were the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah they preserved. It is also quite probable that they knew such a book had the priest has given me a book.” And existed… “I have found the book of the law…,” not “a book of laws,” but Shaphan read it in the presence of the that they has assumed it had been lost. king. Q: What does this say about the state of Believers and Judah at that time? • They weren’t living personally according to God’s Word but according to oral traditions or opinions. • They weren’t operating the temple or priesthood according to God’s Word but according to however they thought best. They had no idea that anything was wrong with the temple or all of the ungodly influences in and around them. • The influence of the traditions and practices of all the false gods and religions had overtaken and replaced God’s ways and they could not discern the difference. Application: What happens when an individual, congregation, or even entire organization no longer operates according to the Bible? What replaces it? Is that person or entity lost to God forever? How is reconciliation possible? Point: It’s important to note that Josiah’s reforms began by his noticing “something” is wrong with the Temple. Even though he didn’t have the Bible—or even knew of its existence—he knew in his heart that “something” was wrong and that God’s house needed to be repaired. What ensued was God showing Josiah what was REALLY needed to repair and cleanse His house by complete obedience to His Word. It wasn’t the temple that needed cleansing as much as the people using the temple. 11When the king heard the words of the [Read v.22:11-13] book of the law, he tore his clothes. Q: What was Josiah’s response when he heard the book read? How do you 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the suppose he knew what to do to this point without having the book of the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, law? Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the A: He showed great remorse and repentance. His obedient response scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant came from an amenable heart. 13 saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning Q: What was Josiah’s immediate direction to the then-spiritual leaders of the words of this book that has been the day? What does this say about Josiah’s character and leadership? found, for great is the wrath of the LORD A: “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah that burns against us, because our fathers concerning the words of this book...” (v.13) His instincts hit the mark that have not listened to the words of this he needed God’s direction beginning with his own life and then for book, to do according to all that is written everyone else. concerning us.” Application: Revival begins with the individual and then with the individual whose burden is for everyone else. How do we pray for revival? How do we envision it occurring? Or is it just a word that means no more than other words in our spiritual vocabulary? 2 Kings 23-24 • The Josiah Reforms, Page 2 of 6 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2003 – © 2006 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] 14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, [Read v.22:14-20] Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Q: To whom did Josiah’s counselors go? Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of A: To the prophetess Huldah.
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