Resources for June 21—Josiah’s reforms

2 Chronicles 34

God’s Story: Josiah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C4MEXXbBmM

Josiah was only eight years old when he became king of Judah! His father had been a bad king, who worshipped false gods and idols and led God’s people away from worshipping him. Josiah love God and wanted to be a good king. The Bible tells us he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He obeyed God and taught the people to obey God, too. He was king for 31 years.

While he was king, he destroyed all the altars that had been built to worship false gods. King Josiah also wanted to clean up and repair the temple of the Lord. For years, the people had ignored the temple and it looked worn out and dirty.

King Josiah sent his royal assistant, Shaphan, to the temple of the Lord to tell the priests to clean up the temple. Shaphan told the High Priest, Hilkiah to gather the temple money that the people had given. Hilkiah did as Shaphan asked and the money was given to the supervisors of the work on the temple and the workers who were repairing and restoring the house of the Lord. There were also carpenters, builders and stoneworkers, and the money was used to buy timber and cut stone to repair the temple.

While they were working to repair and clean the temple, Hilkiah found something very special there and brought it to Shaphan: it was the Book of the Law that God had given his people through Moses. When Shaphan read the book he knew it was very important. He took it to King Josiah and reported, “The money has been given to the workers and supervisors at the temple. And Hilkiah the priest gave me this book.” Shaphan read it to King Josiah.

Josiah was very upset when he heard the words written in the book. He knew that the people had not been obeying the Lord. He sent word to Hilkiah the priest that he wanted everyone to obey God’s word. King Josiah told Hilkiah and four of his most important helpers to go and ask advice from the prophetess, Huldah. As a prophetess, Huldah gave people special messages that were given to her from God. Huldah’s message was that because the people had turned their backs on God for such a long time and worshiped other gods instead, they would have to be punished. But Huldah’s message to King Josiah was that God knew the king loved his people and loved the Lord, so the king would not live to see the punishment that would come to his people for their disobedience.

Once King Josiah heard God’s message, he asked the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to gather all of the people at the house of the Lord. He read to them all of the words of the Book of the Law. And the king made a promise to God to follow him and obey all his commands, rules and laws. He promised to do what was written in God’s Word. Then he made all of the people join in this covenant, too. And all of his days, King Josiah and his people did not turn away from following the Lord.

Josiah becomes king at 8 years old

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Josiah destroys altars for worshiping false gods

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