2 KINGS 23 - 25

Click on the Scripture above to read today’s text!

It’s amazing the powerful effect of God’s Word and how it can change people’s lives! Yesterday, in chapter 22, we read how Hilkiah (the high priest) found the “Book of the Law” (The first 5 books of the Old Testament). When he brought the scroll to King Josiah, and after he read it, his life and the lives of thousands of other people was never the same! While reading the Book of the Law, King Josiah was so emotionally moved by how far they had strayed from the Lord that he repented and called for a national change of events!

Here’s what happened when King Josiah read the Word of God…

1) He was convicted by the sin all around him! In 22:11 it says, “When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest…we have not been doing everything it says we must do.”

2) He was humbled by what he read! King Josiah tore his clothes in despair realizing that God’s anger must have been burning against Israel for some time due to all the pagan worshipping that was going on.

3) He instituted National Reform! Josiah read The Book of the Law to the people and promised to “obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, law, and decrees with all his heart and soul.” He also got the people to agree to this covenant!

a. He organized the reinstitution of the Passover Celebration!
4) He cleansed the land of spiritual stumblingblocks!
a. He did away with the idolatrous priests! (23:5)
b. He burned the Asherah pole that was in the Lord’s Temple! (23:6)
c. He destroyed the apartments of the shrine prostitutes!
d. He defiled ALL the pagan shrines!
e. He destroyed EVERY shrine made to other gods!
f. He destroyed the altars to other gods so that human sacrificing would be stopped!
g. He executed the priests of pagan shrines!
h. He rid the land of psychics and mediums!

As we finish the book of 2 Kings, we see how God is NO RESPECTER of persons or is in need of anything. God realizes His people don’t want Him, so He banishes them into exile into the regions of Babylon (Iraq).

Tomorrow, we’ll enter into 1 Chronicles. Since the first 9 chapters are the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel, you may want to casually stroll through those 9 chapters and see if you find anything interesting. We’ll take a composite look at those 9 chapters tomorrow and make a brief summary and show you what it means for you today! Your casual stroll through 9 chapters shouldn’t take too long and it will keep you from getting bogged down in the details of Israel’s genealogical flowchart.

Have a great day in the Lord!