Reading II Chronicles 34 is a delightful change from its surrounding chapters because it finally presents a king of Judah who was thoroughly faithful to God! His name was Josiah and he became king when he was twelve years old. Although it doesn’t say so, he was surely mentored by the priests.
When he had been king for
eight years – he was still only a teenager – he began to seek the God of David
his ancestor. [v.1]
Four years later, the twelfth year of his reign, he set out to cleanse the neighborhood of sex-and-religion shrines, and get rid of the sacred Asherah groves and the god and goddess figurines, whether carved or cast, from Judah. He wrecked the Baal shrines, tore down the altars connected with them, and scattered the debris and ashes over the graves of those who had worshiped at them. He burned the bones of the priests on the same altars they had used when alive. He scrubbed the place clean, Judah and Jerusalem, clean inside and out. [vs4-5]
Then he turned his attention toward the Temple and had it cleaned out of all its profane false gods and offensive items! His cleansing of the nation extended not only throughut Jerusalem but to the other cities of Judah!
Throughout Israel he
demolished the altars and Asherah groves, pulverized the god and goddess
figures, chopped up the neighborhood shrines into firewood. [v.7]
It was at this point that the men working on The Temple found the Book of God’s Revelation! It was brought to Josiah and as his servant began reading it to him – he ripped his robes in dismay. [v.19]
He immediately sought prayer from his associates who consulted the prophetess, Huldah,, to see what the king should do.
It’s always interesting to
me that God was willing to use female prophets in the Old Testament, yet some
question the use of female pastors today.
Her immediate response was to remind them of how angry God was with the people of Israel and Judah because of their horribly offensive turning to other gods! She reminds Josiah’s messengers that God had already pronounced judgment against His people for their chronic sinfulness.
Then she proceeded with a message specifically for Josiah:
“And
also tell the king of Judah, since he sent you to ask God for
direction, God’s comment on what he read in the book: ‘Because you took
seriously the doom of judgment I spoke against this place and people, and
because you responded in humble repentance, tearing your robe in dismay and
weeping before me, I’m taking you seriously. God’s word. I’ll take care of
you; you’ll have a quiet death and be buried in peace. You won’t be around to
see the doom that I’m going to bring upon this place and people.’” [vs.26-28]
The chapter ends with the following:
Josiah did a thorough job of
cleaning up the pollution that had spread throughout Israelite territory and
got everyone started fresh again, serving and worshiping their God. All
through Josiah’s life the people kept to the straight and narrow, obediently
following God, the God of their ancestors. [v.33]
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I keep reporting a
truth that Christian teachers need to incorporate into the closing of their lessons!
We must always end our lessons asking our students what we can learn from what we’ve studied today! This is essential! What’s the value of knowing all of the details of the Bible unless we unpack its meaning for us TODAY?
I’ve had many good teachers in the churches that I’ve served, but few who understood this principle!
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM II Chronicles 34? Some suggestions:
· Young people need mentoring if we hope for them to turn out healthy, balanced and with good perspective!
· Maintaining a strong, consistent, meaningful relationship with God assures us of His presence and blessing on our lives!
· Surrounding ourselves with wise, godly, faithful advisors assures us of a worthy legacy!
· Godly advisors [even female] can be God’s way of directing our path and assuring us of His continuing presence!
·
Our spiritual impact is larger than we
realize! God used Josiah’s innocence to direct the soul of the whole nation of
Judah!
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Kind and
gracious God,
Father, Son
and Holy Spirit:
Thank You for
Your faithfulness in watching over us!
For those of us
who had godly direction in our younger years – WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!
For those who
did not have that direction – but still found Your Way,
WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE THE HOUND OF HEAVEN
AND SOUGHT THEM
OUT TO ENJOY ALL OF YOUR BENEFITS!
Give us the
wisdom to seek out models – like that of Josiah –
to order up our
lives in ways that will be pleasing to You!
Magnify our
witness on Your behalf so that others may be directed – by our example –
to Your great
and marvelous grace! We SO want to be a fruitful branch!
Above all:
Help us to live
honorably before You 24/7/365!
We don’t want a
record spotted by inconsistency and periods of back-sliding!
Give us the
wisdom to seek You daily – even hourly!
To let our
light shine persistently!
Day by day,
dear Lord,
of thee three things I pray;
to see thee more clearly,
to love thee more dearly,
to follow thee more nearly,
day by day.
AMEN!
