Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Public Promise that Changed a Nation

Read 2 Kings 23.

Imagine!  The king called for a national gathering so he could read the word of God to the people.  Next, Josiah made a public promise before the LORD to live for Him and obey His word "with all his heart and all his soul" (v.3).  Then, all the people joined King Josiah in that covenant.

This was followed by putting the word of God into practice.  They rid the country of all the trappings of the many false worship systems.  They cleansed the nation of the immoral and despicable practices done under the guise of religion.  There was no more tolerance of things that directly violated the word of God.

Because of the spiritual nonsense, the nation had not celebrated a Passover for many, many years.  But King Josiah reestablished the prescribed celebrations and true worship of God.

It is noteworthy that this did not change God's pronouncement of national judgment because of all the sin in the past.  The Babylonians were gaining strength to conquer Assyria and then take Judah captive.  Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt.

Josiah left a wonderful epitaph: "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him" (v.25).

We all decide each day how our lives will be spiritually evaluated.  I have joined Josiah in this covenant.  How about you?

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