It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage. In chapter 22 Josiah, the 26 year old king of Judah, heard the words of the Law of Moses. It is really sad to think that he had never heard the curses proclaimed in God’s revelation before. Apparently, the teachers of the Law in Josiah’s day proclaimed a message of prosperity regardless of God’s righteousness. Josiah took God’s words serious; he tore his clothes, wailed before God, and sought the favor of the LORD. Even after the “bad news”, the confirmation of the coming destruction, was given to Josiah he didn’t give up and wait for the inevitable. Josiah acted. He did all in his power to restore God’s earthly kingdom to match God’s plans. In the span of 1 year Josiah had rid the kingdom of idol worship, and even cleansed the idol worship in lower Israel. I’m confident the Josiah’s actions upset a number of people in Judah, but the king was serving an audience of one; God almighty. Maybe Josiah thought his reforms would deter God’s wrath. There is nothing to indicate that the remaining 15 years of Josiah’s reign were anything but a continuation of his reform. As far as we can tell Josiah kept his focus on serving God for the remainder of his life. He knew that God’s punishment was coming, but he was a faithful servant. He kept to God’s commandments to the fullest. That is the same path we are to follow.
Stuart
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