ONE STEP FORWARD AND THEN TWO STEPS BACKWARDS

PROCLAMATION

“The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of The Lord, to follow The Lord and keep His commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in The Book …”  2 Kings 23:3 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Josiah son of Amon became king of Judah after the assassination of his father. (2 Kings 21:23-24)  As king, Josiah did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord. (2 Kings 22:2)  It was during reign while the temple was being repaired that The Book of The Law was found. (2 Kings 22:8)  After The Book was read to him, he called together all of the elders, priests, and prophets of Judah and he read The Book to them. (2 Kings 23:1-2)  Then he renewed his covenant with The Lord vowing to keep all of His commands, statutes, and decrees with all of his heart and soul. (2 Kings 23:3)  He then went on a campaign to remove and destroy all of the articles of idol worship to Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts in and around Jerusalem.  He also did away with the idolatrous priests, the shrine prostitutes, and the high places of idol worship and incense burning. (2 Kings 23:4-15)  He slaughtered all of the idolatrous priests and ordered the people to celebrate the Passover as it was written in The Book. (2 Kings 23:20-23)  Josiah went into battle with Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, without consulting The Lord God, and he was killed and his son Jehoahaz became king of Judah. (2 Kings 23:29-30)  Jehoahaz did evil in the eyes of The Lord.  Pharaoh Necho put him in chains, took him to Egypt, and made Eliakim son Josiah the king.  Necho changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.  As king of Judah Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of The Lord. (2 Kings 23:33-37)  One good king followed by two bad kings.

APPLICATION

It seems that the kings and the people of Judah would take one step forward and then follow it with two steps backwards with respect to pleasing The Lord God.  They would do that which was right in the eyes of The Lord God, then they would return to their sinful ways and do that which was evil in God’s eyes.  Before we judge the Israelites, we need to recognize that we are guilty of doing the very same thing.  We hear The Word of God, get convicted, and promise to do better.  Before too long we are back to our old sinful ways.  We need to obey God’s Word and turn from our wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)