Read 2
Chronicles 34-36 & John
19:1-22
To discover:
As you read note why Judah
went into exile.
To ponder:
Like Hezekiah, Josiah is a great
king, not turning from the ways of David. He is also a challenge to teenagers,
first seeking God when 16 years old (34v3 and 1). At 20 he then began the godly
act of ridding Judah
of her idolatry (see notes on 2 Kgs 23). At 26 he sought to “repair the
temple.” 34v8 may read “when he had purged the land and the temple.” So having
got rid of false worship he established true worship. Reform of the church takes
time.
The
repairs were done with money brought in worship by Judah, Benjamin and the
“remnant” of Israel
who had emigrated there out of a desire to be faithful. We should not be
surprised that the building the church has always been funded and performed by
a core. All was done faithfully and under the supervision of the Levites, as
they were responsible for the things of the temple.
The
book of the law was probably Deuteronomy (or its form then) as it recounts the
curses for sin (34v24, Deut 27-28). Josiah’s response to reading it is a model
for us as we come to scripture. He mourns his sin and that of God’s people,
enquiring of God as to what should be done for him and them. He acknowledges
God’s anger is “great” and already “poured out,” no doubt in the exile of the
north and the hostility faced by the south. Moreover, he is clear this is because
previous generations had not kept God’s word in the book. This assumes the
words of Deuteronomy and God’s words are one, and ensures the reader
understands why the north and later south were conquered. The prophetess Huldah
predicts future disaster on both “the place” (ie. temple) and “people” because
of their idolatry, and according to the curses in the book. This refers to the coming
exile by Babylon. The note that
God’s anger is unquenchable therefore means that it will not be extinguished
and so these events will definitely happen, despite Josiah’s faithfulness. However,
because of his repentance Josiah will be saved from the disaster through death
– a reminder that we are saved from judgement by humbling ourselves with tears
over our sin.
In
continuing his reforms anyway, Josiah shows we should not sit back from
building the church because we have our salvation. Central is his celebration
of the Passover. The note that the ark needed to be put in the temple suggests
it had been removed elsewhere, perhaps to a high place. With it returned,
Josiah and his officials contribute sacrifices and offerings, and are careful
that the instructions of both David and Moses are followed. The sense is that
during the feast, things hadn’t been as honouring to God since the time of
Samuel! Yet Jesus celebrates a Passover of an even greater order, contributing
his very life, rather than just animals, and having billions from all nations
feast on him.
As
with previous kings, Josiah showed himself fallible, foolishly engaging in Egypt’s
conflict without enquiring of the LORD, and ignoring the Egyptian king’s claim
that he was doing God’s will and so Josiah was “opposing God.” Yet this proved
God’s means of saving Josiah as promised (34v28), and didn’t detract from his
supremacy, marked by the laments that were sung for him from then on.
The
next three kings all did evil. They reflect the decline of the southern kingdom
as both the monarchy and temple (here, its items, assumed in 36v3), the two
aspects of God’s promise to David, are repeatedly removed (Jehoakim may not have
actually been taken to Babylon, 2
Kgs 24v1-6). The sin of the kings and people is then confirmed under Zedekiah.
He refused to humble himself before God’s word through Zechariah, broke his
oath in God’s name by rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar, and would not bow his
head or soften his heart to God. Moreover, the leaders of the priests and
people increased in their unfaithfulness, defiling the temple and mocking God’s
prophets who he sent in pity. And so, just as defiled items might be destroyed
to remove them from God’s presence, God handed the nation over to
Nebuchadnezzar, who killed the people, including those serving in the
sanctuary, plundered and burnt the temple, and destroyed Jerusalem’s
wall and palaces. Although it wasn’t literally the case, the sense of 36v20 is
that all God’s people were either killed or taken to Babylon
to serve its king and his sons rather than God.
God’s people
were no longer in his place and under his rule and ruler. His purpose therefore
seems thwarted. But the book ends in hope: The note about the land enjoying its
Sabbath shows God still had plans for it, and was just ensuring Israel’s
failure to obey him was put right. And so, after the seventy years he
specified, God moved Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon,
a pagan king, to build a new temple for him at Jerusalem
and allow the people to return. God had not forgotten his promises to David,
Israel or Abraham.
Praying it home:
Praise God that because of his
faithfulness, nothing can hinder the fulfilment of his promises. Pray that you give
your whole self to heeding God’s word as Josiah did.
Thinking further:
None today.
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