The Book of God’s Law

Evangelist Fred Brown used this image to describe the purpose of the Law. He likened it to a ... More

Law

Josiah became king of Judah when he was eight years old and ruled for 31 years (v. 1). He followed the example of his ancestor David by obeying the Lord (v. 2). When he was 16 years old, he began worshiping God, just as David had done (v. 3). Four years later he decided to destroy the local shrines in Judah as well as the poles for worshiping the goddess Asherah and other foreign gods. He watched as the altars for Baal were torn down and the incense altars were smashed (v. 4) As these Asherah poles, idols, and stone images were smashed, the pieces were scattered over the graves of the worshipers. Josiah then had the bones of the pagan priests burned on the altars (v. 5). Josiah eliminated the worship of foreign gods in Judah and in all Israel (vv. 6-7). 

After returning from the north, Josiah sent three officials to repair the temple (vv. 8-13). During the repair process, Hilkiah found the Book of the Law that the Lord had given to Moses (v. 14). Shaphan brought the book to King Josiah and read it to him (vv. 15-18). When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God’s Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow (v. 19). At once he called the servants together (v. 20) and told them how the Lord must be furious with everyone in Israel and Judah because their ancestors did not do what was written in this book (v. 21). 

Hilkiah with four other men went to the prophetess Huldah (v. 22). She confirmed that the Lord, in his anger, would indeed bring about all the disasters promised in the book of the Law upon Judah due in large part to the failures of their kings to follow God (vv. 23-25). But because of Josiah’s humility, he would be allowed to die before these terrible things took place (vv. 26-28). Josiah then called together the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem (v. 29). In the temple, all the people, with the priests and Levites, listened to a reading of the law (v. 30), and the king made a covenant with the Lord to follow the law with all his heart and all his soul (v. 31). Then he made the people join with him in the same covenant (v. 32). 

Application

“God loved us so much that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

II Chronicles 34:1-33 (English Standard Version)


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