2 Kings 23:21-30 - Celebrate the Passover

23:21-25

As well as the negative steps, Josiah did not neglect the positive. He reinstituted the celebration of the Passover. Despite being required by the Law, it seems that it had never actually taken place (23:22). It is like the atoning aspects of the cross being forgotten.

23:26-30

Despite Josiah’s devotion and commitment, the judgement on the land remained. King Josiah died, killed by the king of Egypt. (23:29).\we should beware the deep effects of sin. He was succeeded by his son ehoahaz.

2 Kings 22:1-20 - He read the Book of the Covenant

23:1-3

The word from the prophet was apparently bad news, but Josiah did not despair. Instead he went up to the temple of the Lord, gathered all the people of Jerusalem and the priests and prophets, and read the word of the Lord to them. He then renewed the covenant committing them to keeping the commands of God. Unlike most previous kings he directed the people towards the Lord, not to idols.

23:4-20

Josiah ordered the removal of everything associated with idol worship. He also dealt with the high places. Every vestige of idol worship was removed., Torpeth, where child sacrifice was carried out, was desecrated. Josiah was very thorough in what he did. He killed many of the priests. The effects of idolatry had spread into many areas of the land, and so determined steps were necessary. However, Josiah also displayed respect for the faithful prophets.

2 Kings 22:1-20 - Another good king

22:1-11

\we now get another rarity, Josiah was a king who did what “was right in the eyes of the Lord”.He was just like his father David. He reigned for thirty one years. In his eighteenth year he took steps to restart the work on the temple. Hilkiah told him that he had found the book of the Law. We might find it odd that they did not already have this, but things can easily be forgotten. In recent years our own society seems to have had great difficulty in knowing the difference between men and women! The king was informed of this finding, and the book was read to him. Josiah heard and understood realising how far they had strayed from God’s Law, and the ensuing consequences.

22:12-20

Josiah got the priests and officials to inquire of the Lord what needed to be done to put things right. It was a female prophet who pointed them in the right direction. She tells them that judgement is coming, and why it is coming. However, the Lord also respects Josiah and his piety, because of this  he will die in peace. He would not see the disaster.

2 Kings 1`:19-25 - Like father, like son

21:19-25

Amon only reigned for two years, like his father he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He too worshipped idols, forsaking the ways of the Lord. His officials conspired against him and assassinated him. His son, Josiah succeeded him, and was to prove to be a much better king.

2 Kings 21:7-18 - Manasseh the idiot

21:7-9

The idiot  even took an Asherah pole that he had made and placed it in the temple. The whole saga reminds me of Jesus' teaching in Matt 12:43-45 about the impure spirit, which went to find seven more, making the situation worse than it was before. The problem for Israel was that there was no change of heart. Manasseh led the nation astray, making them worse than the previous occupants of the land. The purpose of a leader is to lead the people in the ways of the Lord. 

21:10-18

God spoke to the nation through the prophets, telling them that judgement was coming. They had seen what had happened to Samaria, but had learnt nothing., so they would suffer a similar fate. It was not just idolatry, but blood shed came with it. Manasseh evenTUlly died and was succeeded by his son Amon.

2 Kings 21:1-6 Manaseh becomes king

21:1-6

Having had a good king we now come to another in the line of evil kings. Manasseh reigned for 55 years, so a long reign does not necessarily indicate favour with God. Manasseh continued with idol worship, undoing much of the good work of Hezekiah. He rebuilt the high places. He even built altars to idols in the temple of God. His sin aroused the anger of the Lord.

2 Kings 20:12-21 - Envoys from Babylon

20:12-21

Hezekiah then makes a big mistake. Envoys are sent from Babylon, and it is Hezekiah’s illness that led to them coming. Hezekiah showed them everything that he had. Why did he do this, we are not told, perhaps it was pride, or wanting to impress the Babylonians. Isaiah appears on the scene and warns Hezekiah that the Babylonians will carry everything off to Babylon, as well as some of his descendents.

Hezekiah seems pleased, believing that there will be peace in his time. There is nothing in Isaiah’s word as to when things will happen. Hezekiah’s reaction can be seen as selfish, but it is also understandable.

Hezekiah died and was succeeded by his son Manasseh.