King Josiah's reformation

[msethsmile]

Josiah was one of the few 'good' kings of Judah. Most were evil. (remember, Kings of Israel and Judah were also spiritual leaders):

2 Kings 23:1-3
1Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3The 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 this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

1.Thru a series of evil kings, God's Word had been lost--literally. Had the men that found the Scripture (as they knew it--at least the first five Books of our OT) presented the treasure to a different, evil King they would have been imprisoned or executed.

2. Those that abandon truth ultimately lose the Gospel. Evidence above.

3.Josiah's job was to proclaim truth in his day--and still to us today. Although he lived centuries before Christ, where was his (our) certainty of salvation?
Answer: The blood stained cross and empty tomb. God's promises simply stand thru the centuries. Where there is forgiveness of sins there is eternal life.
God stood by His promises to Israel/Judah--even when they worshiped false gods in His temple. They made unspeakable sacrifices too.

4.Josiah lived in earthly and spiritual peace. That would change. Jerusalem would be destroyed. God preserved a remnant for Christ to be born into. Our situations may change--but God does not. His promises are new every morning--even after our failures. Great is His faithfulness.

5. God's word was (is) proclaimed 'from the least to the greatest". This is our vocation too.

6.Lesson learned: daily feed our souls with Law and Gospel as found in Scripture.

[msethsmile]

BTW, happy "All saints day". "For all the saints, who from their labors rest. Who, thee by faith, before the world confessed. Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blassed. Alleluia. alleluia."

"And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, alleluia.

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia, alleluia.