Sunday School Lesson on King Josiah

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Sunday School Lesson on King Josiah

Josiah Brings Reform

Introduction

A. "Accidental" Discoveries

One day in 1947 a young Bedouin goatherdleft his companions in order to find a stray goat.Eventually, he came upon a cave with a smallopening at its top. Suspecting that the goat mayhave fallen inside, he threw some stones into thenoel-ling. Instead of hearing the sound of a star-tled goat, he heard the sound of broken pottery.The goatherd lowered himself into the caveand found some ancient clay jars containing var-ious leather scrolls. He had discovered whatcame to be called the Dead Sea Scrolls—one of

the foremost archaeological discoveries of thetwentieth century. These scrolls have since shedsignificant light on life during the time betweenthe testaments and on the history (and reliabil-ity) of the Old Testament text. It is an odditythat often the most important archaeologicalfinds in the field of biblical studies have oc-curred quite unexpectedly.

Today's Scripture text records another "acci-dental" discovery that was of enormous signifi-cance in the history of God's people. The priestHilkiah was assisting with the renovation of thetemple when he came across a book. What hediscovered was not out any book; it was theBook of the Law, which was then read to KingJosiah.

Josiah was so moved by the book's contentsand by the nation's failure to comply with thelaws written therein that he intensified his ef-forts to turn Judah back to the Lord. Sometimesin God's providence what appears to be a chanceoccurrence is actually a divine appointment.

B. Lesson Background

The incident covered in last week's lesson (thecontest on Mount Carmel) took place around 850or 860 BC. Today's lesson moves us forwardroughly 200 years. By this time the northern king-dom of Israel (over which the wicked duo Ahaband jezebel had ruled) already had fallen to theAssyrians; that happened in 722 ec. Judah likelywould have suffered die some treatment from As-syria in 701 BC had it not been for the reign ofgodly King Hezekiah. It was his cries to the Lordthat resulted in a miraculous deliverance (2 Kings19:35, 36).

The first half of the seventh century BC was aspiritual nightmare for Judah. Most of thoseyears were part of the reign of Manasseh, the sonof Hezekiah. He ruled from about 698 to 644 ec,and he was as wicked as his father was righ-teous. Judah and Jerusalem's eventual downfallis traced to the sinfulness of Manasseh (2 Kings21:10-15; 24:1-4). There was, however, one lastglimmer of hope for Judah—one Hezekiah-likeking who sought to call the nation back to itsspiritual roots. If he were successful, perhaps hiscountry could avoid a tragedy such as that whichbefell the ten tribes of the northern kingdom.That king was Josiah, who reigned from 640 to 609 BC.

Today's lesson puts us into the eighteenth yearof Josiah's reign. The lesson will focus on a periodof revival in Judah that was given additional impe-tus by the discovery of the Book of the Law. Wesay additional impetus because it is clear that some spiritual renewal had occurred in Judah prior tothis book's discovery (2 Chronicles 34:3-7).

I. Discovering a Book(2 Kings 22:8-10)

Second Kings 22 begins with the account ofKing Josiah's reign. Unlike the Chronicles ac-count, the Kings account does not record the ef-forts of Josiah to promote righteousness in Judahprior to the discovery of the Book of the Law. Itopens by mentioning Josiah's age at becomingking (eight!) and provides a general analysis ofbis reign: "He did that which was right in thesight of the Lord, and walked in all the way ofDavid his father, and turned not aside to theright hand or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2).

The account in Kings then notes how Josiah,in the eighteenth year of his reign, had initiated aprogram to renovate the temple in Jerusalem.(Most likely the temple had suffered from neglectduring the reigns of Manasseh and his wickedson Amon, who was Josiah's father.) The highpriest Hilkiah had been instructed by Josiah,through the king's secretary Shaphan, to makecertain that the workers involved in the projectwere paid correctly. They were to be providedwith the funds to purchase any materials neces-sary for the rebuilding.

Apparently, after Shaphan had conveyed theseinstructions to Hilkiah, the high priest informedShaphan of a surprising discovery.

A. Hilkiah Informs Shaphan (v. 8)

8. And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Sha-phan the scribe, I have found the book of thelaw in the house of the Loan. And Hilkiah gavethe book to Shaphan, and he read it.

As a scribe, Shaphan would be quite interestedin the discovery we read about here. Just whatconstitutes the book of the law has been the sub-ject of much discussion. Some believe it com-prises all of Genesis through Deuteronomy (thePentateuch). Others suggest that it was made upof a smaller portion of those five, specifically thebook of Deuteronomy. The phrase book of the lawis used in Deuteronomy 31:24-26 to refer to thecontents of that particular book.

A third possibility is suggested by 2 Kings23:2, which states that Josiah read in the people'shearing "all the words of the book of thecovenant." The term book of the covenant is usedin Exodus 24:7 to describe (most likely) the ma-terial included in Exodus 20-23.

The contents of Deuteronomy certainly wouldbe enough to generate the kind of intense response that Josiah later spearheaded. For exam-ple the references to the "wrath of the Lord"(2 Kings 22:13) and to promises to bring correc-tion (vv. 16, 20) would fit wills the list of cursespronounced in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 as a pun-ishment for disobeying God's law.

Deuteronomy 31:26 says that a copy of theBook of the Law originally had been placed inthe ark of the covenant. Deuteronomy 17:18 stip-ulates that a king, upon beginning his reign,should "write for himself' a copy of this law in abook out of that which is before the priests theLevites." Perhaps it is a copy of this law pro-duced under these circumstances that was ig-nored by kings such as Manasseh and Amon.Now, by the providence of God, it has been dis-covered. Its discovery comes during the reign ofa king who will take its message seriously. (Seequestion #1, page 96.]

"LOSING" THE BIBLE

In 1985 a church building in Braham, Min-nesota, burned to the ground. The church'sbrass bell, weighing 1,400 pounds, was sold to ascrap metal company as a result. Church mem-bers thought they had seen the last of the bell,and most of them forgot about it.

About 15 years later an employee at the scrapmetal company discovered the bell hanging onthe company's property. The employee saw theinscription on the bell and recognized it for whatit was. Communications between the church andthe scrap company were interrupted when bothwent through reorganizations.

Thus the bell was forgotten about again.Everyone assumed it had been melted down for scrap. In 2004 the bell was "re-rediscovered" andreturned to the church, nearly 20 years after ithad first been "lost."

Doesn't it seem strange that something as sig-nificant as a church bell could be overlooked forso long? And doesn't it strike us as unbelievablethat a much more significant treasure—the Bookof the Law—could get lost in ancient Judah? Buthere is something else that is amazing: churchesand individuals who have abundant copies ofthe Bible, yet still disregard what it says when itcomes to some of the moral issues of our time!In effect these churches and individuals have"lost" the Bible. How do you think such a thingcan happen? —C. R. B.

B. Shaphan Informs Josiah (vv. 9, 10)

9.And Shaphan the scribe came to the king,and brought the king word again, and said, Thyservants have gathered the money that wasfound in the house, and have delivered it intothe hand of them that to the work, that have theoversight of the house of the LORD.

After reading the contents of the book (v. 8),Shaphan then returns to King Josiah and reportson his conversation with Hilkiah. Shaphan firstmentions the matter that Josiah had instructedhim to address concerning the money that was inthe temple. This is to make sure that the workersand supervisors receive proper compensation fortheir labors. ISce question ,,5e4e 96.1

10.And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, Hilkiah the priest bath delivered me abook. And Shaphan read it before the king.Though not included in our printed text, it isimportant to observe King Josiah's reaction uponhearing the Lord's Word: "he rent his clothes"(2 Kings 22:11). This is worth noting becauseJosiah's son, Jehoiakim, will exhibit a brazencontempt for the Lord's message that comesthrough Jeremiah by cutting it up, casting it intothe fire, and refusing to tear his robes (Jeremiah36:22-24).

Dedicating a People(2 Kings 23:1-3)

Following his anguished response to the lawof the Lord, King Josiah tells some of his offi-cials, including Hilkiah and Shaphan, to inquireof the Lord. Huldah the prophetess confirms themessage of judgment found within the book. Butshe also promises that King Josiah will be sparedfrom seeing all of this because of his desire toobey God and His law (2 Kings 22:14-20).

A. Rallying the People (vv. 1, 2a)

1. And the king sent, and they gathered untohim all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.How easy it would be for King Josiah simplyto allow the nation to continue on its downwardpath toward judgment, secure in the knowledgethat at least he himself is going to escape thewrath of God! But Josiah is not one to rest on hislaurels by focusing on himself. He determines,rather, that the entire nation needs to hear thesame solemn message that he has heard.

So the king calls together all the elders of Judahand Jerusalem. Jerusalem is singled out becauseof its status as the capital city of Judah. The el-ders are probably local leaders of towns or vil-lages. Josiah knows that the support of these menis crucial. The king by himself cannot generateany renewal of interest in God's law that willhave a lasting impact. iSee question #3. page 5,,

2a. And the king went up into the house ofthe LORD, and all the men of Judah and all theinhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and thepriests, and the prophets, and all the people,both small and great.

Various groups take part in this ceremony ofrededication. The reference to the men of Judahmay highlight the vital part that godly men mustplay in any effort to promote national spiritualrenewal. The presence of the priests, and theprophets at such a public ceremony testifies oftheir desire to obey God's law.

Later, however, the prophet Jeremiah (wholives during the reign of Josiah) will lament overhow corrupt the priests and the prophets had be-come throughout Judah (Jeremiah 5:30, 31; 6:13;23:11). When the leaders are unstable spiritually,there is little hope that the general populace willbe any better.

At this point, however, all the people from thesmall to the great are in attendance. Distinctionsbased on social class or income are meaninglesson an occasion such as this. Everyone needs tohear what the law of the Lord says! I See

B. Reading the Book (v. 2b)

2b. And he read in their ears all the words ofthe book of the covenant which was found inlie house of the LORD.

The book that had been found earlier by Hil-Loth now is being "found" by the general popu-ace through Josiah's public reading of it. Sincemany people in the ancient world are illiterate,me public reading of documents is quite impor-ant for communicating vital information.

C. Renewing the Covenant (v. 3)3. And the king stood by a pillar, and made acovenant before the LORD, to walk after theLORD. and to keep his commandments and histestimonies and his statutes with all their heartand all their soul, to perform the words of thiscovenant that were written in this book. And allthe people stood to the covenant.

The fact that the king stands by a pillar indi-.Aes a specific place to stand (compare 2 Kings11:14: 2 Chronicles 23:13). The term pillar couldrefer to one of the two pillars that Solomonerected at the main entrance of the templeI Kings 7:15-22). Or, it may be a special pillarmilt for special occasions associated with roy-a4. Whatever the specific location is, from thatmace Josiah leads God's people in a special cere-mony of dedication. It is there that Josiah renewse covenant in the presence of the Lord.

The word stood in the King lames Version beena literal to the Hebrew. Perhaps at this time themod gathered before Josiah actually stands upbefore the Lord to voice a desire to honor andal.!: God. Here is the kind of leadership thatGod's people so desperately need!

III. Declaring a Passover(2 Kings 23:21-23)

The passage between verse 3 and verse 21 (not..n today's text) gives an account of the varioussteps taken by Josiah in obedience to the law ofthe Lord. Pagan shrines of worship are de-stroyed. Pagan priests are removed from office.Josiah's efforts include the fulfillment of aprophecy given some 300 years earlier by ananonymous man of God from Judah (2 Kings23:15-18; compare 1 Kings 13:2). That man ofGod had even mentioned Josiah by name!

A. Command (v. 21)

21. And the king commanded all the peo-pie. saying, Keep the passover unto the Loonwar God, as it is written in the book of thiscovenant.

Another important phase of Josiah's rededica-tion of all the people involves the observance ofthe passover. Instructions may be found in Exo-dus 12:1-20, 43-49 and Deuteronomy 16:1-8. TheExodus passage deals with how families are toobserve this feast, while the Deuteronomy pas-sage deals more with observing the Passover on anational level. The latter of these two circum-stances fits the occasion described in the passagebefore us. This may support the view that thebook discovered in the temple was Deuteron-omy. 'See question #5. page 961

B. Comparison (vv. 22, 23)

22. Surely there was not holden such a pass-over from the days of the judges that judgedIsrael, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel,nor of the kings of Judah; but in the eighteenthyear of king Josiah, wherein this passover washolden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

These verses provide an assessment of the sig-nificance of this passover observance underJosiah's leadership. Josiah's celebration sur-passes any that has taken place since the days ofthe judges or during the time of the dividedmonarchy.

Why is this so? What is so special about theway Josiah observes the Passover? SecondChronicles 35:1-10 provides additional detailsabout Josiah's celebration and includes an evalu-ation similar to that found in 2 Kings: "And therewas no passover like to that kept in Israel fromthe days of Samuel the prophet; neither did allthe kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiahkept, and the priests, and the Levites, and allJudah and Israel that were present, and the in-habitants of Jerusalem" (v. 18). Josiah's compli-ance with the law's requirements is especiallynoted; for example, the Chronicles accountrecords that all the Passover lambs are slaugh-tered exclusively by the Levites, as the law stipu-lates (2 Chronicles 35:3, 5, 6).

Josiah's devotion to the Law of Moses is alsoemphasized in 2 Kings 23:25. That passage pro-vides this evaluation of one of Judah's mostgodly kings: "And like unto him was there noking before him, that turned to the Lord with allhis heart, and with all his soul, and with all hismight, according to all the law of Moses; neitherafter him arose there any like him."

Such a one-of-a-kind tribute may appear tocontradict what is said of Hezekiah, who re-ceives similar praise in 2 Kings 18:3-5. Hezekiah,however, is specifically commended for his trustin the Lord, while Josiah's scrupulous obser-vance of the law of Moses is stressed. Each king is exemplary in a different area of devotion to theLord. Such kings are a primary reason whyJudah lasts approximately 130 years longer thanthe northern kingdom, Israel.

A ONE-OF-A-KLVD CELEBRATION

Lakshmi Mittal, an Indian magnate in the steelindustry, is listed by Forbes magazine as one ofthe richest people in the world. As such, he wasable to offer his daughter a one-of-a-kind celebra-tion when he spent $60 million on her weddingjust a couple of years ago.

The wedding took place in the environs ofParis and lasted for six days. There were 1,500invited guests. One night a banquet and theatri-cal performance was held in the rented Tuileries(twee-luh-reez) Garden in Paris. Another venuefor the celebration was a made-for-the-occasioncastle that the proud father had erected in a Paris

Wthlti. at ‘`bb -ptatb atVersailles (Ver-sigh) and another at the Vaux-le-Vicomte (Voh-luh-Vee-kohnt), considered bysome to be one of the finest chateaus and gar-dens in all of France.

Mittel probably said to himself, "Now that'sthe way to celebrate a wedding!" Perhaps it is, ifone has unlimited wealth. But most of us wouldshy away from such an ostentatious display(even if we could afford it!).

Josiah's elaborate celebration of the Passoverwas also a one-of-a-kind event. The differencewas that its purpose was not to display one'swealth, but to help a whole nation recommit it-self to God. The world has a twisted sense ofwhat makes a celebration! How should those whobelong to the family of God demonstrate that theyhave a different net of priorities? —C. R. B.

23. But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah,wherein this passover was holden to the Loan inJerusalem.

This verse notes the time that this passovercelebration occurs: it is in the eighteenth year ofKing Josiah. Mentioning the timeliame at thispoint serves to call attention to the urgency ofJosiah's efforts at spiritual renewal in Judah sincethat was the same year that the Book of the Lawwas found (2 Kings 22:3, 8).

The discovery of the Book of the Law in thatsame eighteenth year, along with Josiah's whole-hearted commitment to its contents, gives Judaha reprieve from the judgment of God. Sadly, it isonly a reprieve, for Josiah is the last of Judah'sgodly kings.

Conclusion

Someone has wisely observed that the Biblehas been given to us not merely for informationbut for transformation. The example of Josiah intoday's lesson provides a powerful illustration ofthat principle.

Transformation involves allowing the words ofthe Bible to come across in the language andconduct of our daily lives. It is one thing to knowwhat the Bible says about its people, places, andevents. It is quite another to know what the Biblesays to me about the people, places, and eventsthat are a part of my life today.

A little boy heard an announcement concern-ing the upcoming revival services at his church.Later he told one of his friends in the neighbor-hood, "We're going to have a 're-Bible' at ourchurch!"

Although it's clear that the young fellowhadn't heard the original statement quite cor-rectly, his unintended revision wasn't bad! Let'stake a close look at our lives and ask whether weneed to be "re-Bibled." The need is urgent; thetime is now.

B. Prayer

Father, thank You for Your holy Word and itstruth. Like King Josiah, may we be so convictedby what it says that we will do all we can toapply its truth to our lives and share its messagewith others. This is the best way to treat YourWord with the respect that it deserves. In Jesus'name, amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Reform happenswhen God's Word transforms

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