Ii Kings 22, II Chronicles 34
From the Journals of Shaphan, the secretary
The good news was: God was pleased with King Josiah.
The bad news was: God said He would punish Judah for worshiping other gods instead of Him. The punishment will happen after King Josiah dies, which means the rest of us probably have several years before God allows an army to conquer us. But it will happen.
The officials and I entered King Josiah's chambers and told him what the prophetess Huldah said.
King Josiah cried. "This is terrible! We all deserve punishment and have wronged the Almighty God. We must act right away. I want all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to meet me."
In a short time the elders arrived. They bowed before the king. King Josiah stood and said, "Walk with me to the temple of the Lord. I want everyone to join me including the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, every person front the least to the greatest, poor to rich. Call out to everyone you see to join us."
When he arrived, a great crowd had gathered by the courts. Josiah stood by his pillar and asked for the scroll, the one that had just been found in the temple. I handed it to him. He unrolled the paper and read the words of the Book of the Covenant.
When he finished, King Josiah raised his arms and looked to heaven." Oh God, I promise to follow you and keep your commands, regulations, and decrees with all my heart and soul. I will obey the words of the covenant written in this book."
He look out at all the people and said, "You must pledge yourselves to obey the covenants in this book."
King Josiah wasn't asking. He meant his words.
Immediately, the people cried out to God, pledging to keep the commands, regulations, and decrees with all their heart and soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in the book Josiah just read to them.
The moment the crowd silenced, the king turned to priest Hilkiah, the assistant priest, and the doorkeepers and said. "Go now and destroy everything made for the false gods: Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts. Burn them in the fields of the Kidron Valley outside of Jerusalem."
The king paced. I think he is planning much more to honor God and to teach the people of Judah to honor Him.
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1. What good news did the messengers have for the king?
2. Did the news make him happy?
3. What bad news did the messengers have for the king?
4. What did King Josiah do when he heard the bad news?
5. Josiah had everyone come to the temple including the rich and the poor. Why?
6. What promise did Josiah make.
7. What did he tell the people do?
8. What did Josiah tell Hilkiah and the other temple workers to do?
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