Reformation

King Josiah is an example of a wonderful life lived as a light in times of darkness.

Prophetess

• Miriam – Exodus 15:20
• Deborah – Judges 4:4
• Huldah – 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22
• Noadiah – Nehemiah 6:14
• Unnamed – Isaiah 8:3
• One in the NT: Anna – Luke 2:36

Twofold message

• Judgment is coming
• Not in Josiah’s lifetime
• Response: Tender heart, humble spirit

Comparison

• 2 Kings
  • Law discovery
  • Covenant renewal
  • Worship reform
  • Passover celebration
• 2 Chronicles
  • Worship reform
  • Law discovery
  • Covenant renewal
  • Passover celebration

Josiah’s Purification Program – 2 Kings 23

1. Removing pagan vessels from the temple – verse 4
2. Deposing pagan clergy – verse 5
3. Pulverizing the Asherah image – verse 6
4. Wrecking the male prostitutes’ temple apartments – verse 7
5. Defiling Judah’s high places, deposing their priests – verses 8-9
6. Desecrating Tophet, the place of child sacrifice – verse 10
7. Removing and destroying sun worship – verse 11
8. Smashing royal idolatrous altars – verse 12
9. Eliminating Solomon’s folly – verse 13
10. Destroying the props for fertility worship – verse 14
11. Pulling down Jeroboam’s worship center – verses 15-16
12. Purge throughout the northern cities – verses 19-20

Josiah

• Nevertheless… Obedience…

Bonus

• 1 Kings 13:2 – prophecy given
• 2 Kings 23:15-16 – prophecy fulfilled