Repentance, Reformation, and Renewal Under Josiah

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible (CLASB) weaves the story of the Bible together in chronological order, which differs significantly from canonical order. One example of this is the repentance, reformation, and renewal led by Josiah in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Let’s take a look at how the CLASB weaves these accounts together to learn more about the legacy of this God-fearing king.

Josiah’s Repentance

When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 2 Kings 22:11

2 Kgs 22:8 This book may have been the entire Pentateuch (Genesis—Deuteronomy), but it was probably only the book of Deuteronomy. Because of the long line of evil kings, the record of God’s laws had been lost. Josiah, who was about 26 years old at this time, wanted religious reform throughout the nation. When God’s Word was found, drastic changes had to be made to bring the kingdom in line with God’s commands. Today you have God’s Word at your fingertips. How much change must you make in order to bring your life into line with it?

2 Kgs 22:11 When Josiah heard the law, he tore his clothes in despair. He immediately instituted reforms. With just one reading of God’s law, he changed the course of the nation. Today many people own Bibles, but few are affected by the truths found in God’s Word. The Word of God should cause us, like Josiah, to take action immediately to reform our lives and bring them into harmony with God’s will.

2 Chr 34:19 It is human nature to treat sin lightly—to make excuses, blame somebody else, or minimize the harm done. Not so with Josiah. He was so appalled at the people’s neglect of the law that he tore his clothing to express his grief. True understanding of our sins should lead to “sorrow” that “leads us away from sin” (2 Cor 7:10). Are you always excusing your sin, blaming others, and pretending that it’s not so bad? God does not take sin lightly, and he wants us to respond with true remorse as Josiah did.

Josiah’s Reforms

Then the king instructed Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the Temple gatekeepers to remove from the LORD’s Temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away to Bethel. 2 Kings 23:4

2 Kgs 23:4–8 When Josiah realized the terrible state of Judah’s religious life, he did something about it. It is not enough to say we believe what is right; we must respond with action, doing what faith requires. This is what James was emphasizing when he wrote, “Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (Jas 2:20). This means acting differently at home, school, work, and church. Simply talking about obedience is not enough.

2 Chr 35:3 In Moses’ day, one of the duties of the Levites was to carry the Ark of the Covenant whenever Israel traveled. The Ark was now permanently housed in the Temple and would no longer be carried about in procession as it had been in the wilderness. Josiah was telling the Levites that they were now free to take on other responsibilities (1 Chr 24).

2 Chr 35:17 The Festival of Unleavened Bread was a seven-day celebration beginning the day after Passover. Like Passover, it commemorated the exodus from Egypt. For seven days the people ate bread without yeast, just as their ancestors did while leaving Egypt because it could be made quickly in preparation for their swift departure (Exod 12:14–20). This festival reminded the people that they had left slavery behind and had come to the land God promised them.

Josiah’s Renewal

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. 2 Chronicles 34:31

2 Chr 34:31 When Josiah read the book that Hilkiah discovered (2 Chr 34:14), he responded with repentance and humility and promised to follow God’s commands as written in the book. The Bible is God’s word to us, “alive and powerful” (Heb 4:12), but we cannot know what God wants us to do if we don’t read it. And even reading God’s Word is not enough; we must be willing to do what it says. There is not much difference between the book hidden in the Temple and the Bible hidden on the bookshelf. An unread Bible is as useless as a lost one.

2 Kgs 23:21–23 When Josiah rediscovered the Passover in the Book of the Covenant, he ordered everyone to observe the ceremonies exactly as prescribed. This Passover celebration was to have been a yearly holiday celebrated in remembrance of the entire nation’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exod 12), but it had not been kept for many years. As a result, “there had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah.” A common misconception states that God is against celebration, wanting to take all the fun out of life. In reality, God wants to give us life in its fullness (John 10:10), and those who love him have the most to celebrate.

Josiah’s Legacy

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. 2 Kings 23:25

2 Kgs 23:25 Josiah is remembered as Judah’s most obedient king. His obedience followed this pattern: (1) He recognized sin; (2) he eliminated sinful practices; (3) he attacked the causes of sin. This approach for dealing with sin works. Not only must we remove sinful actions, but we must also eliminate causes for sin—those situations, relationships, routines, and patterns of life that lead us to the door of temptation.

2 Kgs 23:25 Both Josiah and Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:5) are praised for their reverence toward God. Hezekiah was said to be greatest in trusting God (faith), while Josiah is said to be greatest in following the law of God (obedience). May we follow their example through our trust in God and our obedient actions.

Keep Learning with the Chronological Life Application Study Bible

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible arranges the entire Bible in 10 sections. These sections are chronologically ordered and help the reader see how the different pieces of the Bible fit together. With accompanying study notes that focus on applying the truths of the Bible to your life, this study Bible is guaranteed to provide a new and fresh encounter with God’s Word. Get the CLASB today!