Jul 1, 2011

Hezekiah and Josiah

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. (2 Kings 23:25)(NLT)

The following worship profile is from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. I recommend this study bible to anyone interested in learning more about worship.

Hezekiah and Josiah

The lives of Hezekiah and Josiah, two righteous kings of Judah, will bring conviction to those who try to find an excuse for their lack of devotion to God. Hezekiah's  father was the idol-worshiping King Ahaz, and Josiah, a mere eight-year-old boy when he became king (2 Kings 22:1), had a wicked and idolatrous father and grandfather. Both Hezekiah and Josiah ruled over a land filled with idolatry, corruption, and decay. By Josiah's time, the nation had drifted so far from the Lord that the priests did not even know of any copies of the Book of the Law given to Moses! Given these unfavorable circumstances, we would normally expect Hezekiah and Josiah to have slipped into the sinful ways of their fathers. However, the Lord stirred the hearts of both kings and caused them to go against the flow and follow Him with great boldness.

Hezekiah and Josiah the Worshipers

Both kings committed themselves to restoring worship at the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:1-36; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33).

Both kings accepted the messages of prophets, who condemned their nation's sin and called them to return to God.

Both kings disregarded the empty benefits of popularity by tenaciously seeking out and eliminating all idols and cult practices in Judah (2 Chronicles 31:1; 2 Chronicles 34:3-7).

Learning from Hezekiah and Josiah

Hezekiah and Josiah demonstrated that an obedient person, led by the Holy Spirit, can help wake a community from spiritual depravity and bring about revival.

Hezekiah and Josiah understood that revival is a public matter; their efforts toward reform included public Scripture readings, confessions, and worship.

Following the Example

If you lack passion in your worship or struggle with other loyalties infringing on your commitments to God, you would do well to read the stories of Josiah and Hezekiah. Like the people of Judah, you may have idols in your life that keep you from worshiping God as you should. An idol could be possessions, a hobby, or even a relationship that keeps you from obeying God. If this is true, confess and repent of your sin, and recommit yourself to worshiping God.

Psalm 122:1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (HCSB)