Where Change Begins

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

Wherever Josiah found altars, Asherah poles, or other evidences of idolatry in the land, he completely destroyed them. It was the greatest onslaught against pagan practices in the history of Israel. Josiah went right through Judah and even extended his activity into the North.

Josiah destroyed the altars Solomon had authorized for the sake of his foreign wives (see 2 Kings 23:13). These altars had stood for three hundred years. Other kings had promoted the worship of God, but no other kings in the North or the South had the courage and political will to destroy the pagan altars in the land.

Later, a prophetess named Huldah sent Josiah this message: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. . . . I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city” (2 Kings 22:18-20).

God honored Josiah’s leadership and held back judgment on the nation during his lifetime. King Josiah died in peace, but there were limitations to his achievement: “Even so, the LORD was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him” (2 Kings 23:26).

God is not satisfied with outward conformity to the law. He is looking for an inward desire for righteousness. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. It involves changing our hearts to give us a new capacity to pursue a life that is pleasing to God.

For further reading, see Ephesians 2