A True Revival Is Needed
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets -- all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD.
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -- to follow the LORD and keep His commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts.
. . . He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the LORD, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah. 2 Kings 23:1-7
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -- to follow the LORD and keep His commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts.
. . . He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the LORD, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah. 2 Kings 23:1-7
When the word of God is neglected in the lives of God's people, all kinds of substitutes are brought in. The kings of Judah had neglected the word of God, and in its place articles of Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts had taken prominence. Even male prostitutes had found residence in God's Holy Temple. The nation had totally gone astray and was living in chaos and defeat. They had become defenseless and easy prey for their enemies. God had distanced Himself from them because they had chosen to reject Him!
But young King Josiah was told about the Book of the Law which had been found in the temple. It was read to him and he realized the great sin of the nation in rejecting the word of God. He was determined to bring the nation back to God. He assembled everyone, great and small alike, before the LORD. He read the word of God in the hearing of all the people and pledged to personally adhere to it. Then all the people pledged to do likewise. They got rid of all the false gods which had been given prominence in the temple and publicly burned them. This was nothing short of a true revival! God's word was going to be the standard again.
What is definitely worth noting is that both the king and the people pledged to keep the word of God. They got rid of all the false gods but central to all the fervor and feverish activities was the pledge to live by God's word! Any true revival or renewal must always result in a desire to put God's word at the center of God's Church. There can be no true revival without that.
That is what we need today! We need a renewal that will lead God's people back to God through His Spirit and His word. Without a true return to God's convicting word through the work of His Spirit, no life can be changed and no heart can be transformed and no true renewal can be experienced. May the LORD help us to proclaim and live by His word! There is simply no substitute for that.
But young King Josiah was told about the Book of the Law which had been found in the temple. It was read to him and he realized the great sin of the nation in rejecting the word of God. He was determined to bring the nation back to God. He assembled everyone, great and small alike, before the LORD. He read the word of God in the hearing of all the people and pledged to personally adhere to it. Then all the people pledged to do likewise. They got rid of all the false gods which had been given prominence in the temple and publicly burned them. This was nothing short of a true revival! God's word was going to be the standard again.
What is definitely worth noting is that both the king and the people pledged to keep the word of God. They got rid of all the false gods but central to all the fervor and feverish activities was the pledge to live by God's word! Any true revival or renewal must always result in a desire to put God's word at the center of God's Church. There can be no true revival without that.
That is what we need today! We need a renewal that will lead God's people back to God through His Spirit and His word. Without a true return to God's convicting word through the work of His Spirit, no life can be changed and no heart can be transformed and no true renewal can be experienced. May the LORD help us to proclaim and live by His word! There is simply no substitute for that.
Prayer: Father, please help me to place your word at the very center of my life. Amen.