Day 201 – Josiah (Southern King 31 years) #2

• In Josiah’s 18th year on the throne, he sent some of his people to repair the temple following years of neglect. As they cleaned and restored, what did they find in the temple?
• Consider this situation! What does it tell you about the spiritual state of the country when they had lost (and had forgotten about) some of the Scriptures. They had literally forgotten God’s Word. It’s astonishing, isn’t it?
• When the discovered Law was read to the king, he “tore his robes”. You may have read this phrase before. What does it mean? When you realise that you have been making choices God wouldn’t want you to make, what is your reaction? Is it shame and sadness (or even tearing your robe!), or do you shrug it off?
• A prophetess named Huldah brought a message to the king in 2 Chronicles 34:22 onward. What was the message? How, and why, is Josiah spared from the events that were going to happen? What promise did the king and the people make in 2 Chronicles 34:31?
• The passage in 2 Kings shows how seriously Josiah took his promise. As well as re-telling some of the story from Chronicles, it also provides us with detailed descriptions of all the destruction of idols in the country, and a turning away from immoral ways. What sort of god tings did Josiah do?
• 2 Kings 23:26-27 shows us that despite Josiah’s reforms, judgement for the sins of his forefathers was still coming. What does God say will happen to Jerusalem? A similar word of warning is mirrored in the passage from the prophet Zephaniah.

Think about what we’ve achieved together this year – 200 days of reading God’s words. Superb work! Don’t forget, however, that this isn’t a personal challenge or a reading test. How have the last 200 days changed your life? How have they deepened your relationship with Jesus? Success in this reading plan is down to how you can answer that question.

Today’s passage is another rather detailed look at the kings of the time and, if we’re honest, you might struggle to remember it in a few months. That’s OK. Take heart and be encouraged just that you’re reading God’s Word, and that you are building up a greater picture every day about the Old Testament. Do remember the dark warning of Zephaniah though, and remember how good it is what we have the promise of freedom from that punishment through the blood of Jesus.

And an encouragement – soon we’ll be looking at Daniel, which will be familiar to you I’m sure, so look forward to that if you’re feeling a little bogged down at the mo!