Josiah

Immanuel Lutheran Church ~ Mankato, MN
Fall 2000 Bible Study
Lesson 13 — December 24, 2000

JOSIAH

2 Kings: 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35

Background

Hezekiah ruled for 29 years (recall the great reform in Israel which God accomplished in Hezekiah’s day)
Manasseh ruled for 55 years (part of it co-regency with his father)
Amon ruled for 2 years

2 Kings 22:1-2 – Josiah becomes king

Josiah is 8 years old.
Josiah reigned 31 years.
God’s Evaluation: He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of His father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left."
READ: 2 Chronicles 34:3

2 Kings 22:3-20 – The Book of the Law is found and followed

Names of people in this section:

Shaphan = scribe
Hilkiah = high priest
Hilkiah, Ahikam, Shaphan, Asaiah = the king-appointed committee
Huldah = prophetess

v. 5 ~ Restoration of the temple – cf: 2 Chronicles for the work and workers
v. 7 – Discuss what Josiah implies about what had happened previously and what his trust implies about the current conditions
Book of the Law (vv.8ff): cf. Deuteronomy 31:24-27

v. 11 – Discuss Josiah’s reaction

v.17 – What addition does the LORD add to this word that would (hopefully) rouse the wicked?

READ: 2 Timothy 2:19

2 Kings 23:1-25 – Josiah acts on the Word of the LORD

vv. 1-3 what earlier event(s) in Israel’s history does this call to mind? (Joshua, Solomon)

READ: 2 Chronicles 34:32-33

v.17: cf. 1 Kings 13:1-2, 30-31

vv.21-23: recall Hezekiah’s restoration of the Passover

READ: 2 Chronicles 35:1-7, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18

v. 24 cf. a faithful king Saul

v. 25 – "…none like him." Contrast David’s faithfulness to that of Josiah (surrounding atmosphere, political scene, etc.)

2 Kings 23:26-27 – Josiah’s reforms were too late; the Lord’s wrath would not be set aside

2 Chronicles 35:20-25 (2 Kings 23:28-30) – Josiah dies after not heeding the Word of the Lord (through Egypt’s king)

THE CUP OF GOD’S WRATH IS NEARLY FULL….

Jeremiah 25:15-18; (cf: Revelation 14:9-10)

And yet…

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of His roots…"

Isaiah 11:1

As (if) time permits:

Ezekiel 16 (1-22, 27, 31-34)

Ezekiel 23 (11, 22-23, 32-35)

{WCE}

Coming Next Week…
Judah’s End (final study of the series)
2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 34-39, 52

CLC 2000
Celebrating 40 years of God’s Grace