2 Kings – Chapter 23

Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 2 Kings 23:24 – Our chapter tells us that there was never a king in Judah who followed the Lord as well as Josiah did. Our verse above is a snapshot of all that he did. He removed every form of idolatry in the land. Every idol he could find was destroyed and pulverized to ash. Every false priest was killed so they couldn’t plague the land any longer with their false teachings. Every wicked practice was ended in the kingdom. Truly the changes Josiah brought were extreme in all the right ways. We see Baal, Asherah, Molech, and all the gods of the host of heaven being destroyed with all their altars. Yet, did you see in the chapter how these idols fought back to stop Josiah? No, me neither. For they couldn’t, because they were nothing but wood, stone, and metal. As we navigate life, do not be afraid to tear down and destroy the parts of your life that are leading you to sin. Maybe you feel like you can’t, or maybe you feel like the backlash will destroy you. See though the boldness of Josiah with such avenues of sin. He totally wiped them out and he was protected and blessed by the Lord in the process. I don’t know your story, and I don’t know your struggle with sin, but I know your idols can be destroyed and God can protect you from the aftermath of such a holy decision. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3089

And Josiah removed all the shrines also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which kings of Israel had made, provoking the Lord to anger. He did to them according to all that he had done at Bethel. 2 Kings 23:19 – A destroying of the old must come as we follow God. If the old was a trusting in yourself to be able to get you by, then that needs to be destroyed. If the old was a way of thinking that you don’t need Christian community, that idea needs to be destroyed. If the old is an attachment to a habit of sin that too needs to be destroyed. What we see in our passage is a cleaning out of all that shouldn’t be there. From false gods to cult prostitutes, we see the king removing all that kept his people in bondage for so long. That type of cleaning out is what God longs to see in your life too. All that old way of thinking and living that kept you down God wants out. It’s not going to be an easy process doing this cleaning, but Jesus died so that He could have such a relationship with us where He could help us “clean up.” What old ways of your life are still present in your new life with Jesus? What has kept them there? Are you willing to let Jesus help you destroy those things? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 394

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. 2 Kings 23:4 – This chapter is filled with the changes that the king sought to make to have his people stop pursuing sin and begin following God again. We learn that choosing to follow God means a doing away with all that is in your life that isn’t about following God. Sometimes those things will be difficult, costly, or even meet with some pushback. The choice to do away with them though is a must if you want to be wholly for God. Just because it’s the right thing to do doesn’t mean it’s the easy thing to do, know though it honors God and shows you love Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1046

And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:21-23 – The Passover was a time of remembrance for God’s people of what He did for them. He rescued them from harsh slavery in Egypt in powerful ways and the Passover was a way to celebrate and give thanks to the Lord for such a rescue. Yet, as we see from our verse, it had been a very long time since the Passover had been celebrated in such an honoring to scripture way. While it may have taken place, such preparations had not been taken like it was for this Passover and such removal of idolatrous things had not been removed like this before. What I hope we see is that it still took place. Yes, for generations worship of God like this hadn’t happened. Yes, for generations the sources of idolatry had not been destroyed like this. While it could easily be said then it would never happen now since it’s been this way for generations…look at what Josiah did. Despite things being one way for a very long time, he still moved in a faithful way. Know maybe your story or situation has been one way for a very long time. God has not been acknowledged there for awhile and it seems like the only path is for it to stay that course. That though isn’t the only path. Yes, it will be hard to change courses, but it is possible. It wasn’t easy to remove all the places of idolatry in his land, but the king did. Starting to follow God after years of not isn’t going to be smooth and easy, but it’s very possible. Helping that person in your life begin following Jesus won’t be easy, but it’s very possible. Just because things have been one way for a very long time doesn’t mean God can’t bring change there. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2229