My Daily Bread

THE ZEAL OF JOSIAH THE REFORMER KING

2 Kings 23:1-20

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. (3)

We cannot find any king more zealous than Josiah the great reformer king who comes almost at the end of the kingdom period. He discovered the word of God almost by accident. Upon hearing the words of the covenant, he tore his robes. He was then encouraged by a prophetess for his response to God’s word. The rest is history. He set about destroying all the remnants of idolatry throughout the land of Judah. He burned the Asherah poles and smashed the altars to pagan gods. He even destroyed the altar that Jeroboam had built in Bethel that caused all Israel to sin. The zeal of Josiah is remarkable even though it came too late. God had already decided to hand Israel over.

Do I have such zeal as Josiah? Am I willing to first destroy all the idols in my heart and then set about reforming?

First, I need to take a look at myself. I need to have the courage to smash all the remnants of idolatry in my own life. One of my old besetting habits is staying up late watching the boob tube (TV). Reform begins with changing habits. I must set a time to go to bed and get up early in the morning for my QT. This is one reform within my power and with God’s help I can do. 

Lord, help me to set my heart on seeking you and keeping my QT every morning. I repent my old habit of staying up late. Help me to change this one habit and seek you each morning. Help me to begin each day anew with your word and have the same zeal as Josiah to reform my life. In Jesus’ name Amen.

One Word: Be zealous to reform my life like Josiah!