(a) Describe Josiah's immediate response to the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple. (b) In what two ways is the religious situation today simila...

Answer Details

(a) Josiah's immediate response to the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22)

During the repair of the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law. Shaphan the scribe read it before King Josiah. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes as a sign of grief and repentance, for he realised how far the nation had departed from God's commands and how great was the wrath they deserved.

He immediately commanded Hilkiah, Shaphan and others to go and enquire of the LORD for him and for the people concerning the words of the book. They went to Huldah the prophetess, who confirmed that God would bring disaster on the land because of its disobedience, but that because Josiah's heart was tender and he had humbled himself and wept, he himself would be gathered to his grave in peace and would not see the evil to come. Josiah then gathered all the people, young and old, priests and prophets, to the temple. He read to them all the words of the Book of the Covenant, and standing by the pillar he made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD, to keep His commandments with all his heart and soul. He then carried out sweeping religious reforms, destroying idols and pagan altars and restoring the Passover.

(b) Two ways the religious situation today is similar to Josiah's time

• Just as idolatry and pagan worship had crept into Judah, today many people mix Christianity with idol worship, occult practices and superstition.
• Just as the word of God had been neglected and forgotten in the temple, today the Scriptures are often neglected and God's commandments are widely disobeyed, calling for genuine repentance and reform.