This week's Bible Study - August 26, 2007
When Society Abandons Godly Ways
 Background Scripture:
2 Kings 22:1-5, 23:2-4,24-27
Quote of the Week:
“Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain”
-- John Calvin
What has changed in our society in your lifetime? The most noticeable thing to many folks would have to be the advances in technology. Some can remember black and white television sets, which cannot be found anymore, except in those old flea markets in really small towns. As few as 15 years ago, most of us would not have thought we could access information around the world online. Now, people routinely are seeing live pictures from all over the world on their computers - night or day. It used to be that only the 'geeks' had email addresses, but now nearly every family owns a computer and most people have email. Advances in cell phone technology have made it such that people can be connected 24/7 - at home, on the road, on vacation or virtually anywhere. There have been advances in medicine so that many diseases are no longer life threatening, as they were 20 or 30 years ago (we still have a long way to go, tho). A lot of the things that have happened have had very positive impacts on our society.
There have been plenty of other changes in our society that have not been so good. Our country used to have a healthy respect for Christianity, but that has been watered down over the years. There used to be prayer in school - that has long since passed. Even nativity displays in small towns are no longer allowed. Family structures have changed and there is an acceptance of all different types of lifestyles, which at one time were not spoken of. Some consider this to be progress with the culture, but it is a divergence from God's plan. The sad thing about many of these downward spirals is that it has not only impacted the culture, but it has also largely infiltrated the church. Most in the church still try to walk in God's ways, and we all make mistakes from time to time, but has the church and believers forgotten what God's word says?
In this lesson, we will learn about a king who was confronted with the errant ways of his people. When confronted, he took action to correct the wrongs. How do you handle this type of confrontation? When you are at church, listening to a pastor, or in a class with a Bible study teacher, how do you handle God's confrontation? Or, how do you handle it when a close friend, a parent, a child or a spouse calls you on sin in your life? I dare say that many of us have proven that we are not likely to accept this in the way that it was accepted by this king.
King Josiah became a king at 8 years old. If you are a parent, what would you allow your kid to do at 8? Most parents are leery of allowing their 8 year olds to play in front of their own house. Can you imagine an 8 year old with authority over a kingdom? I can imagine national ice cream days, and other activities that are geared towards younger children. What kinds of edicts would this king make and what would they be based upon?
Although Josiah became king at a young age, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, following the way of King David (the good ways) and not turning to the right or left. He was very intentional. We often have the best of intentions, but we are so easily turned to the right or left. A little turn wouldn't seem to matter, but it changes our direction. If you change the course of a ship traveling across the ocean - even the slightest bit - it won't end up where it intended to go. Are you turned to the right or left now?
In the eighteenth year of his resign, Josiah sent his secretary to the temple of the Lord. There was an effort underway to repair the temple. Many had given money to this effort, and Josiah wanted to ensure that the money went for its intended purpose. King Josiah had faith in those heading up the effort, so he didn't need to get an account for all the money. Although Josiah was a good king, this part may not have been so wise. Even the best organizations today need to have some oversight of their financial dealings. The lure of money has stained many a person.
The high priest indicated to Shaphan, the secretary of the king that he had found the Book of the Law in the temple. (He found the book - it was lost? Can you imagine? I bet many of us have been there - where is your Bible now and why might it be hard to find? For some people, it sits on a bookshelf - the Bible doesn't do a lot of good on the shelf). Shaphan read pieces of it and was apparently moved. He returned to the king and reported on the money, and also reported on the book that was found. Shaphan read the book in the presence of King Josiah. Although the king did what was right, it appears that it wasn't based on what the Book of the Law had stated. We know people like this - good, moral folks who do the right things, but they are not really based on a foundation. Sometimes, these folks are eager to hear what the Bible says, as it appeals to something deep within. Other times, some who seem to do right are not concerned about the Bible, because they think they already have their act together and that the Bible is only applicable to others. Josiah heard it and was moved.
He was so moved that he ordered that all in Judah needed to hear what was written in this book that had been found. He saw that many had not obeyed the words of that book, and he saw that the book was intended to be applicable to his people. They couldn't ignore it, as they had - intentionally or not. As they inquired of the Lord through the prophetess Huldah, she said that God was to bring disaster on the kingdom because they had forsaken Him and had burned incense to other gods, and had made many idols. Because of this sin of idolatry and allowing the following of other gods, God's anger burned against Judah and he would bring disaster upon them. That answer was taken back to the king. How would you have liked to be that messenger, sharing the message of impending doom?
What would be prophesied against us - our country, our government, our churches, our families and ourselves? What has brought God's anger upon us, and have we really sought His word - to be obedient? Do we need to pay heed to the same types of things that went through the king's mind as he heard this pronouncement of judgment on his country>
King Josiah listened to the pronouncement and called together all of the leaders and elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He then went into the temple with all of the people of Jerusalem and read the words that were found in this book that had been found in the temple. He saw that these words were intended for all of the people - not just the temple people and not just the rulers. In our world of political correctness, we can't really imagine that the word of God would be forced on people, but the words are as beneficial to all of us today as it was to them.
As Josiah read the words, he renewed the covenant that the Lord had made with his people. They resolved to follow the Lord and to keep his commands, regulations and decrees, with all that they had - their heart and soul. Following his lead, all of the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
The king ordered the priests and the temple keepers to remove the idols from the temple. It is amazing that the book had been gone for so long that articles made for Baal and other 'gods' had made it into the temple. What were they basing their worship upon, if not the Word of God? Sadly, many churches today go week to week and year to year, following tradition and disregarding God's words. When this happens, many things enter a church, provoking God to anger.
King Josiah cleared house. Some of the pagan rituals had been instituted by evil kings of Judah, but Josiah did away with the pagan priests that had burned incense in the high places. They burned incense to Baal, the sun and moon, constellations and to all the starry host. On previous trips to Taiwan, I have seen many temples where incense is continually burning to the 'gods'. This type of religion leads is still practiced in many places around the world and it leads to slavery, not freedom. Josiah removed the Asherah poles and various shrines to pagan deities. He also removed the priests that burned incense in all of these places. Wherever there were these marks of desecration, Josiah removed them.
It is easy to see how our culture has been infiltrated, but in the short term, we can do little about society as a whole. The real question is how do we deal with these areas of our lives that are not under the lordship of Christ? God is sill asking for us to serve him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. What hinders you? I know of people that have tried to remove all tangible things at different points - burning of books or destruction of music or other things that they feel dishonors God. What if you had to get rid of anything in your life that stood between you and God - would you be willing to do this? It's not just for the act of removing things - but to grow closer to God.
Did you notice the way that Josiah got rid of these things? Some of the words were burned, ground to powder, tore down and smashed to pieces. These imply destruction. Have you noticed what we often do? We sometimes hide them - doing us no good. When you hide things, you can always go back and 'visit'. Josiah got rid of that possibility - the only thing that they could do was to go back and say "wow, this is where that altar used to be".
Josiah destroyed the places of pagan worship and removed the burning of incense. He removed a lot, but it was more than that - he also instituted the holy days described in the book of the covenant. They began to celebrate the Passover once again and they truly desired to be a people that pleased God. Why was it now that they could truly celebrate the Passover and not before? They had cleared the air. When you rid your life of hindrances that prohibit you from seeking and knowing God - you are free to worship, praise and celebrate - with a clear conscience.
The problem was more than just the 'official temples' and high places. The society had also been overrun by mediums and spiritists. You can still see signs of these type of people in our society today - palm readers and the like. Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, along with all of the household gods, idols and other detestable things. It was not just a societal issue, but it also impacted families where they lived.
Again, in Taiwan, I remember walking down residential streets and seeing a red glow in the middle of many of the homes. This is where the family kept their gods and paid respect to them and to ancestors - burning incense. When this infiltrates the home, it brings darkness with it. Can you imagine waking up each morning to find that room of idolatry in your house? Most likely, you and your family do not have such a room, but there are many who open the door to all types of evil from the time they wake up until the time they go to sleep. Josiah got rid of these things - How? He was the king.
This change that came in the life of Josiah separated him from all the other kings before or after him. None sought God in the way that he did. He read what was required of man, and, in accordance with the Law of Moses, he sought the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength. Although Josiah did all of these things, God's anger still burned against Judah. The consequences of their actions would be felt in a mighty way, as God was to reject the city of Jerusalem and the temple.
Closing
Today, situational ethics abound. Things are only right or wrong in context. This is not how God intended life to be. God places before us life and death - we choose. Many of the rules are clear in Scripture. Are we following them, no matter what? The only way to do so is to stay in God's word and to surround yourself with Christian friends that can help to keep you accountable. From personal experience, we can all go off track if we wander away from where God would have us to be.
Although Josiah was a good king, he really didn't know what was right until he got the word of God and learned what it said. The same holds true for you and I today - in God's word, we find what is God's plan - the things to do and to avoid. Where are you getting your instruction for life?
In the past and even some today, I have been into memorization of Scripture. It started with a few verses here and there, and grew to several New Testament books. Day after day, scripture was going through my mind - it was the only way to memorize. Listen to it - read it - write it - say it - over and over and over. However, memorization on its own does you little good. It is the practice of meditation, where our minds dwell on God's word - not to memorize it, but to bring it into our hearts, so as to impact our lives. Is God's word in your heart?
Lastly, we saw a king that removed many things that hindered the relationship of the nation with God. He was willing to accept God's authority over how he ruled and how the people lived. What about you? Have you really accepted God's authority over every area of your life? If you are truly honest about seeking God, find those things that you have held back - the things that perhaps you have hidden (nothing is hidden from God) and rid those from your life. With a clear conscience, you will find a relationship with Jesus Christ that can be found in no other way.
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