King Josiah came to the crown (641 BC) when he was very young – only eight years old – and he reigned for 31 years. He reigned very well, for he walked in the steps of his forefather David. He is especially to be praised for beginning to seek the Lord while he was so young; for it is good for the young, in particular, to begin to seek God in their childhood – for those who seek Him early shall find Him!

In the eighth year of Josiah’s reign (633 BC), when he was 16 years old, he began to seek the Lord; and in the twelfth year of his reign (629 BC), at age 20, he began a thorough reformation in his land – probably when he took the administration of the government entirely into his own hands. He began to purge his kingdom from the remains of idolatry; and his zeal led him to do this not only in Judah and Jerusalem, but also in the cities of Israel – as far as he had any influence upon them.

Orders were given by King Josiah for the repair of the Temple, in the eighteenth year of his reign (623 BC). When he had purged the Lord’s house of the corruptions that were found there, he began to prepare it for the services that were to be performed therein. The same must happen in the spiritual temple of our hearts. It must be cleansed from the pollutions of sin; and then it must be renewed, so as to be transformed into the image of God.

Effectual care was taken in this matter. The Levites went around the countryside and gathered money for this project, which was given to Hilkiah the high priest, and then into the hands of workmen. These workmen were industrious and honest; they did the work faithfully.

In the midst of the work that was going on in the Temple, a lost treasure was rediscovered! Hilkiah the high priest found a lost book – a scroll – containing the words of the law of God! He gave the scroll to Shaphan the scribe, who then read it in the presence of King Josiah. The king was deeply moved when he heard the words of God; and he sent Hilkiah, Shaphan, and a few others to enquire of the Lord further. He wanted to know what course they should take to turn away God’s wrath and prevent the judgments which their sins had merited.

This event was a great instance of God’s favor, and a token for good to Josiah and his people, that the book of the law was thus seasonably brought to light, in order to direct and quicken the work of reformation which Josiah had already begun. It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people when He provides them with means for the increase of Scripture-knowledge! The translating of the Scriptures into the common person’s language was the glory, strength, and joy of the Reformation! Let us take a moment to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are easily available to us.

Josiah’s example teaches us that whenever we read or hear the Word of God, we ought to pay careful attention; and our hearts ought to be filled with a holy fear of the wrath of God which is revealed in its pages against all unrighteousness. Josiah’s heart was tender; when he heard the words of the law, he tore his garments. In our case, however, our hearts must be broken for sin, instead of our clothes torn. But when we are under convictions of sin and apprehensions of Divine wrath, we may learn still further from Josiah to enquire of the Lord and ask, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) In Jehovah’s reply to Josiah, we are warned of the ruin that sin brings upon families, nations, and kingdoms. Those who forsake God bring evil upon themselves and kindle a fire which shall not be quenched. But we are also encouraged to humble ourselves before God and seek Him, as Josiah did. If we cannot turn away God’s wrath from our land, yet we may still find His mercy for our own souls.

The last five verses of this chapter provide an account of the further advances which Josiah made toward the reformation of his kingdom, after hearing the book of the law, and the message which God had sent him. He was not satisfied with personal exemption from the coming woes which had been promised to him; he still attempted to save, as far as possible, a remnant of his people. If the nation as a whole must perish, yet he was determined that at least a few individuals might escape the curse; and he endeavored to do his best to enlarge the number of such escapes. In the first place, the book of the law was made known as widely as possible. The solemn reading of the law every seven years in the presence of the whole nation, which was commanded in Deuteronomy 31:10-13, had certainly not been observed for a long time. So Josiah summoned a great meeting, and he personally read aloud the entire law of God, from end to end. Everyone – priests, prophets, nobles, and peasants – heard the words of the Lord from the lips of the Royal Reformer, as he stood at his pillar at the entrance of the inner court of the Temple. Nor did he deem the reading of the law enough! The time seemed favorable for one of those national vows, or renewals of the Covenant, whereby the people bound themselves to the observance of the commands of God, and renewed the original Covenant at Mount Sinai. The king called on the people to pledge themselves that they would thenceforward walk after the Lord and keep His commandments with all their heart and soul. And “all the people,” as one man, “stood to the Covenant” (2 Kings 23:3).

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