Renewing The Covenant

2 Kings 23 

Josiah is remembered as one of the better kings of Judah.   Josiah was only eight years old when he became king of Judah.  The Bible tells us that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2).  Josiah is best remembered for the work he did in renewing Judah’s covenant with God.

After Solomon’s reign the kingdom divided and the northern kingdom, known as Israel, went into out-right apostasy.  Judah, the southern kingdom, remained faithful for a time.  But, eventually, they too turned away from God.  It was the young king Josiah who, for a time at least, set Judah back on the right track.

The process by which Josiah restored Judah to faithfulness has been used many times as an example of how a church that has turned to the right or the left can find its way back to the true path.  Josiah’s story also provides a wonderful illustration as to how an erring child of God may find his way back.  Let us notice the steps Josiah took.

Josiah began with the word of God. 2 King 22 tells us how the Book of the Law was found in the temple during Josiah’s reign and how Josiah read it, not only for himself but for all the people.  We learn how to become Christians by hearing the word of God.  What better way to learn what to do when we have been unfaithful than to turn again to His precious word?

Next Josiah made a covenant to “walk after the Lord and keep His commandments, and His testimonies and His statutes.”  A child of God who has wondered away must renew his commitment to God and His word.

Finally we see that Josiah cleansed the land of all idols and idol altars.  The returning child of God must follow this wise king’s lead and remove all the impurities of his former way of life.  Making a new covenant with God is only half of what is required.  In order to be fully restored, the returning child of God must free himself of the entanglements of sin.

It is my earnest prayer that we will all continue to be faithful to God.  But should we ever find ourselves wandering away and needing to return I believe we would do well to follow Josiah’s example.

In love,

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ