Ignoring God’s Word Led to the Fall of a Kingdom.

A story that leaves a deep impression.

The Israelites’ departure from God’s Word led to their downfall, but returning to it brought restoration.

People lived in sin, worshiped foreign gods, and even sacrificed children, because God’s Law had been rejected, forgotten, and eventually lost. Spiritual leadership was either weak or corrupt.

But one day, the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law in the temple and gave it to the scribe Shaphan, who read it to King Josiah.

When Josiah heard the words of the Book, he tore his clothes in grief because he realized how far his people had strayed from God’s commandments and were living in sin. He then initiated a great spiritual reformation:

• He read the Law aloud to the entire nation and renewed the covenant with God, promising to walk in His ways again.

• He restored the celebration of Passover.

• He destroyed all idols and cleansed the temple, where people had even set up the goddess of stars and the goddess of trees (Ashtoreth and Asherah).

• He removed from office all the priests who had burned incense to Baal, the sun, the moon, and the stars.

• He wiped out all sorcerers and fortune-tellers, destroyed all shrines and household gods.

He sincerely desired to obey everything written in the Law.

The history of Israel teaches us:

• Every generation has a choice: to listen to God’s Word or reject it.

• Where Scripture is unknown, everything falls apart.

• Returning to God’s Word transforms lives.

• Even one leader with a faithful heart can bring renewal to an entire people.

• God always gives a chance to return.

I am deeply inspired by Josiah’s radical devotion. He truly loved God and wanted to walk only in His ways. When he studied the Book of the Law, he completely removed everything unnecessary from the temple, his heart, and his life.

Today I ask myself:

What idols still live in my heart and life?

Am I radical enough in confronting them?