In 2 Kings 21-22, you learned how to rebel against an ungodly culture by equipping people in God’s word so they walk in the way of the Lord, call others to prayer and have a tender and humble heart so He will hear your prayers. Leaders who passionately love God call others to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments wholeheartedly, repent of sin and exercise corporate spiritual disciplines. In contrast, ungodly leaders’ sin cause the hedge of protection to be broken. It removes God’s blessing and presence leading to destruction, enslavement by the world, famine and unrest.
Josiah gathered all Judah’s and Jerusalem’s elders. He read all the words of the book of the covenant before all the people. Josiah made a covenant to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments with all his heart and soul. All the people entered the covenant (2 Kings 23:1-3). Godly leaders call others to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments wholeheartedly.
Josiah burned all the vessels made for Baal, Asherah and for all the host of heaven. He did away with the idolatrous priests that Judah’s kings appointed to burn incense in the high places to Baal and creation. He burned Asherah and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. He broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes and the high places of the gates at the entrance of the governor’s city gate. The priests of the high places ate unleavened bread among their brothers. He defiled Topheth so no man would make his children pass through the fire for Molech. Josiah defiled the high places Solomon built for the surrounding nations. He broke the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim and burned the altar at Bethel and Samaria and high places that caused Israel to sin, which provoked the Lord to anger according to the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God. Josiah killed all the priests of the high places and burned human bones on them (2 Kings 23:4-20). Godly leaders lead the way in repenting of all sin and obeying God’s word.
He reinstated the Passover as it was written in the book of the covenant since it had not been observed since the judges nor during the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. The Passover was observed in the 18th year of Josiah in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:21-23). Godly leaders lead the way in exercising corporate spiritual disciplines.
He removed the mediums, spiritists, household gods, idols and other detestable things in Judah and Jerusalem to fulfill the requirements of the law found in the book Hilkiah the priest discovered in the temple of the Lord. Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul and strength according to the law of Moses (2 Kings 23:24-25). Godly leaders lead the way in loving God with all their heart, soul and strength.
The Lord did not turn from his fierce anger because of what Manasseh had done. He removed Judah from His sight as he had with Israel. He cast off Jerusalem, the city He chose, and the temple where His name dwelt. Pharaoh Neco killed Josiah His son, Jehoahaz, replaced him as king who did evil in God’s sight according to all his fathers had done. Pharoah imprisoned him that he might not reign in Jerusalem and imposed a fine on the land of 100 talents of silver and a talent of gold (2 Kings 23:26-37). Ungodly leaders’ sin cause the removal of God’s blessing and presence.
Lord sent the Babylonians to destroy Judah according to God’s word proclaimed by the prophets because of Manasseh’s sins. He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood and the Lord was unwilling to forgive. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried the treasures from the house of the Lord and king’s house. He led into exile all the captains, mighty men, craftsmen and smiths with the poorest people remaining in Israel. The Lord cast out Jerusalem and Judah from His presence (2 Kings 24:1-20). Ungodly leaders’ sin cause destruction and enslavement by the world.
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem causing severe famine and the city wall was broken through with the whole army fleeing by night. Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah, king of Israel. He put out his eyes and took him to Babylon. An official set fire to the temple of the Lord, royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. The Babylonian army broke down the walls around Jerusalem and carried into exile the people remaining in the city. They carried away the articles from the house of the Lord to Babylon. Many people went to Egypt because they feared the Babylonians after Gedeliah the governor of Israel was killed (2 Kings 25:1-30). Ungodly leaders’ sin cause famine and unrest when the hedge of protection is broken.
Ask God to enable you to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments wholeheartedly as you repent of sin, exercise corporate spiritual disciplines and love God with all your heart, soul and strength.
