June 6th | 2 Kings 23

If you have been reading through 1 and 2 Kings, a theme stands out: the kings of Israel and Judah are not very good. Some do well, but they still fail to follow God faithfully and lead the people back to revival. They are not good, and the people need a better king. Enter Josiah. 

In a stunning turn of events, as the temple is being repaired, the high priest finds the book of the Law. You know, the very words of God given to Moses for the people to abide by and follow? Apparently, they had been so wicked and devoid of any semblance of a relationship with God that they had totally lost the book of the Law. Josiah was the king, and he had never heard the Law of God. Let that sink in for a moment. 

What was Josiah’s response? Heartbreak. He was disgusted by the wickedness that was now apparent to him after reading God’s holy commands. He realized he was a sinner and chose to follow the law instead of rebelling against it. He tore down all the false altars and terrible idols. He totally extinguished them from the people of Judah. After he had done all of this, 2 Kings 23:21-22 says,

 “21 And the king commanded all the people, 'Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.” 

The Passover had not been observed since the time of the judges. Nearly 400 years had passed since God’s people had taken the Passover, which demonstrated how God had carried them out of Egypt. Could you imagine how grand that Passover celebration was? All because Josiah committed himself to follow God. Josiah was a better king than all those before him. 

2 Kings 23:25, “25 Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

What a great king to lead the people back. Yet, Josiah was still not good enough. 

2 Kings 23:26, “26 Still the Lord did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him.”

As great as Josiah was, God’s wrath was not satisfied. The people must still pay for their sins. The wrath of God would be poured out on them. Josiah was a better king, but even his best wasn’t good enough. The book of Kings points us to the best king, the only king who could satisfy God's wrath on our behalf. Think of the love of Christ. Think of the power of Christ. Think of the terror and wonder of the tragic and beautiful cross. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

At the cross, the great exchange happened. Our better king laid down his life for us. No other king would be necessary after Jesus. No other king could do what he did. Jesus, the King eternal, gave up His life for you. Ponder this miraculous truth today and worship the better king Jesus.