The Completion of the Reign of Josiah

INTRODUCTION: Josiah continues to turn Israel back to the Lord. He establishes a covenant with God and cleanses the land from all spiritual defilement. However, judgment is still set to come and after the death of Josiah, the nation goes down quickly.

1. JOSIAHS COVENANT WITH THE LORD (2 Kings 23:1-3)
1. The Gathering of the People (2 Kings 23:1)
2. The Reading of the Law (2 Kings 23:2)
3. The Making of the Covenant (2 Kings 23:3)
1. As he stood by a pillar
1. As the manner was (2 Kings 11:13-14)
2. This is called his place (2 Chronicles 34:31).
3. As the prince stood by the post of the gate (Ezekiel 46:2)
2. The content of the covenant
1. To walk after the Lord
2. To keep the commandments of the Lord
3. To perform the words written in this book
3. The response of the people they stood to the covenant
2. JOSIAHS CLEANSING OF JUDAH (2 Kings 23:4-14)
1. The Cleansing of the Temple (2 Kings 23:4-7)
1. The involvement of the priests (2 Kings 23:4)
2. The items removed from the temple (2 Kings 23:4)
1. Vessels made for Baal
2. Vessels made for the grove
3. Vessels made for the host of heaven
3. The destruction of the vessels (2 Kings 23:4)
1. Burned outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron
2. Ashes taken unto Bethel
4. The removing of the idolatrous priests (2 Kings 23:5)
1. Who had burned incense in the high places
2. To Baal, the sun, the moon, the planets, and all the host of heaven
5. The destruction of the grove in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:6)
1. Taken from the temple to the brook Kidron
2. Burned and stamped into small powder
3. The powder cast upon the graves of the people
6. The destruction of the houses of the sodomites (2 Kings 23:7)
1. Located by the house of the Lord
2. Where the women wove hangings for the grove
2. The Cleansing of the High Places of Judah (2 Kings 23:8-9)
1. The removing of the priests (2 Kings 23:8)
2. The defiling of the high places (2 Kings 23:8)
3. The destruction of the high place in the gate of Joshua (2 Kings 23:8)
4. The demise of the system of worship in the high places (2 Kings 23:9)
3. The Defiling of Tophet (2 Kings 23:10)
4. The Cleansing Around the Temple (2 Kings 23:11-12)
1. Removed horses and burned chariots given to the sun (2 Kings 23:11)
2. The destruction of the altars of Ahaz and Manasseh (2 Kings 23:12)
5. The Removing of Solomons High Places (2 Kings 23:13-14)
1. Located on the right hand of the mount of corruption (2 Kings 23:13); probably refers to the Mount of Olives (1 Kings 11:7)
2. The high places of Solomon (2 Kings 23:13)
3. The destruction of the images and groves (2 Kings 23:14)
3. JOSIAHS CLEANSING OF SAMARIA (2 Kings 23:15-20)
1. The Destruction of the Altar in Bethel (2 Kings 23:15-16)
1. The destruction of the altar and grove in Bethel (2 Kings 23:15); Note: Bethel had been a major site of false worship for the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:28-33; Amos 3:14; Amos 4:4-6).
2. The altar at Bethel defiled (2 Kings 23:16; see 1 Kings 13:1-2, 32)
2. The Discovery of the Prophets Remains (2 Kings 23:17-18)
3. The Destruction of the High Places in Samaria (2 Kings 23:19-20)
1. The destruction of the high places (2 Kings 23:19)
2. The killing of the priests of the high places (2 Kings 23:20)
4. JOSIAHS CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER (2 Kings 23:21-23)
1. The Command to Keep the Passover (2 Kings 23:21)
2. The Greatness of This Passover (2 Kings 23:22)
3. The Keeping of the Passover (2 Kings 23:23; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19)
5. JOSIAHS CONSECRATION UNTO GOD (2 Kings 23:24-27)
1. The Removing of Abominations (2 Kings 23:24)
2. The Uniqueness of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:25)
3. The Coming of the Wrath of God (2 Kings 23:26-27)
1. Gods wrath not turned away, because of Manasseh (2 Kings 23:26)
2. Judah to be removed, and Jerusalem to be cast off (2 Kings 23:27)
6. JOSIAHS CONCLUSION AT THE HAND OF PHARAOH (2 Kings 23:28-30)
1. The Remaining Acts of Josiah (2 Kings 23:28)
2. The Death of Josiah (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20-25)
1. Pharaohnechoh went up against Assyria.
2. King Josiah went up against him.
3. King Josiah killed at Megiddo.
3. The Burial of Josiah (2 Kings 23:30; Jeremiah 22:10; Lamentations 4:20)
7. JEHOAHAZS CAPTIVITY BY PHARAOH (2 Kings 23:31-34)
1. The Reign of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31) began at age 23 and reigned 3 months
2. The Character of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:32)
3. The Captivity of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33)
4. The Death of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:34)
8. JEHOIAKIMS COMPLIANCE TO PHARAOH (2 Kings 23:34-37)
1. The Establishment of Jehoiakim (Eliakim) as King (2 Kings 23:34)
2. The Tribute Paid to Pharaoh of Egypt (2 Kings 23:35)
1. Gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh (see 2 Kings 23:33)
2. Taxed the land to get the money
3. The Reign of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36)
1. Began to reign at age 25
2. Reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem
4. The Character of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:37)

CONCLUSION: Josiah was given a revival in the last days of the kingdom of Judah. He was given this revival because he gave himself entirely to the Lord and completely obeyed the word of the Lord. Who will seek for revival today?