2Kings 23:1-25: Religious Restoration
Attention
1. Imagine if every copy of the Bible were lost; imagine if
some copies remained but none were complete.
a. Imagine a society where men
no longer go to scripture for religious authority but follow their own wisdom.
b. Is it surprising that
idolatry, prostitution, and homosexuality were being practiced in
YHWH’s Temple?
2. King Josiah came to power at age eight, and he began
personally seeking Jehovah at age sixteen. (2Ch.
34:1-3)
a. His attempts to reform
religious practices in Judah began four years later and continued for some time.
b. The writer of Kings focuses
on Josiah’s eighteenth year as a critical juncture in the six-year old movement.
3. At that time a book of God’s law was discovered, and
that discovery spurred Josiah’s efforts onward. 23:1-25
[Proposition] We must look to the word of God as the
inspiration and guide for true, religious restoration.
I.
We Must Listen to the Word of God (1-2)
A.
Explanation
1.
The Law of Moses was meant to be read aloud to all the people every seven
years. De. 31:9-13
2.
The public reading of God’s word is a powerful catalyst for spiritual
revival. Ne. 8:1-3
3.
Though Josiah had already begun seeking God, this event would be a
turning point in his reign.
B.
Application
1.
There have been many religious movements throughout history to call men
back to God.
a)
A number of spiritual revivals and reformation periods can be observed in
the Bible.
b)
In post-biblical history, the Reformation Period and the Restoration
Movement stand out.
2.
In each of these cases, men recognized society’s departure from God and
sought to correct it.
a)
Some, like the Reformers, sought to change the existing religious
structure from within.
b)
Others, like the Restorers, saw the apostate nature of manmade churches
and began anew.
3.
In all of these cases, the Bible was put forward as a guide for religious
teaching and practice.
a)
The Reformation’s cry was “Sola
scriptura,” i.e. scripture alone for religious
authority.
(1)
Unfortunately, this noble idea has been left unfulfilled in most
Protestant churches.
(2)
While rejecting papal authority, these churches let creeds influence
their doctrine.
b)
The Restoration said, “Speak where the Bible speaks; be silent where the
Bible is silent.”
(1)
But many churches that claim NT restoration deny its most fundamental
principle.
(2)
Many “churches of Christ” are imitating the world instead of NT
congregations.
4.
Restoration is not a movement we should align ourselves with; it is a
concept we see in scripture.
a)
Restoration involves returning to the divine order and God’s intended
purpose for man.
b)
The Bible is our guide for revival, not human councils or creeds.
2Ti. 3:16-17; 2Pe. 1:3
5.
If God-honoring, Biblical worship is to be restored, we must begin by
hearing the word of God.
II.
We Must Commit to Keeping the Covenant of God (3)
A.
Explanation
1.
A covenant is an agreement between two parties under which both have
obligations.
2.
YHWH made His covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai, but the people failed to
fulfill their part.
3.
Josiah did not seek merely to reform Judah; he sought to restore
true worship and service to God.
B.
Application
1.
It isn’t enough to read the words of scripture; we must be committed to
doing what they say.
a)
A spiritual covenant is a sacred agreement; it is a commitment from the
soul to honor God.
b)
The people needed to renew their relationship with the LORD if real
change was to occur.
2.
What did this covenant involve? What should any covenant commitment to
God involve?
a)
We must commit to following God by keeping His commandments. 1Jn.
2:3-5
b)
We must commit to serving God with our whole heart and life. Ro.
6:17-18
c)
We must commit to fulfilling our covenant obligations to God. Php.
2:12-13
3.
We need to see ourselves with a commitment to God that is larger than the
local church.
a)
Local church membership is important; indeed, it is the NT pattern for
Christians.
b)
But my obligation to God must be wider and deeper than my
responsibilities to this group.
4.
If Biblical worship is to be restored, we must personally commit
ourselves to serving God.
III.
We Must Repent of Human Religion That Dishonors God (4-20, 24a)
A.
Explanation
1.
Many of the kings had worshipped YHWH, but they did so in an unholy
context.
2.
They worshipped God idolatrously (calves) or as one of many gods that
they served.
3.
True worship could not exist amid false worship; their religion had to be
purged to be restored.
B.
Application
1.
This facet of Josiah’s religious restoration highlights the difference in
reforming and restoring.
a)
To reform something is to change it within the present context, hopefully
for the better.
b)
To restore something is to return it to its original state and make it as
it was meant to be.
2.
Many attempts have been made in religion to reform man’s approach to God.
a)
Though noble in intention, these efforts are responsible for multiplying
denominations.
(1)
When Luther could not change the Catholic Church, his followers became
Lutherans.
(2)
When Wesley could not inject fire into the Church of England, Methodism
was born.
b)
What is needed is not another denomination or reformation of a human
church.
c)
What is needed is a heartfelt return to the Bible as the sole source of
authority in religion.
3.
There are only two possible sources for religious doctrine and practice.
Mt. 21:23-27
a)
Josiah urged his people to return to God, to listen to the scriptures as
the source of authority.
b)
Whatever is of human origin should be discarded; human religion cannot
save. Mt. 15:9
4.
If Biblical worship is to be restored, we must discard man’s religion and
return to God’s.
IV.
We Must Obey the Biblical Pattern Supplied By God (21-25)
A.
Explanation
1.
Josiah was the greatest of the kings who sought to bring the people of
Judah back to God.
2.
The religious feasts of YHWH had been perverted or completely neglected
for years.
3.
Josiah was not only against human religion, he was for the true
worship of Almighty God.
B.
Application
1.
The worship of Jehovah did not need Josiah’s improvement; it needed to be
faithfully performed.
a)
Kings like Jeroboam and Ahaz had tried to make worship more convenient
and appealing.
b)
Churches today order worship to please the worshippers instead of the
One being praised.
2.
Josiah did not need to invent a new way of honoring God; God’s word was a
sufficient guide.
a)
How did Josiah know that celebrating the Passover would please God? The
Bible told him.
b)
When men restore Biblical ways of worship, the result is greater than
man’s modifications.
3.
Our need is not for creativity in worship, but for contentment with what
pleases God.
a)
Josiah returned to the religious pattern taught in scriptures one
thousand years old.
(1)
He restored the observance of the OT law just as it had been delivered by
Moses.
(2)
Josiah did not try to improve on what was written; He simply obeyed what
God said.
b)
Today we need to return to the NT to hear from Christ and His apostles
what to do.
(1)
Like the early Christians we need to be devoted to the apostles’
teaching. Ac. 2:42
(2)
Go to God’s word for religious authority; do what they did; teach what
they taught.
4.
If Biblical worship is to be restored, we must practice those things
taught by God in His word.
Action
1. King Josiah did not merely seek to reform Judah’s
religion; he sought to restore true, Biblical worship.
a. He read the word of God
publicly.
b. He renewed the covenant with
God nationally.
c. He purged the sin of human
religion thoroughly.
d. He practiced Biblical
righteousness systematically.
2. What are needed today are more sincere individuals who,
like Josiah, will call for a return to God’s word.
3. What does God’s word say about what one must do to be
saved? Mk. 16:16; Ac. 2:38; 22:16