ESOCS Devotional 24 May 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “And like unto him was there no king before him, that 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, neither after him arose there any like him.” 2 Kings 23:25
TEXT: 2 KINGS 23:21-30
21 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 Surely such a Passover was not held from the days of Israel’s judges, even in all the days of the kings of Israel or Judah.
23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem.
24 Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums, the wizards, the teraphim (household gods), the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law written in the book found by Hilkiah the priest in the house of the Lord.
25 There was no king like him before or after [Josiah] who turned to the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his might, according to all the Law of Moses.
26 Still the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, kindled against Judah because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.
27 And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of My sight as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city, Jerusalem, which I have chosen, and the house, of which I said, My Name [and the pledge of My presence] shall be there.
28 The rest of the acts of Josiah, all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of Judah’s Kings?
29 In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went out against him, but he slew Josiah at Megiddo when he saw him.
30 Josiah’s servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land anointed Jehoahaz son of Josiah king in his stead.
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Life in this generation is lived in some cases as if the word of God is not preached. Judging from what the country is today as a result of governance, the height of corruption and immorality both in the Church and in the society, the wickedness of men in dealing with others in relationships and lots more go a long way to show that adherence to the word of God as the Bible teaches is dwindling by the day.
But from our text today, we read of how exceptional and distinguished adherence to the word of God can make a man. King Josiah of Judah made the words of the Law of Moses his guide in leadership and he excelled.
The determination to do a daily personal study of the word of God is one that most Christians have engaged in. But the attitude of putting into practice lessons learnt from the scripture is one that profits more. By this, King Josiah was able to resurrect the tradition of the Passover feast “as it is written in this book of the covenant” (2 Kings 23:21-23).
How can one be able to reject instigations to do evil or continue in sinful practices except he is taught by the word of the scriptures? The scripture is an eye opener and a motivator. It flows with the power of the Holy Spirit. The rot in the Church and society can only be uprooted by the teaching of the word of God and imbibing and practising the principles we learn. This was how King Josiah stopped idolatry in Judah (2 Kings 23:24; Acts 1:8).
The word of God is a refiner of men and a promoter to the next level. If any man desires to be distinguished and exceptional, he has got to submit totally to what the Bible teaches (2 Kings 23:25-30).
- Have you been made better by adhering to the teachings from the scripture?
- Father, make me better by your word, in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Exodus 24:9-end; Mark 10:1-12, Romans 13:1-end.
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ESOCS Devotional 25 May 2023
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