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WEEK 1
TOPIC: RELIGIOUS REFORMS
CONTENT:
- Prevalent religious evils of the time of Josiah: 2 kings 22
- Josiah’s reforms in Judah: 2 kings 23:4-14; 21-30
- Religious reforms in the north (2kings 23:15-20)
- Some area of religious reforms in Nigeria e.g. removal of adulterous priests, spiritist, homosexual, lesbian pastors etc.
Sub-Topic 1: PREVALENT RELIGIOUS EVILS OF THE TIME OF JOSIAH. 2Kgs. 22
Josiah was the son of Amon and his mother was Jedidah. He was the grandson of king Manasseh of Judah who was notorious for his introduction of many other religious beliefs and doctrine into the Jewish Orthodox mode of worship. Manasseh was succeeded by his son Amon who walked in the way of his fathers by serving idols.
After the death of king Amon, his eight-year-old son, Josiah was crowned king and he reigned for thirty one years. At the time of King Josiah, the pagan practices which his grandfather Manasseh introduced continued in Judah.
These pagan practices in line with pagan worship prevalent at the time include: prostitution in the house of God; child sacrifice in accordance with the religious practices. This was done in Tophet in Judah; the use of medium and wizard (witches and wizards); shrines and idolatrous priests were introduced in every city of Judah.
King Josiah, having shown interest in the ways of God, decided to purge Judah of idolatry. In his eighteenth year of reign (at the age of twenty six years) he embarked on the repair of the temple in order to focus on the true worship of God. It was during this period of repair and renovation that the book of the law was found by the high priest, Hilkiah who later sent it to the king through Shaphan, the king’s secretary who came to know the contribution for the work so far from Hilkiah. When the content of the book was read to the king, by Shaphan, it became clear to him that the people had transgressed the law and deviated greatly from the principles and ideals of the worship of God. He was so disturbed that he tore his clothes as a sign of repentance. He therefore became concerned and committed to reforming the religious life of the people.
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