Today I read 2 Kings 23, in which the renewal of the covenant is shown through king Josiah’s words and actions, but it is not enough. Today I considered that God protected king Josiah who was faithful to Him but God also wanted the people to be faithful.
More Needed Than Good Leaders
The king’s faithfulness was not enough to cover for everyone’s prior sin (2 Kings 23:1-30). King Josiah’s faithfulness in renewing the covenant exceeded all the other kings of Judah. Josiah gathered everyone and read the book of the covenant before the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people including the young and the old. Josiah removed all the vessels made for Baal, the grove, and the host of heaven from the temple. Josiah addressed the problems of the high places, the groves, and the worship places for false gods like Molech, the sun, the moon, the planets, etc even places that were there since Solomon’s time by destroying or defiling them. Josiah even took away the high places in Samaria and killed their priests. Josiah commanded the people to keep the Passover of the Lord. Josiah did all this but God’s anger against Judah was still there from Manasseh’s time. God wants more than the heart of the leader; God wants the heart of the people.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Josiah was very faithful to God’s covenant. God gave Josiah mercy and grace to die in peace, but did not extend that to the nation. God’s anger against them was still kindled.
Can you think of an example where the leader of the organization was a great person but once gone the people under him or her led to the organization collapsing?