The renovation of the temple, long the center of Israelite worship, was important, but renovation of a building wasn’t all that was needed. The most beautiful and elaborate structure, though designed to help worshipers sense something of the power and grandeur of the Lord, in and of itself isn’t enough to evoke piety among the people. History is replete with the sad stories of people who one minute were “worshiping” in some beautiful church somewhere and the next minute were walking out and committing an atrocity, which was perhaps even instigated by what they learned inside that beautiful structure.
What happened during the renovation of the temple? What is the powerful significance of Josiah’s reaction to those events? 2 Kings 22:8–11.
They found the “Book of the Law.” The Bible doesn’t specify which of Moses’ writings were found. It was probably found buried in the walls somewhere in the temple.
Read 2 Kings 22:12–20. What was Huldah’s message from God to the people and for King Josiah? What should these words say to us?
Huldah transmitted the same message Jeremiah had already prophesied several times. The people who had turned away from God had dug their own grave through their deeds, and they were going to reap the consequences. Josiah never would see the trouble and die in peace.
“Through Huldah the Lord sent Josiah word that Jerusalem’s ruin could not be averted. Even should the people now humble themselves before God, they could not escape their punishment. So long had their senses been deadened by wrongdoing that, if judgment should not come upon them, they would soon return to the same sinful course.
‘Tell the man that sent you to me,’ the prophetess declared, ‘Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.’ Verses 15–17.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 399.
Adventist Sabbath School Lesson for Adults
Q4 2015 «Jeremiah»
Lesson 8 – Josiah’s Reforms
