Learn from Josiah – Zeal for Holiness and the Torah

Now the Passover of the Judeans was at hand, and Yeshua went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the Temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!" Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
John 2:13-17

My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
Psalms 119:139-140

Introduction

• Josiah [“HaShem has healed”]
• 1 Chron 3:13: Great-grandson of Hezekiah.
• Ruled from ~641BCE to 610 BCE (31 years)
• Began ruling at age 8

Successes                                                            

• 2Kings 23:25: None like him (same as Hezekiah).
• 2Chron 34:2: Did what was right – was like his father David (also like Hezekiah)
• 34:3: Purged the high places.
• 34:4: Burned the idols, scattered ashes on the graves.
• 34:5: Burned the bones of the priests of the idols.
• 34:6-7: Did the same in Northern Israel.
• 34:8-13: Rebuilt the Temple.
• 34:14-28: Upon discovering the book of the Torah, enquired and obeyed G-d.
• 34:29-33: Made a covenant, and had the people make a covenant to obey G-d.
• 35:1-19: Reinstituted the full Passover celebration.

Failures                                                           

• 35:20-27: Went to battle against Egypt without clear instruction from G-d.

Lesson from Josiah                                                   

• taher : to purify, the cleanse. Regarding purity for the Temple.
• 2Chron 34:3, 5, 8: He cleanses the Land.
• 34:21: He heard the Word, and immediately accepted it. His faith was in the G-d Who spoke the words, and hence he believed that G-d meant what He said.
• 34:27: He was humble, and his heart was tender toward the Torah.

Summary                                                              

• Josiah was zealous for what he knew was right. He pursued it and destroyed the idols etc. When G-d’s word was further revealed to him, he believed G-d and acted obediently.
• It was not enough to only do what he thought was right – he also did what G-d spoke.