This dense chapter describes many things, including Josiah’s thorough removal of false god worship throughout all of Judah and Israel (he even cleaned up the high places of Jeroboam and Solomon).
“Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law… Before him there was no king like him, who 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, nor did any like him arise after him.” (v24-25 abr)
It took King Josiah years, but he managed to personally eradicate every idol, shrine, altar, ungodly priest, pagan monument, unholy temple, etc. from both Judah and Israel. This man was on a mission to make sure people honored and glorified the one and only God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Scripture says there was no other king like him. He fully sought and served the Lord with every fiber of his being.
I’m not sure about you, but I have a sudden urge to do some house cleaning. There are still many impure areas of my life that need to be removed – I have accumulated many physical and emotional burdens that have drawn (and can still draw) my attention away from God.
Now I’m not bashing having physical possessions, and I would not suggest we completely rid ourselves of everything non-essential. What I’m suggesting is we seek counsel from the Holy Spirit, and purge anything from our lives that He says draws us away from God (false gods). The fewer false gods and distractions we have in our lives, the more wholly we can follow God, and the better we will resemble Jesus.
If our burdens are emotional (trauma, addiction, difficult relationship, or other) then I would suggest seeking experienced help in addition to seeking the Spirit’s guidance. There are many within the body of Christ who have experience walking through struggles of this nature, and God will provide through such a person if we seek His help.
Father God, the Lord of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we glorify Your holy name. We long to honor You in every area of our lives, but we cannot do that without Your help. Please guide us through Your Spirit to remove the high places, and cleanse our hearts of any impurities. May we be granted the courage and strength to deal with emotional burdens and worldly possessions that keep us from right relationship with You. We thank You in advance for Your gentle and compassionate guidance through this process, and the amazing support You have already prepared for us. In the name of Jesus, our light in this darkness, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training