2 Kings 21:2 "And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel."

Amon followed his father in evil. Judah was at its lowest condition. Amon ruled for only two years before his servants conspired against him and killed him (2 Kings 21:23 ). Following the wickedness of others exposes to the reaping of evil. Following Father God we experience His goodness which is Abundant (Exodus 34:6 ), Great (Psalm 31:19; Zachariah 9:11; Psalm 14:2 ), Practical (Psalm 119:68 ), Pleasing (2 Thessalonians 1:11 ), Satisfying (Psalm 107:9 ), Propagating (3 John 11 ) and Evident (Psalm 33:5 ).

Josiah at the tender age of eight became king of Judah (2 Kings 22:1 ). From earliest years he lived in commitment to the Lord (2 Kings 22:2 ). In his late teens he set about repairing the temple (2 Kings 22:3-7 ). A momentous event of his reign was the discovery of the book of law by Hilkiah the high priest (2 Kings 22:8 ).

"The book of the law (2 Kings 22:8 ) is regarded by scholars as the Pentateuch, which during the apostasy had been lost to public knowledge except as a tradition. Some of the older rabbis held that it was the original manuscript of Moses. Another theory is that Mannaseh had ordered all copies to be destroyed, but that some faithful priest had concealed this copy until now," Dr James M. Grey - Christian Workers Commentary On the Whole Bible- Fleming H. Revell Company

2 Kings 22:11 "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes."

Josiah is deeply affected by the reading of God's word (2 Kings 22:11 ). He learned the terrible punishments his peoples' sins would bring, who stood inexcusable before the word of God. In the king's heart the Word made him seek to know and do the Lord's mind (2 Kings 22:13 ). He wanted his own life to be in line with God's plan. Huldah the prophetess living in Jerusalem confirms the Scriptural judgment that is to come upon Judah (2 Kings 22:11-20 ). Because Josiah humbled himself before the Lord he is promised peace in his lifetime - and that he would not see the calamitous judgment of Judah. No matter how corrupt our generation, our witness of life must be clear.

Knowledge of a condemned people spurs Josiah to greater covenant renewal.

	He leads his people in renewed commitment to the Lord and His word (2 Kings 23:1-3 ).
	He carried out a purging of idolatry of every sort (2 Kings 23:4-7 ).
	He restored the temple as the centre of worship (2 Kings 23:8-9 ).
	He defiled Topheth (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31 ). "a place in the valley of Hinnon (Gehenna), just south of Jerusalem, where child sacrifices were made to Molech" Ryrie
	He continued to smash every reminder of Judah's 50 years of idolatry (2 Kings 23:11-24 ).
	He extended the purge into the lost territory of Israel, fulfilling the prophecy by demolishing Israel's worship centre of abomination at Bethel (2 Kings 23:15-20 ).
	He calls for the celebration of the Passover (2 Kings 23:21-24 ).

"Observance from 2 Kings 23:26, 27 that God has not changed His purpose concerning the removal of Judah, which proves that, although in this reign the law was kept externally, yet the nation was by no means converted." Dr James M. Grey - Christian Workers Commentary On the Whole Bible- Fleming H. Revell Company

Today it is not reformation alone that is needed, it is regeneration. Josiah is killed by Pharaoh Necho during the battle of Megiddo (2 Kings 23:24-30 ). Judah lost their most godly king - and put Jehoahaz in his place.

Jehoahaz was the peoples' choice to succeed Josiah. He was the younger of the sons, though he ruled for only three months it is recorded that:

2 Kings 23:32 "... he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done."

Pharaoh-Necho took Jehoahaz to Egypt where he died in exile - and made Eliakim the older brother king, and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36 ). He was evil and it was he who cut up the prophecy of Jeremiah and burned it (Jeremiah 36:23 ).

"Jehoiakim became a vassal of Egypt for four years, exacting the tribute from all the people, though he built a luxurious palace for himself (Jeremiah 22:13-14 )." Ryrie

Turning from God is turning from light to darkness, and from freedom to bondage.

Though placed on the throne by Pharaoh-Necho of Egypt, Jehoiakim was forced to submit to the Babylonians who invaded Syria and the surrounding area (2 Kings 24:1-7 ). The devil cannot protect his own from disasters, nor ultimate judgment. After Jehoiakim's death he was replaced by his son Jehoiachin. Nebuchadnezzar leads an army to Judah and takes Jehoiachin to Babylon putting a puppet, Zedekiah on Judah's throne (2 Kings 24:8-20 ).

Zedekiah rebels, which brings Nebuchadnezzar back (2 Kings 25:1-2 ). Jerusalem falls after going through terrible famine (2 Kings 25:3-4 ). The royal sons are butchered and the king blinded (2 Kings 25:5-7 ). Jerusalem lay in ruins - its temple treasures taken, its citizens deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-21 ). A governor named Gedaliah is appointed but assassinated. The remaining people of Judah flee to Egypt (2 Kings 25:22-26 ).

Judah, throughout this terrible time was ministered to by Jeremiah the prophet whose warnings from God were rejected. A hardened, corrupt people who had been preserved by God so long, finally reaped what they had sown, and were removed from the promised land. God in mercy still ministered to His exiled people through His prophet Ezekiel who is taken with the first group of captives to Babylon. Jehoiachin, 37 years later is released from his imprisonment. It symbolised the coming restoration of Judah and Israel to the promised land (2 Kings 25:27-30 ).

The history of Judah proclaims: God says what He means and means what He says.

---

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What sins of Manasseh made the destruction of Judah unavoidable (2 Kings 22:10-18 ). Are there national sins today that make the judgment of God inevitable?
2. What effect did the discovery of the book of the law have on Josiah? (2 Kings 22:11 ).
3. Why were the reforms of Josiah too late to save Judah's punishment? (2 Kings 22:11-17 ).
4. What was the reward for Josiah's faithful witness to a corrupt generation? (2 King 22:18-20 ).
5. Do you, faced with the inevitable judgment on a corrupt people, cease to fight the wickedness, or do you exert all the influence you can, and work to destroy all that opposes God as Josiah did? (2 Kings 23:1-20 ).
6. Are you involved in practical ways to extol the Lord? Are you doing the Lord's word with all your heart, soul, might? (2 Kings 23:21-25 ).
7. Did the people's choosing of Jehoahaz to succeed Josiah reveal their love for wickedness? (2 Kings 23:31-32 ). Can the peoples' choice be always trusted?
8. Was Egypt's choice of Jehoiakim any better? (2 Kings 23:34-35; Jeremiah 22:13-14 ). What did he do for himself while exacting tribute for Egypt. from the people? (2 Kings 23:35; Jeremiah 22:13-14; James 5:4 ).
9. Do you think the worldly statement "the devil looks after his own?" is false propaganda? (2 Kings 24:1-5 ).
10. Is Zekekiah an example of a leader unqualified to lead, bringing tragedy, anguish and suffering on his people? (2 Kings 24:17-20; 25:1-7 ).
11. What is the warning of the laying of Jerusalem in ruins, the sacking of the Temple, and the taking of Judah into captivity? (2 Kings 25:8-21 ).
12. In which way was Jehoiachin shown favour as a captive? (2 Kings 25:27-30 ).