Radical Devotion

7/1/26 Bible Thought (2 Kings 23)

Photo by Peter Yost on Unsplash

Main Idea: True devotion to God is found not merely in words, but also in deeds of undivided worship.

A Look at the Text:

In yesterday’s text, we saw the book of the law found and the rending of both hearts and garments. In today’s text, we see Josiah get to work. He entered into a public covenant with Yahweh and His people (2 Kings 23:1-3). As it was in the days of Moses, there was a ceremonial commitment to worshipping God alone.

Then, acting out this covenant, we see that all competitors to the undivided worship of God were cast out.

Josiah emptied the temple of all idols and burned them. He got rid of the priests of other gods. He destroyed the high places. He pulled down his father’s altars. He even destroyed the altar that Jeroboam I had erected in Bethel in fulfillment of prophecy from around 300 years earlier! (see 1 Kings 13:2).

He then kept the Passover in an unprecedented way (2 Kings 23:21-23). His radical devotion was twofold. It was a genuine love for Yahweh and a hatred for His competitors. All in all, it is said of him that no king turned to Yahweh with all his heart, soul, and might as he did (2 Kings 23:25).

Bringing it Home:

Josiah’s reforms were the fruit of a heart that was changed by God. He had an undivided love for Yahweh that wasn’t just proven through word but also through deed.

It can be easy for all of us to say that we love God. Yet, we must consider what the Lord Jesus once challenged:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Jesus essentially says to His disciples, past and present, “You say you love me? Great. Prove it.” While we aren’t saved by works, we are saved for works (see Eph. 2:8-10).

We cannot earn our way to heaven, but if we truly have heaven as our end-of-life destination, then heaven should likewise invade our lives today. It should change how we live as we await that final day.

Josiah wasn’t content to put up with idolatry. He wasn’t going to make peace with false gods and their worshippers. His heart was undivided. Therefore, Jerusalem in his day was going to likewise be undivided.

Do we have this same resolve in our own lives? Have we put to death that which is earthly within us (Col. 3:5) in order that Christ may be formed in us? We don’t make peace with our sinful flesh. We crucify it. We don’t tolerate competitors for the throne of our hearts.

Living with radical devotion means a life of undivided worship. This cannot be proven simply with lip service, but must also encompass life service as living sacrifices (see Rom. 12:1).

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Challenge:

Am I at peace with sin in my life, or at war?