Purging Idols and Seeking Truth

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“A Young King Who Sought the Lord” – 2 Chronicles 34:1-18

Dear Friends, one of the most encouraging stories in the Old Testament is that of King Josiah. He became king of Judah at only eight years old, yet by the time he was sixteen he was already seeking the God of David. What follows in 2 Chronicles 34 is a powerful example of what can happen when a leader (and a people) turn wholeheartedly to the Lord.

In his twelfth year as king, Josiah began a great work of reformation:

“He began to seek the God of David his father… and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.” (2 Chronicles 34:3 ESV)

He didn’t just tidy things up — he thoroughly removed idolatry from the land. Then, in his eighteenth year, he turned his attention to repairing the house of the Lord. It was during this work that the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law in the temple. When the book was read to Josiah, his response was immediate and heartfelt — he tore his clothes in repentance and sought the Lord.

This passage shows us that true spiritual renewal often begins with two things: removing what is wrong, and returning to God’s Word. Josiah’s heart was tender toward the Lord, and because of that, God used him to bring significant reformation to the nation.

Even though Josiah was young when he started, his example challenges all of us. Age is not a barrier to seeking God with all our heart. Whether we are eight or eighty, we can choose to purge the “idols” from our lives and give God’s Word its rightful place.


Pause & Pray: Take a quiet moment now. Ask the Lord to search your heart for anything that has taken His rightful place. Thank Him for the gift of His Word and pray for a tender heart like Josiah’s that responds quickly to truth. Ask God to help you seek Him wholeheartedly, no matter your age or stage of life.

Verse to Remember: “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father…” (2 Chronicles 34:3 ESV)

Question to Consider: Are there any “high places” or hidden idols in your life that need to be removed? How might regularly reading and responding to God’s Word lead to personal reformation in your own walk with Him?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church

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