1. 2 Kings 23:3

2. About the Bible – It has been said: Sin keeps me from this book…

3. Sin keeps me from this book Why? Guilt No desire to change or admit wrong Enjoyment of sinful activities Peer Pressure Spouse?

4. About the Bible – It has been said: Sin keeps me from this book… and this book keeps me from sin.

5. And this book keeps me from sin Why? The Bible is from God thus it guides us away from sin (Ps 119:133). A person who is a “student” of the Bible will avoid sin (Job 36:10).

6. Josiah’s character Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty- one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-3

7. Josiah & the Book of the law The book of the law is found – 2 Kings 22:3-9

8. Josiah’s Reaction Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, " Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 2 Kings 22:10-11

9. Josiah’s Reaction Josiah sends to inquire of the Lord – 2 Kings 22:12-14

10. Words of the Lord Then she said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ' Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 " Thus says the Lord:' Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants — all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read —

11. Words of the Lord because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched. '" ' 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, " Thus says the Lord God of Israel:' Concerning the words which you have heard —

12. Words of the Lord because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the Lord.

13. Words of the Lord 20 Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place." '" So they brought back word to the king. 2 Kings 22:15-20

14. Josiah’s actions How did Josiah respond? With prayer (making a covenant with God requires prayer, 23:3) and actions (23:4ff).

15. Josiah’s actions How did Josiah know what to do? He read God’s law. Also notice ignorance was not an excuse for sin!

16. Josiah’s actions Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.

17. Josiah’s actions 27 And the Lord said, "I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there. '“ 2 Kings 23:26-27

18. Josiah’s actions Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. 2 The king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem —the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord.

19. Josiah’s actions 3 Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. 2 Kings 23:1-3

20. Josiah’s actions 1. He removed anything & everything associated with idols, false gods and worship of such things. 2 King 23:4-20,23-24 1. He restored the observance of the passover. 2 Kings 23:21-23 1. His actions resulted in praise from God. 2 Kings 23:25

21. Bible and Prayer What is true about the Bible is also true about prayer. Sin keeps us from prayer

22. Sin keeps me from prayer Why? Guilt No desire to change or confess wrong Enjoyment of sinful activities

23. Bible and Prayer Sin keeps us from prayer And prayer keeps us from sin

24. Prayer keeps me from sin Why? Forgiveness of sins Confession of wrongs brings relief Fellowship with God

25. Prayer & Bible Study go together We ought to: 1. Pray about God’s Word 2. Study God’s Word 3. Pray about what we studied in God’s Word 4. Such a design causes spiritual growth