Book of the Law found Josiah reads the Law to the people To read KJV in 21 st Century English go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/21st- Century-King-James-Version-KJ21-Bible/ Josiah s good reign Sunday... 2 Josiah seeks God and repairs temple... 2 Monday... 4 Book of the Law found... 4 Tuesday... 6 Josiah puts more things right... 6 Wednesday... 8 Prophet s bones found... 8 Thursday... 10 Passover Kept... 10 Friday... 12 Call of Jeremiah... 12 Saturday... 14 Josiah s death, Jehoahaz reign... 14 Josiah has idols smashed Josiah has temple put right for worship To read the Bible online go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/king- James-Version-KJV-Bible/
Sunday Josiah seeks God and repairs temple Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 34v1-13 (cp. 2 Kings 22v1-7) 1. How old was Josiah when he became king? (v1) 2. When did he begin to seek God? (v3) 8+8=16 Josiah was 16 years old. 3. What did he do in the 12 th year? (v3) 8+12=20 Josiah was 20 years old 4. What did he do with the altars and images? (v4) 5. And the priests bones? (v5) These were priests of Baal and false gods. They were NOT priests of the LORD. 6. Where did he do this? (v5-7) Find them on a map 7. Where did he come back to? (v7) 8. What did he do in the 18 th year? (v8) 8+18=14 Josiah was 24 years old 9. What did they give the high priest? (v9) 10. What for? (v10+11) 11. How did the men work? (v12) 12. What did the Levites do? (v12+13) Josiah had a wicked father BUT he began to seek the LORD when he was 16. Then he began to put the nation right. It doesn t matter what sort of family you come from...you need to seek the LORD. Then, start to put things right in your own life...and lead others to obey the LORD. MEANINGS: Declined = did not turn aside; Purge = cleanse; High places = places for idol worship; Groves = wooden images set up in places for worship; Molten images = idols made from melted metal; Strewed = scattered; Mattock = tool like pickaxe used to loosen soil and cut through roots; Governor = ruler; Recorder = man who writes down records; Repair = fix; Wrought = done; Amend = mend, make changes; Artificers = craftsmen; Hewn = cut; Couplings = beams; Faithfully = honestly; Bearers = carriers; Scribes = writers; Officers = people over work; Porters = doorkeepers
Answers 1) 8 years old; 2) In 8 th year of his reign, while he was yet young; 3) Purge Jerusalem and Judah from high places, groves and images; 4) Smashed them, made them into dust and put it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them; 5) Burned them upon their altars; 6) Judah, Jerusalem, Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, Naphtali, all Israel; 7) Jerusalem; 8) Sent Shaphan, Maaseiah and Joah to repair the temple of the LORD; 9) Money brought into the temple that the Levites had gathered from people; 10) So builders and craftsmen could buy stones and timber to repair the temple; 11) Faithfully; 12) Were overseers of all the work done The prophet Jeremiah was from Anathoth. He was the son of Hilkiah the high priest (Jeremiah 1v1). He prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah (Jeremiah 1v2+3). He wrote 2 books of the Bible.Jeremiah and Lamentations. The prophet Zephaniah was the great great grandson of king Hezekiah (Hizkiah). He prophesied when Josiah was king (Zephaniah 1v1). He wrote one book of the Bible. We ll learn more about Jeremiah later this week. and next week too! The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3v17)
Monday Book of the Law found Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 34v14-28 (cp. 2 Kings 22v8-20) 1. What did Hilkiah find? (v14) 2. Who did he give it to? (v15) 3. What did Shaphan do with it? (v16+18) 4. What did the king do? (v19) 5. Who did he send to ask of the LORD? (v20) 6. What did he want to know? (v21) 7. Why? (v21) 8. Who did they go to? (v22) 9. What was the LORD going to do? (v24) 10. Why? (v25) 11. Why did the LORD hear Josiah? (v27) 12. What would the LORD do for him? (v28) Answers 1) Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses; 2) Shaphan the scribe; 3) Brought it to the king and read it to him; 4) Tore his clothes; 5) Hilkiah, Ahikam, Abdon, Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah; 6) What would happen to himself and those left in Israel and Judah; 7) The LORD was angry they had not kept His law; 8) Huldah the prophetess; 9) Bring evil upon Judah and its people and all the curses written in the law; 10) They had forsaken the LORD, and burned incense to other gods and made the LORD angry; 11) His heart was tender, he humbled himself before the LORD and wept; 12) He would die without seeing all the evil that the LORD would send The Bible has the message that can change lives and change nations. So, get the dust off your Bible. Start reading it and living by it. And don t give up because it s hard. Then you ll see the LORD make great changes! Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 3v22) MEANINGS: Committed = given to do; Delivered = given; Rent = tore; Commanded = told to do; Enquire = ask; Wrath = anger; Appointed = sent to do a job; Prophetess = woman who tells people what God says; Effect = of what they were told; Inhabitants = people who live there; Evil = great trouble; Forsaken = left; Incense = spice burned to give nice smell; Provoke = make angry; Quenched = put out; Humble = make yourself low, not proud Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. (Jeremiah 5v25)
Did you know? The Law is the first 5 books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and The prophetess Huldah was the wife of Shallum. She lived in the college in Jerusalem (v22). Deuteronomy. The Law is also called the Pentateuch or Torah. She prophesied to king Josiah. Who did Josiah send to Huldah? Hilkiah was the high priest. Shaphan was a scribe. Ahikam was Shaphan s son. Abdon was the son of a man called Micah. Asaiah was a servant of the king. Josiah wanted to know what the LORD said. Do you?
Tuesday Josiah puts more things right Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23v1-14 (cp. 2 Chronicles 34v29-33) 1. Who went to the temple? (v1+2) 2. What did the king read? (v2) 3. What covenant did they make? (v3) 4. How would they keep this covenant? (v3) 5. What did they do with the vessels for idol worship? (v4) Find them on a map 6. What did he do with the grove in the temple of the LORD? (v6) King Manasseh had put this in the temple (21v7). 7. Who did he put down? (v5) This means he stopped them being priests. 8. Whose houses did he destroy? (v7) 9. Where did he stop idolatry? (v8) Find them on a map 10. What else did he destroy? (v10) 11. How did he stop sun worship? (v11) 12. What altars did he destroy? (v12) 13. What high places did he destroy? (v13) The mount of corruption is the Mount of Olives. It was outside Jerusalem. Link to Map above Josiah had a smashing time! BUT he had to tear down the idols before he could worship the LORD. You must tear down the idols in your heart before you can truly worship the LORD. An idol is anything that takes the place of God in your life. What are your idols...money, friends, fame, toys, computer? MEANINGS: Inhabitants = people who live there; Covenant = agreement; Testimonies = written words of truth; Statutes = laws; Vessels = containers; Idolatrous = idol worship; Ordained = made to be priests; Incense = spice burned to give a nice smell; Groves = wooden images set up in places for worship; Sodomites = homosexuals; Defiled = destroy; Unleavened = bread with no yeast in it to make it rise; Chamber = room; Chamberlain = man in charge of the king s house; Suburbs = outskirts; Thence = from there; Abomination = idol really, really hated by the LORD
Answers 1) King Josiah, elders and men of Judah and Jerusalem, people of Jerusalem, priests, prophets and all people; 2) Book of the covenant found in the temple; 3) To walk after the LORD, and keep His commandments, testimonies and statutes; 4) With all their heart and soul; 5) Burned them outside Jerusalem in fields of Kidron, and took their ashes to Bethel; 6) Burned it at the Brook Kidron, stamped it into powder, and put it on the graves of the people; 7) Idolatrous priests; 8) Sodomites; 9) Judah from Geba to Beersheba; 10) Topheth in the valley of Hinnom; 11) Took away the horses the kings of Judah had given to the sun and burned the chariots; 12) Altars that kings of Judah had made, altars that Manasseh had made in the temple; 13) High places near Jerusalem that Solomon had made for Chemosh and Milcom What did they worship? They worshipped Baal and other false gods, the sun, moon and planets (v4, 5+11). The host of heaven has to do with astrology. This is all sin against the LORD (Deuteronomy 4v19; 17v3). They also had high places for Chemosh and Milcom (v12). Solomon had set these up for his wives (1 Kings 11v5-8). Chemosh was a Moabite god. Milcom was an Ammonite god. Remember the Moabites and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Genesis 19v36-38). This broke God s 1 st and 2 nd commandments (Exodus 20v3-6). So, Josiah made sure all the wrong worship was stopped. Did you know? Child sacrifices were made to Molech. He was an Ammonite god (1 Kings 11v7). This was done at Topheth in the valley of Hinnom (2 Kings 23v10). A metal statue of Molech was heated red hot. A little child was put in Molech s arms...and burned to death. It was an abomination to the LORD. That means that the LORD really, really hated it (Leviticus 18v21; Deuteronomy 12v31). But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. (Jeremiah 7v23)
Wednesday Prophet s bones found Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23v15-20, 24-27 (cp. 1 Kings 13) 1. What did Josiah do at Bethel? (v15) 2. What did he burn on the altar? (v16) 3. Who said this would happen? (v16) God said this over 300 years before this... and He even named Josiah (1 Kings 13v2) 4. What title did he see on a sepulchre? (v17) This man had told these things would happen. But he disobeyed the LORD and was killed by a lion (1 Kings 13). 5. Whose bones did they NOT move? (v18) The prophet out of Samaria was buried with that man of God (1 Kings 13v31+32). 6. What did Josiah do in Samaria? (v19+20) 7. Where did he go back to? (v20) Josiah didn t just send people to smash idols. He was there himself doing it! 8. What did he take out of Judah and Jerusalem? (v24) 9. Why? (v24) 10. How was there no king like him? (v25) 11. But what was NOT turned away? (v26) 12. What would happen to Judah? (v27) Josiah had turned to the LORD with ALL his heart, ALL his soul and ALL his might. He was NOT half-hearted. Have you given the LORD your ALL? Or do you just want to be a part-time, half-hearted Christian? MEANINGS: Groves = wooden images set up in places for worship; Sepulchre = tomb; Polluted = made unclean for worship; Proclaimed = told; Provoke = make angry; Familiar spirits = mediums; Wizards = male witches; Abominations = things really, really hated; Perform = do; Notwithstanding = nevertheless Answers 1) Broke down the altar and high place that Jeroboam 1 st had made, and burned the grove; 2) Bones that were in the sepulchres; 3) The LORD by a man of God; 4) It was the sepulchre of the man who had said these things should happen; 5) The bones of that man of God and the prophet out of Samaria; 6) Took away temple of high places, killed priests and burned their bones on their altars; 7) Jerusalem; 8) Those who worked with familiar spirits, wizards, images, idols and all abominations; 9) To do what was said in the book of the law that Hilkiah found in the temple; 10) He turned to the LORD with all his heart, soul and might; 11) The LORD s fierce wrath; 12) They would be removed into captivity
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9v24) Did you know? Jeroboam 1 st of Israel had set up gold calves in Bethel and Dan. Find them on a map He set up an altar at Bethel for sacrificing to them. He made priests that were not Levites. He made high places. This was all to stop Israelites going to Jerusalem to worship the LORD (1 Kings 12v26-33). He thought he could worship God his own way. But the LORD was NOT pleased. So, Josiah had this altar and high place torn down (23v15).
Thursday Passover Kept Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 35v1-19 (cp. 2 Kings 23v21-23) 1. What did Josiah encourage priests to do? (v2) 2. What were Levites to do? (v3) The Ark must have been taken out during the reign of Manasseh. 3. What way were they to work? (v4+5) 4. What were they to do for themselves? (v6) 5. What did Josiah give? (v7) 6. How did the princes give? (v8) 7. What did priests and Levites do? (v11+12) 8. How did they cook the Passover? (v13) 9. Then, what did the Levites do? (v14) They d been working hard all day. So, they needed a good meal for themselves! 10. Who were in their places? (v15) 11. How long did it last? (v17) 12. What was NOT like this? (v18) 13. When was this Passover? (v19) 8+18=24. So, Josiah was 24 years old. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habbukuk 3v2) Josiah encouraged the priests in God s work (v2). He led people to give much to God s work (v7). As a result, the princes gave willingly (v8)...and there was unity in worship. Do you encourage the leaders in God s work? Do you give willingly to God s work? Do you worship in unity with others true Christians? MEANINGS: Service = work; Charges = duties; Divisions = how they were divided; Courses = shifts; Sanctify = set apart for holy work; Substance = wealth; Bullocks = young bulls; Flayed = took skin off; Oxen = cattle; Ordinance = law; Caldron = big deep pot; Sod = boiled; Commandment = what you re told to do; Seer = prophet; Porter = gate keeper; Unleavened = has no yeast in it to make it rise; Inhabitants = people who live there
Answers 1) The service of the Lord s temple; 2) Put the Ark of the Covenant into the temple; 3) By their houses, courses and divisions given by David and Solomon; 4) Sanctify themselves; 5) 30 000 of his flock, lambs and kids, and 300 000 bullocks; 6) Willingly; 7) Killed the Passover, priests sprinkled blood and Levites skinned animals, and removed burnt offerings; 8) Roasted with fire; 9) Prepared for priests and themselves; 10) Singers and porters; 11) Passover that day and feast of unleavened bread for 7 days; 12) No Passover since the days of Samuel; 13) In 18 th year of Josiah s reign Did you know? The Levites were divided into 3 family clans... Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Aaron was a grandson of Kohath. His descendants were priests. (Exodus 6v16-20; 40v13-25) Gershon Levi Kohath Amram Merari Aaron Joshua gave the Levites cities throughout Israel to live in (Joshua 21). David and Solomon divided them into different shifts for working (1 Chronicles 24-26). Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were Levites. They were over the music and singing in Solomon e temple (1 Chronicles 25).
Friday Call of Jeremiah Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1v1-14 1. Who was Jeremiah? (v1) Hilkiah was the high priest. He d found the book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22v8). Find Anathoth on a map 2. When did he prophesy? (v2+3) 3. Who spoke to Jeremiah? (v4) 4. When did the LORD know him? (v5) 5. What did the LORD do before he was born? (v5) 6. What did Jeremiah call himself? (v6) Jeremiah was young...maybe in his teens or early 20 s. He felt he wasn t able to speak. 7. Why was he NOT to say he was a child? (v7) 8. Why was he NOT to be afraid? (v8) He wouldn t be liked by everyone. They d make plenty of faces at him. 9. What did the LORD put in his mouth? (v9) 10. What was he to do? (v10) 11. What did Jeremiah see? (v11+13) 12. Where would trouble come from? (v14) Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 1v8) When God calls you to do a work, He equips you to do it. He ll give you the abilities and courage you need. He ll tell you what to say. God wants young people to do His work. Are you listening for His call? If He calls you, don t make excuses. MEANINGS: Captive = prisoner; Sanctified = set aside for holy use; Ordained = set apart to do a work; Prophet = man who told people what God said; Seething = boiling; Inhabitants = people who live there Did you know? Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He wept when Josiah died (2 Chronicles 35v25). He wept over Jerusalem and Judah. Read the book of Lamentations. God told Jeremiah NOT to marry (Jeremiah 16v2).
Is it True or False? a) God chooses His workers before they re born b) He only wants young people c) It s OK to not go if we ve good excuses d) He will always be with us to help us do His work Answers 1) The son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth; 2) In the days of kings Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah; 3) The LORD; 4) Before he was in his mother s womb; 5) Sanctified him and ordained him to be a prophet to nations; 6) A child; 7) He was to go to everyone to LORD sent him to and speak what the LORD told him to speak; 8) The LORD was with him to deliver him; 9) The LORD s words; 10) To root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant; 11) A rod of an almond tree and a pot facing the north; 12) Out of the north a) True; b) False; c) False; d) True Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1v5)
Saturday Josiah s death, Jehoahaz reign Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 35v20-27; 36v1-5 (cp. 2 Kings 23v28-34) 1. Who went to fight Assyria? (35v20) Find Egypt on a map 2. Where? (v20) Necho s war was with Assyria, not Judah. But Josiah went to fight against Necho. 3. Why did Necho tell Josiah NOT to? (v21) 4. What did Josiah do? (v22) 5. Where was the battle? (v22) 6. What happened to Josiah? (v23) 7. Where did he die? (v24) 8. Who mourned for him? (v24) 9. Who lamented for him? (v25) 10. Who was the next king of Judah? (36v1) He is also called Shallum (1 Chronicles 3v15; Jeremiah 22v11). He was an evil king (2 Kings 23v32). 11. Where did Necho take him? (v4) 12. Who did Necho make king? (v4) 13. What did Necho call him? (v4+5) Walking with God doesn t mean that you won t make stupid mistakes. So, be careful. Don t stick your nose into other people s battles. You could end up getting badly hurt! Try pulling a dog s ears hard. You ll end up getting bitten. MEANINGS: Ambassadors = men sent on behalf of the king; Wherewith = with which; Forbear = hold off from doing; Meddling = get into someone else s business; Haste = in a hurry; Disguised = dressed so he wouldn t be known; Hearkened = listened to; Sore = very badly; Sepulchers = tombs; Mourned = was sad for; Lamented = wept for; Ordinance = custom; Deeds = doings; Condemned = put tax on; Talents = weight of silver and gold He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. (Proverbs 26v17)
Answers 1) Necho king of Egypt; 2) Carchemish; 3) Josiah would be meddling with God and Necho would destroy him; 4) Disguised himself and went to battle; 5) Megiddo; 6) Archers shot him and he was badly wounded; 7) Jerusalem; 8) All Judah and Jerusalem; 9) Jeremiah and singing men and women; 10) Jehoahaz; 11) Egypt; 12) Eliakim the brother of Jehoahaz; 13) Jehoiakim