2 Kings 23 · Grade 5

The Greatest Reform

Name Date

Read and Think

Josiah's reform began with the Word. Before he destroyed a single idol, he read the book of the covenant aloud to the whole nation and led them in renewing their commitment. True reform starts with hearing God's Word and responding in obedience.

The cleansing was thorough: the temple, Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, and even Bethel in the old northern kingdom. There, Josiah fulfilled a prophecy given about three hundred years earlier, when an unnamed man of God foretold that a king named Josiah would defile Jeroboam's altar (1 Kings 13:2). God's word does not fail, no matter how long it takes. The Passover that followed was the greatest since the judges.

Kings gives Josiah its highest praise: no king turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might as he did, the very words of Deuteronomy 6:5. Yet the Lord's wrath because of Manasseh remained, and Josiah fell at Megiddo. Even the best king could not save his people from sin's judgment. In the New Testament, Jesus calls loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).

Show What You Know

With what did Josiah's reform begin?
About how long before had the man of God foretold Josiah?
Which verse do the words of Josiah's praise echo?
What does Jesus call the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-38 in the New Testament?

Crossword

Across

As it is written in this ____ of the covenant.
And all the people agreed to the ____.

Down

This ____ was kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem.
But in the eighteenth year of King ____.
And carried their ashes to ____.

Think About It

Josiah began with God's Word before making changes. How can God's Word guide the changes you need to make?
Even Josiah could not save Judah from judgment. In the New Testament, how does Jesus provide what Josiah could not?

Memory Verse

“There was no king like him before him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; and there was none like him who arose after him.”

2 Kings 23:25 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your covenant. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you keep doing right even when past wrongs still hurt?
How can you obey God wholeheartedly even when results are not what you hoped?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?