2 Kings 20-25: Josiah

It's not long now, you cn feel the change in the air, the hosts of the Lord are marching against the remnant of Israel, Judah, that remains.  And into this ungodly climate comes a true man of God, Josiah.  He was only a boy of eight when he became king.  When he was twenty-six, Hilkiah, the high priest discovers the book of the law. Shaphan the secretary reads to Josiah from the book and he immediately tears his robes in distress.  "Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."  - 2 Kings 22:13 NIV

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself, God told Josiah, "Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.' "  - 2 Kings 22:20 NIV

'Why try?', the average person would have said.  'Disaster may be coming, but, I will live out my life quietly and peacefully as God promised.'  But not Josiah.  He began eradicating the accumulated years of shrines, altars, Asherah poles, pagan priests, soothsayers, temple prostitutes, and all of the high places with a vengeance.  Not only did he tear them down, he smashed them to pieces , burned them, and ground them into powder and slaughtered the priests of the high places on their own altars.

Then, when there were no places left to worship any other gods, he went back to Jerusalem and gave an order to all the people.  "Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant."  Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed.  But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:21-23 NIV

There is a brief blip in the downhill slide of the children of Israel towards exile.  All because of one man's passion for God, the people of Judah come together in a massive celebration of the Passover.  Not since the children of Israel first observed the Passover when they entered the land, had there been such a celebration.  But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem.