"It's A Mess Sometimes"

We have recorded from Scripture that nations or people can get so far removed from God that it requires a complete overhaul. After Israel split into two kingdoms, the northern ten tribes known as Israel, consistently rebelled and had evil kings. The two southern tribes, known as Judah, remained more steadfast but still drifted. When things get so far from the Lord, the Lord will fix it! Many times the nations are just done away with.

His name was Josiah (II Kings 22). The nation had wandered from the Lord and Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law from God. It apparently had been missing. Here's what Josiah did when the book was read in his presence:

(1) He destroyed Topheth, a shrine where people sacrificed their children in fire to the pagan god Molech.

(2) He removed all pagan symbols from the entrance to God's temple.

(3) He burned the chariots that were dedicated to the sun.

(4) He pulled down pagan altars that had been built on the roof and in the courtyard of the temple.

(5) He desecrated the high places of honor to pagan gods that Solomon had built for his wives many, many years earlier.

(6) He destroyed the unholy sacred stone and cut down the ungodly Asherah poles.

(7) He destroyed the altar at Bethel that king Jeroboam had built there centuries before.

(8) He took the bones from nearby tombs of the wicked and burned them on their pagan sites to defile the grounds.

(9) He slaughtered the priests who served the pagan god throughout the regions of Judah.

(10) He directed the people back to God and celebrated the holy day known as "Passover."

Josiah made a stand for the Lord Jehovah. It was extreme and drastic. He cleaned up the mess in one generation that had developed over many, many years. Josiah dies and the nation left God again. In 606 B.C., God sent the Babylon king Nebuchadnezzar to defeat Judah and enslave the people for 70 years. They had opportunities but their hearts would never remain firm.

Today, we have our nation pushing God out every time the opportunity is given. In the church across this nation, we have people who are making a mess of things for the Lord. It's heart-wrenching to watch. We need to preach the gospel message loud and clear. I pray we can get this mess cleaned up before the Lord steps in, don't you?