Renew Our Hearts
ReNEW Us
January 12, 2025
Everything in the Christian life is connected to the condition of your heart.
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.
In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols.
4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols 5 …so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. —2 Chronicles 34:1-5
Purge = remove something offensive, often through destruction
8 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God. —2 Chronicles 34:8
Hilkiah the priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan. —2 Chronicles 34:15
18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. —2 Chronicles 34:18-19
21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.” —2 Chronicles 34:21
26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord… 27 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. —2 Chronicles 34:26-27
28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’” —2 Chronicles 34:28
The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. —2 Chronicles 34:31
1a Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem… —2 Chronicles 35:1a
18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. —2 Chronicles 35:18
25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. —2 Kings 23:25
27a Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God… —2 Chronicles 34:27a
One man’s heart was able to stem the spiritual decline of a nation.
1.) SEEK THE LORD
2.) TEAR DOWN THE HIGH PLACES
3.) PUT WORSHIP AT THE CENTER
4.) ENGAGE THE BOOK
Increased fruit of the Spirit
Increased intimacy with God
228% more likely to share their faith
59% less likely to view pornography
39% more likely to volunteer at church and nonprofits
Improved life satisfaction
—Barna- Bible Engagement Survey
5.) CELEBRATE THE LAMB