Jeremiah’s preaching must have had some effect. Six years earlier Josiah had purged the land of the idols and altars surrounding Jerusalem. In this day's reading we read about him as he began to purge the temple. 

What a refreshing concept is recorded in the following verse concerning the workers at the temple.

II Kings 22:7
But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully."

Mention is made of the "entire remnant of Israel". At this time, most of the people in Israel (not Judah) have either been killed by the Assyrians or taken into captivity.  Only the remnant remains, but it is a godly remnant. 

Can’t you hear the excitement in the voice of Hilkiah when he found the Book of the Law!
II Kings 22:8
Hilkiah the high 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, who read it.

Apparently the words spoke volumes to Josiah because look what happened next. He had the law read to the people, and then the covenant was renewed. Sounds like a modern day re-dedication of lives to Jesus, a spiritual revival.

Notice the Asherah worship was inside the temple. Josiah also got rid of the mediums and spiritists. Does this tell us how God feels about those things?  Another thing Josiah did was to tear down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes which were inside the temple.  Were these male prostitutes there for the priests?  And why were they male?  And why did they have their own quarters there?

Mention is made numerously in Scripture of "burning incense" to other gods. Contrast this to the prayers of the faithful going up to God as sweet-smelling incense.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

 Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

We are also told in today's reading that the Ark of the Covenant was in Josiah's possession, at least at this time.

There is great confirmation in today's reading of the "power of one" that we have spoken of so many times. Josiah heard the Book of the Law, humbled himself, and repented, then God withheld His hand of judgment.  The king was not only a political leader but a spiritual leader as well.  Today we look to pastors and other spiritual leaders to set the standard. 

When Josiah renewed the covenant between God and the people, he had the people pledge themselves to the covenant of living within the laws of God.  What might happen today if pastors and spiritual leaders encouraged the people to study the Bible?

What a great Passover celebration ordered by Josiah! He did things the way God said to do things. Unlike all the other kings before him who obviously did NOT do things the way God said to do them, not even David or Solomon. Isn't it much easier to do things God's way, the first time?

Spiritual reform and renewal in the land (which didn't happen very often) culminates in the celebration of one of the three commanded feast days.  During Josiah's reform and renewal the feast day was Passover.

Under the heading HULDAH THE PROPHETESS (2 Chronicles 34:22-28) God speaks through Huldah and tells the men sent by King Josiah that because Josiah's heart was responsive and because he humbled himself, God has heard him.  However, because of the previous sins of the people, God will bring disaster on them.  And just what were these sins?  The breaking of the first two commandments. God doesn't like that!

Two references are made in today's reading, The Book of the Law (which Hilkiah the priest found in the temple) and the Book of the Covenant (which King Josiah read to the people).  The Book of the Law referred to the laws of Moses given to him by God at Mt. Sinai.  The Book of the Covenant includes the laws of Moses but also all those famous "If...then" statements.  God says, "If you do ________, then I will ______________.  Basically if we obey God's commands, then He will bless us.  If we don't obey, then....  So really we can look at the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments as the Book of the Covenant.

The best part of Josiah's spiritual reform was the renewal of the covenant by the people when they promised to follow the Lord and obey all the words of the covenant.

Under the heading JOSIAH'S SWEEPING REFORMS are listed details of this reform which sounds as a spiritual "scorched earth" policy. There is mention of tearing down the quarters of the shrine prostitutes where the "women did weaving for Asherah".  Asherah was the goddess of sex and fertility.  The weaving that the women did were curtains to hide the rites performed by the prostitutes. Were these the male prostitutes or were there both male and female. When Josiah got rid of the household gods and idols he was honoring the second commandment.

Josiah's reforms extended into the territory of the Northern Kingdom (the territory of the ten tribes).

The kings during those days were not only the political leaders they were the religious leaders as well.  King Josiah was an excellent example of godly leadership.  If only we had someone today who could bring about a reform and renewal as Josiah did then.

As we revisit the prophet Jeremiah, even though Jeremiah at times feels betrayed by God, he still offers us these words:

Jeremiah 20:9
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

The younger (and wiser) of Job's friends thinks in a similar way.

Job 32:18-20
For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.  

Paul also had similar thoughts.
1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 

Which takes us right back to this:

Jeremiah 5:1
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 

Even though we do not have one political and religious leader to lead the way of reform and renewal today, we must never lose sight of the "power of one" - one ordinary individual