At the age of sixteen (as we have seen) Josiah turned to God. Then followed four years of spiritual exercise concerning the condition of things around him. His position as king made Josiah feel that it was not sufficient for him to be right with God personally; he also felt that he must purge the land of its abominations, and lead the people back to God. In this day we are not called upon to be iconoclasts. It is not our duty to go round with axes and hammers and destroy images and other things which we know to be hateful to God. All this will be dealt with by the Lord Jesus when He shows Himself from heaven in Kingdom-power and majesty. Our present duty is two-fold: (1) to get our own souls right by testing all our ways and associations by the written Word; and (2) to use our influences to help others to return to the “old paths” (Jer. 6:16). The latter we can do by personal conversation, and by definite public ministry if God has qualified us for such work. Mere addresses, carefully planned, with points, divisions, anecdotes, and alliterations may be entertaining; but it is doubtful if they reach hearts and consciences concerning the evils from which men should purge themselves. Time was when many Christians carried in their pockets a supply of booklets, some suited for Christians and others for unbelievers. We wonder if this is done to any extent today?
At the age of twenty Josiah began to move. Five verses in 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 are packed with the Holy Spirit’s record of his courageous deeds. Although surrounded by people whose attitude was doubtful, he went forward energetically. Images were smashed, altars were broken down, and the bones of idolatrous priests were burnt upon their altars. Thus the young king expressed his abhorrence of evil practices and of the men who led the way in them. Josiah did not limit himself to the territories of Judah and Benjamin, although he commenced there. At all times the servants of God should first testify near home. Having done this, Josiah pushed northward, and acted with vigor in Manasseh, Ephraim, etc. The ruling power in the North must have been weak for such action to be possible; but the young king took risks, confiding in God. Bold testimony in regions where the truth is most needed is called for today; but how far are we willing to move away from the warm shelter of gospel halls and other places of comfortable service? Yet why should “evangelists” abandon their earthly calling if they are unwilling for pioneer work such as the Apostle speaks of in Romans 15:18-24?
It is particularly noted that Josiah “began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places” (2 Chron. 34:3). These were very offensive to Jehovah, because they were the expression of the people’s neglect and even contempt for His chosen center. He definitely commanded the people to destroy all the images of the Canaanites and to devastate their high places (Num. 33:52). At this point the reader would do well to lay down this book and read Deuteronomy 12. In that chapter Moses told the people before he died that they would find the land full of idols, with places of worship “upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree.” All this was the expression of self-will of people who knew nothing of God and who were under the blinding influence of Satan. But the people of God must not be like them. They must listen to His voice, and obey Him in all things, especially in matters relating to divine worship. He would choose His own center, and thither the tribes of Israel were to bring their sacrifices and offerings. Shiloh, in Ephraim, was Jehovah’s first dwelling-place (Jer. 7:12), later, he chose Zion (Psa. 78:60-68). The sin of the people, which caused the ark of the covenant to fall into the hands of the Philistines, threw the relationships of the people with Jehovah into confusion, for the ark never returned to the tabernacle. David brought it up to Zion out of the house of Obed-Edom to a tent that he had prepared for it (1 Chron. 15), but the tabernacle was at Gibeon (1 Chron. 16:39). During the years of confusion, even pious people worshipped at “high places.” Samuel did this (1 Sam. 9:12-25). But such irregularities became sin after the temple was built, and filled with the cloud of Jehovah’s presence. The very builder of the temple led the way in this great sin. Solomon built high places for Chemosh and for all the gods of his pagan wives (1 Kings 11:1-8). From Solomon’s day onward, worship at high places became intermittent. Some kings sanctioned (or, at least tolerated) it; and others suppressed it. Sennacherib in his heathen ignorance, thought that Hezekiah had displeased his God by destroying the high places which the people had dedicated to His worship (2 Chron. 32:12).
Coming now to ourselves—have we learned to be obedient in all things to the Word of God, or are we in any degree held by the unscriptural practices of Christendom? It has been said that just as a man is entitled to choose his own lawyer and his own baker, so he is entitled to choose his own “minister” and place of worship! This is rank self-will. Not only is God dishonored by it, but it is injurious to the soul. The marvelous blessings and privileges which are characteristic of Christianity are to a large extent unknown to those who pursue such a course. Surely He has not left us to our own devices in matters of the utmost sacredness! Surely He has spoken! He who was so precise in the smallest details connected with the worship of His earthly people is not indifferent in His dealings with His heavenly saints! Shall we not, then, in the spirit of deep humility, search His Holy Word with care and seek grace from Him to obey what is written therein, cost what it may?
No more delightful unfolding of the subject of worship, with special reference to our own time, can be found than in our Lord’s words to the Samaritan woman in John 4:21-24. His pointed and heart-searching words made the woman feel the seriousness of having to do with God; and she desired to learn from Him where God could be found, for there was much controversy in the land concerning this subject. Her fathers had worshipped for centuries on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews affirmed that in Jerusalem was the place where men ought to worship. She was stating her difficulty to the One who could best answer it. He was the Father’s well-beloved Son, who had come from heaven to lead willing hearts into sweeter intimacies than had ever before been known. He said “Woman, believe Me.” Oh, that men had been willing then; oh, that men were willing now, to listen to the Son, and believe every word from His gracious lips! Instead, many listen to the voice of religious leaders, and follow them blindly. “Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” The day for material religious centers is past. Those who point to a building and speak of it as the “house of God” are two thousand years behind the times in their thoughts. God being now revealed as Father, He will be satisfied with nothing but the overflowing of the heart from those who are in the conscious relationship of children. “Worship in spirit and in truth” is what He desires, and “the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” Costly buildings, gorgeous ritual, and elaborate vestments are an offense to Him, for they are relics of Paganism and Judaism. Any simple building, even a private house, will suffice as meeting-places for God’s saints during the Christian era. The true rallying center is indicated in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Let us beware of men’s “high places.” We are not called upon to destroy them, as Josiah did in his day; but it is our duty to reject them, and to be obedient in all things to the Word of our God.