Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 35:1-27
Helpful thoughts:
- The Ark of the Covenant had been removed from the Holy of Holies! Most likely during Manasseh’s reign.
- When Josiah informs the Levites they would no longer need to carry it, he is letting them know the ark would stay where it belonged.
- Because Josiah intentionally kept the Passover according to what he read in the Word of God, he did it more accurately and correctly than any king that had preceded him (Even David and Solomon). (See verse 18)
- Josiah was convinced he needed to prevent Egypt from going up to Carchemish.
- The passage never tells us whether the Pharaoh was lying about hearing from God or not, but it’s pretty clear King Josiah did not believe him.
- The mention of Jeremiah’s mourning reminds us that the end of Judah is near.
Questions to consider:
- What was Josiah’s secret for holding such a successful Passover? How did he know how to do it correctly? Was it luck? Was it a major mystical spiritual experience that showed him the way?
- Why is something as easy as reading the Bible so hard for us to do sometimes? Why doesn’t it seem “spiritual” or “deep” enough to some? Is a person truly being led by the Spirit if they are disregarding the ministry of the Spirit to God’s people through the Word of God?
- Why would the Chronicler (Likely Ezra) take such pains to write down these records of kings in Judah restoring the practice of celebrating the Passover? When the Jews returned from their exile, they hadn’t celebrated Passover for over 70 years…whom did Ezra want to lead the people back to worship after seeing the ways and worship of the Babylonians?