The Lord turned not

“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.” - 2 Kings 23v26

After Josiah heard the word of the Lord he went to work. First he called all of the people together and publicly made a covenant with God to obey His word. He said that he would purge the land of its false worship and follow the Lord. All of the people “took a stand for the covenant.”

Josiah was serious about his covenant. He set about removing every vestige of paganism and false worship. He tore down their high places, overturned their altars, burned their objects of worship, executed their priests, and burned the bones of the dead pagan priests. Josiah heart and work were so serious that he was called the greatest king who ever lived in Judah.

However, it was not enough. God’s wrath would not be stayed. God had seen the false repentance of the nation over and over again. Perhaps He knew that though the king had acted, his people’s hearts were not right and they were still more with the actions of Manasseh.

God is tolerant and patient. He will strive with men for a time, but eventually His righteousness and holiness insist that He must act.