• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"In the days of Josiah the king"

Text: Jeremiah 3:6

ISRAEL AND JUDAH

Israel and Judah were portrayed as “sisters” in this text. There was also a historical context in which God addressed Judah.

“The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king:
‘Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has
gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree,
and there played the harlot.'”
Jeremiah 3:6

1. “The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king”

a) Two kings preceded the boy king Josiah.

i) King Manasseh was one of the worst kings Judah ever had (2 Kings 21).

ii) His son, Amon succeeded his father to the throne.

iii) King Amon was assassinated by his servants, in his own house. 2 Kings 21:23

b) Josiah was installed as a boy-king at 8 years of age. 2 Kings 22:1

2. The reign of King Josiah

a) Hilkiah was the high priest during this period. 2 Kings 22:4

b) Hilkiah was the father of Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:1

c) Hilkiah found and presented a book found in the temple to King Josiah. 2 Kings 22:8

d) They sought Huldah the prophetess for her counsel. 2 Kings 22:14

e) Huldah’s declaration:

i) Judah and Jerusalem will be chastised by God for having forsaken their faith. 2 Kings 22:16-17

ii) But King Josiah would be spared from seeing the destruction of the nation. 2 Kings 22:18-20

iii) He had humbled himself before God. 2 Kings 22:19

iv) Josiah had wept before the Lord in remorse. 2 Kings 22:19

3. The Reforms instituted by King Josiah

a) He removed idols out of the temple. 2 Kings 23:4-19

b) He executed all the false and wicked priests of the shrines. 2 Kings 23:20

c) He kept the Passover. 2 Kings 23:21

This was the case of “too little, too late!”

4. The anger of the Lord remained 2 Kings 23:26-27

a) Because of what King Manasseh did. 2 Kings 23:26

b) He had removed Israel and He will remove Judah too. 2 Kings 23:27

THE CONTEXT OF THIS PROPHETIC WORD TO JEREMIAH

1. “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done?”

a) Israel was cited as an example.

b) Israel was described as “backsliding”.

2. She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.

a) Israel’s idolatry was exposed and condemned.

i) Every high mountain

ii) Under every green tree

iii) Israel worshipped idols

b) The word for such idolatrous worship was stated candidly

It was nothing short of “harlotry!”