Dr Paul Allen

King Josiah on a 17th century painting by unknown artist in the choir of Sankta Maria kyrka in Åhus, Sweden. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Israel 's reformation came via a rediscovery of the law, which created a brief awakening to the bankruptcy of a corrupt nation. As a young man, King Josiah began the process of reformation with a spiritual purge, a cleansing of pagan elements from the religious life of the nation. A few years later, Hilkiah found the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses . A scribe brought the book to King Josiah and read it to him. The result was dramatic: "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes" ( 2 Kings 22:11 ). Josiah was awakened to the greatness of the wrath of God . He realized that God had been pouring out that wrath on the nation of Israel. He further understood that this divine judgment on the nation was a direct result of sin. The most apparent immediate change in the nation

Image via Wikipedia Israel 's reformation came via a rediscovery of the law, which created a brief awakening to the bankruptcy of a corrupt nation. As a young man, King Josiah began the process of reformation with a spiritual purge, a cleansing of pagan elements from the religious life of the nation. A few years later, Hilkiah found the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses . A scribe brought the book to King Josiah and read it to him. The result was dramatic: "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes" ( 2 Kings 22:11 ). Josiah was awakened to the greatness of the wrath of God . He realized that God had been pouring out that wrath on the nation of Israel. He further understood that this divine judgment on the nation was a direct result of sin. The most apparent immediate change in the national reform of Israel was seen in the restoration of true worship, a worship purged of idolatry and rooted in a sound un