Dr Paul Allen

One of the most significant Old Testament examples of a man who purged and protected himself and his kingdom from idols is King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34). When Josiah realized that seeking the Lord was incompatible with the idolatry around him, he purged Judah and Jerusalem of idols with fantastic zeal. Josiah’s men tore down Baal’s altars in his presence, and he personally travelled to destroy idols. Destroying idols requires us to take a stand and pursue things that protect us from future attacks. There are three things Christians must pursue if we would, like Josiah, purge and protect the kingdom of our hearts from idolatry. First, we must pursue Christ-centered relationships. The people we choose to share our lives with dramatically impact us. The scriptures show this effect. The Apostle Paul warned that spending time with wicked people would corrupt us. Making friends with those who do not pursue holiness and godliness will always shape our lives away from godly pursuits as our sta...

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...