Week of May 27, 2024
The story of Josiah, a king of Judah, is a surprising, arguably miraculous one. For the two kings before him, his grandfather and father had established a family legacy of idolatry and unfaithfulness to God’s covenant. But Josiah beginning as a child king, reversed that legacy by repenting of his people’s sins and restoring worship to the Lord alone. At least for a generation, a radical change for the better came about through Josiah’s extreme faithfulness. From what patterns of generational sin do you seek freedom?
Monday | Deuteronomy 5
Some scholars speculate that the book of the Law discovered during Josiah’s reign was in fact the book of Deuteronomy. In chapter 5, we find another giving of the Ten Commandments with a special emphasis on resisting idolatry and worshipping the Lord alone (the first commandment). Martin Luther believed this was the most difficult commandment to keep. Why is that often the case? What are the idols that we are tempted to make and follow in America today? Give an example of how the sin of one generation (especially idolatry) has consequences in subsequent generations.
Tuesday | 2 Kings 21
This chapter describes the reigns of the two kings before Josiah: Manasseh his grandfather and Amon his father. What were the particular sins of Manasseh? What do you know about Baal worship and Asherah poles? (you could do an online search) What might have made such idolatrous worship so attractive to the people of Judah? What makes America’s idols so attractive to us? What was to be God’s judgment upon their idolatry?
Wednesday | 2 Kings 22
Josiah by God’s grace and his obedience broke the chains of idolatry at least for a generation in the kingdom of Judah. What was the role that God’s Word played in this time of spiritual transformation (vs. 10-11)? What was Josiah’s response to hearing God’s law read? What has brought you in the past to repent of your sins? What are the blessings of repentance … for Josiah (vs. 19-20) and us?
Thursday | Ezekiel 18
You may remember the words of Deuteronomy 5 that God punishes subsequent generations for the idolatry of their forefathers. This is probably best understood as the reality that sin has consequences and subsequent generations do suffer because of the sins of parents and grandparents. However, Ezekiel 18 provides a healthy corrective to any thinking that the sins of those who have preceded us necessarily keep us in bondage. For we all individually can (by the power of the Holy Spirit) live in obedience to God or follow the path of spiritual rebellion. Has there been any pattern of generational sin in your family? How has that impacted you? To what degree have you experienced Jesus’ freedom from that sin? In what areas of your life might you be especially called to repent and gain God’s forgiveness and freedom?
Friday | Romans 8:1-11
Here the Apostle Paul writes of the liberating power of Jesus from personal and generational sin. Our own sinful nature is powerful. But Jesus and the Holy Spirit are even more powerful! What has Jesus done to bring us freedom? (v.3) What is the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling us to experience that freedom? (vs. 5-10) What is one aspect of your life and character in which you have seen the transforming power of God’s Spirit at work? What are the amazing gifts that the Spirit’s testimony provides for us? (vs.15-17)
