RELIGIOUS REFORM

SS2 CRS

3rd Term

2nd Week

RELIGIOUS REFORM

Prevalent religious evils at the time of Josiah (2kings 22:8-20): Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord, and showed it to Shaphan the secretary who brought it to king Josiah. When the king heard the word of the Lord, he rent his clothes in contrition for the disobedience of their fathers. Then, he sent them to go and inquire of the Lord. They went to Huldah the prophetess who told them that God was angry with them for burning incense to other gods. However, he told the king that because he was remorseful when he heard the law read, the destruction will not happen in his time.

Josiah’s reforms in Judah (2kings 23:4-14; 21-30): king Josiah went with all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to the house of the Lord, and once again, the book of the law was read to their hearing. And they all made a covenant to keep God’s command. Then, the following reforms were made:

1.       All the vessels made for Baal and Asherah were brought out of the temple and burnt

2.       All the idolatrous priests were deposed.

3.       He brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord and burnt it

4.       He broke down the houses of the male cult prostitute which were in the house of the Lord

5.       He stopped the burning of sons and daughters to Molech

6.       He stopped the worship of the sun god

7.       He defiled the high places consecrated to foreign gods

Religious reforms in the North (2kings23:15-20): Josiah also went to Bethel to destroy the alter erected by Jeroboam when the kingdom was divided. He burnt the bones of men on it. And this was to fulfill a prophesy. He saw the tomb of the prophet that had prophesied his action, and told his men not to disturb his bones. He slew all the priests of the high places who were there, upon the alters and burned the bones of men upon them. Then, he returned to Jerusalem.

Some areas of religious reform in Nigeria

A lot of atrocities are being carried out in the name of religion in our country nowadays. It is therefore necessary that some religious reforms be carried out in these areas. They include the following:

1.       Adulterous priests and spiritualists,

2.       Homosexual and lesbian pastors

Extortion of the congregation

Stories of Elijah and Obadiah

SS2 CRS

3rd Term

1st Week

Stories of Elijah and Obadiah (1kings 17:1-7; 11kings 18:1-16): Elijah said to Ahab that there shall be no rain for 3 and half years. Then, the Lord warned him to go and hide by the brook of Cherith, east of Jordan, so that he can drink from the brook, for He had commanded ravens to take bread and meat to him there both morning and evening. After a while, the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land. Then, the Lord sent him to a widow of Zeraphath.

In the third year, God told Elijah to go and show himself to king Ahab for He is about to send rain. Elijah went. By this time the famine had become so severe that king Ahab and Obadiah had to take different paths in search of grass across the land. Elijah met Obadiah in the course of this search and told him to go and tell Ahab that he is here. Obadiah was a faithful worshipper of God. He knew that the spirit of the Lord could take Elijah elsewhere impromptu, and if that happened, Ahab might think that Obadiah lied, and then kill him. But Elijah promised him that he would show himself to the king today. With this assurance, Obadiah went to tell Ahab.

Elijah meets the king and threw a challenge (1 kings 18:17-19): when Ahab saw Elijah, he asked him, “is it you, the troubler of Israel?” Elijah answered him, “I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father’s house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the lord and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal and Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.

The contest on Mount Carmel (1 kings18:20-46; 1 Sam 5:1-12): When the people gathered at the mountain, Elijah addressed them on how they have been wavering between God and Baal. He told them to get two bull – one for him and one for the prophets of Baal. Each party was to call on their god. The one that answers by fire is the one that shall be God of the people. They agreed and the contest began. The prophets of Baal did all their rituals but all to no avail. When it was getting to evening, it was Elijah’s turn. As soon as he called on the Lord, God answered by sending fire to consume the sacrifice. Then, the people believed in God. Elijah ordered the people to seize the prophets of baal. They were taken down to the brook of kishon where they were all slaughtered.