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
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