Day 37 – Clutter

2 Chronicles 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king and reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what was right in the sight of JEHOVAH and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the Elohiym of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images. 4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 Thus, he did in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali and everywhere around, with axes. 7 When he had broken down the altars and the wooden images, had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down the incense altars throughout the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

 8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of JEHOVAH his Elohiym.

 9 When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money brought into the house of Elohiym, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from the remnant of Israel, from Judah and Benjamin, and which they had brought back to Jerusalem. 10 Then they put it in the hand of the foremen who had the oversight of the house of JEHOVAH; and gave it to the workmen who worked in the house of JEHOVAH, to repair and restore the house. 11 They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to buy hewn stone and timber for beams, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12 The men worked faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise. Others of the Levites, who were skillful with instruments of music, 13 were over the burden bearers and were overseers of everyone who worked in any kind of service. Some of the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.

 14 Now when they brought out the money brought into the house of JEHOVAH, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of JEHOVAH given by Moses. 15 Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of JEHOVAH.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

 16 Then Shaphan carried the book to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants are doing everything committed to them. 17 They gathered the money found in the house of JEHOVAH and delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.

 19 Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of JEHOVAH for me, and for those left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is JEHOVAH’S wrath poured out on us, because our fathers did not keep the word of JEHOVAH, to do according to everything written in this book.”

 22 Then Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) They spoke to her to that effect.

 23 Then she answered them, “Thus says JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 “Thus says JEHOVAH, ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, every curse written in the book which they read before the king of Judah, 25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other elohiym, that they might provoke Me to anger with the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.’”’ 26 “However, as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of JEHOVAH, in this manner you will speak to him, ‘Thus says JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, “Concerning the words which you have heard— 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Elohiym when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the JEHOVAH. 28 “I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes will not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.”’” Thus, they brought back word to the king.

 29 Then the king sent and gathered the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, 30 and went up to the house of JEHOVAH, with the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites, and the people, great and small. He read in their hearing the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of JEHOVAH.

 31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before JEHOVAH, to follow JEHOVAH, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with his whole heart and his whole soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 He made everyone present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. Thus, the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of Elohiym, the Elohiym of their fathers.

 33 Thus Josiah removed the abominations from the country that belonged to the children of Israel and made everyone present in Israel diligently serve JEHOVAH their Elohiym. Throughout his days they did not depart from following JEHOVAH Elohiym of their fathers.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

God’s character:

Merciful

You’ve looked at the clutter in your garage, closets, and wherever things accumulate, and decide it’s time to declutter. When you declutter, you find more than stuff you need to get rid of, you find memories you don’t want to throw away or donate. It can take longer to declutter than you expected. However, you persevere and then find the one thing you lost many years ago. How do you respond to the lost item?

King Josiah set in motion the repair and decluttering of the temple of Elohiym. When he did, one of the priests found the Book of the Covenant, the Law of Moses and took it to King Josiah. When he heard the words of the Book, he tore his clothes and sent men to Huldah the prophetess to find out what JEHOVAH would do to His people for their sin against Him. When he learned what Huldah, the prophetess proclaimed against Israel and Judah, King Josiah made a covenant with the people to obey Him in everything.

As children of Yeshuwa, you committed your life to follow Him and walk worthy of Him. Yet, Satan comes along with thoughts and ideas that turn your head and heart away from Yeshuwa. You find yourself going along with the world when just that morning in church you sang ‘the cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.’ However, what’s the first thing you do when you get home? Does it look like you have the cross before you and the world behind you?

You tell yourself it’s harmless, everyone is doing it, it can’t be too wrong. However, in your heart, you know that if Yeshuwa were to knock on your door, you would quickly change the channel on your television, change the music on your Alexa, and look like the perfect Christian. However, Yeshuwa knows your heart and mind. He knows the secret thoughts you keep from others. Does He blame you for not being a perfect Christian? No, you already did that the moment you opened the door.

We all sin and fall short of JEHOVAH’S glory. We want to obey, be the perfect Christian, but it’s impossible. How do you compensate for your shortcomings? Confession and repentance.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Theos,

 (NKJV)

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every unrighteousness.

Yeshuwa’s mercy and grace will cleanse you from sin and keep you in right standing with Him when you come to Him with a pure heart in true repentance. Will you do it again? Yes, and He will forgive you again, as often as you confess and repent of your sin.

Josiah and the people of Judah and Israel confessed their sin and made a covenant with JEHOVAH to follow Him the rest of their lives. When they did, they turned His wrath from them and lived in peace.

You will experience the peace of Yeshuwa when you confess your sin and live your life according to His Word. Don’t let Satan mess with your salvation and relationship with Yeshuwa.

Let’s pray: Father, I am a sinner. My life is cluttered with things that don’t edify You or the body of Christ. Show me Your grace and mercy as I confess my sin and cleanse me from everything that does not bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 24 February 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux