In 2 Kings 23 King Josiah of Judah reads the entire book of the covenant to the people at the house of the Lord. The king and the people make a covenant to keep the commandments, decrees and statutes written there. Josiah destroys all the idols and worship places of the false gods in Judah and Samaria. He gets rid of the idolatrous priests mediums and wizards. Then he and the people celebrate Passover.

Because of the sin of Manasseh who proceeded Josiah God still punishes the people. The king of Egypt kills Josiah. Josiah’s son Jehoiakim makes an alliance with the Pharaoh. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.

In 2 Kings 24 King Nebuchadnessar of Babylon comes against Judah and Jerusalem in several major attacks. He destroys Jerusalem and the temple and takes away all the elite of the land to Babylon. He also takes the treasure from the king’s house and the temple. The poor are left to till the soil.

After Nebuchadnezzar dies the king of Babylon releases King Jehoiachin and lets him sit at the king’s table while the people suffer.

Despite the fact that there are a couple of good and faithful kings in Judah, most do not love the Lord and lead the people astray. God is forced to punish them harshly. God’s punishment is always meant to lead us back to Him with contrite hearts.

Psalm 66 is a song of praise to God. All the earth worships Him because He has shown the people mercy.

Psalm 67 is a song of blessing for the people who are faithful to God.