Josiah

His name means: “Yahweh Supports Him”

His work: Josiah was the last good king of Judah, reigning from about 640-609 BC. Like his great-grandfather Hezekiah, he instituted sweeping religious reforms in Judah.

His character:Though Josiah was only eight years old when he became king of Judah,he became one of Judah’s strongest spiritual leaders, a man whose devotion, obedience, humility, and repentance on behalf of the people helped for a time to restore Judah’s fractured relationship with the Lord.

His grandfather was Manassah and his father Amon, both evil kings.,…His sorrow: That his reforms, which were not supported by those who succeeded him, occurred too late to avert judgment on Judah.

His triumph: So strong was Josiah’s influence that it extended beyond Judah to embrace the northern tribes as well.

Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 12:25-3313:2-3; 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles

34-35

Psalm 119:129

"Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them!."

While it seemed Josiah would follow the same path, he didn't. …Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.2Chronicles 34:2.…What made such a difference?

34:2 did that which was right. The parallel account of Josiah's career (II Kings 22:1├ö├ç├┤23:30) mentions Josiah's mother Jedidah (II Kings 22:1). …It seems possible that she had been influenced toward God by the belated reforms of Manasseh and, even though these had little influence on his father, young Amon, they had encouraged her in teaching little Josiah about the Lord.

As the text above testifies, Josiah found wonder in God's Word. When Josiah was a young man (age 26), a godly leader read to him the law (torah), which engaged his soul.

And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 2 Chronicles 34:31

Such was the case of the psalmist. The earlier portions of Psalm 119 declare the good that he had done, but now his soul was motivated. He longed (v. 131) and cried for direction and help from the Lord: "Look thou upon me, and . . . Order my steps in thy word. . . . Deliver me from the oppression of man. . . . Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (vv. 132-135).

These unselfish prayers were each coupled with a promise to obey. With his heart and correct behavior involved, the psalmist wept for those "people who disobey your instructions." (v. 136). …Psalm 119 :131-136…131 I pant with expectation,… longing for your commands.…132 Come and show me your mercy,… as you do for all who love your name.…133 Guide my steps by your word,… so I will not be overcome by evil.…134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;… then I can obey your commandments.…135 Look upon me with love;… teach me your decrees.…136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes… because people disobey your instructions.……When the hearts of God's people break because of sin, revival comes (2 Chronicles 7:14).

A Look at the Man

…Josiah was one of twenty kings who ruled Judah during the period of the divided kingdom. Many of the kings who preceded him had little regard for preserving the spiritual vitality of Judah, absorbed as they were in the struggle to secure their own power. And even though his reign was one of the best and brightest, Josiah was incapable of reversing Judah’s steady slide toward paganism. Sadly, his reforms perished with him, and a few years later Judah suffered the punishment long prophesied.

Like few leaders in the history of the world, Josiah knew the outcome of his story in advance. God had told him, through the prophetess Huldah, that Judah would eventually suffer disaster because of its sins. …Because of his faithfulness, the prophetess Huldah assured him he would not see the destruction that would one day overtake Jerusalem and Judah.

Such knowledge could have prompted him to give up, to conclude that he was wasting precious time and energy on a lost cause. But instead of abandoning his reforms, Josiah stepped up his efforts. Refusing to be deflected from his life’s purpose, he continued clearing away the rubbish of paganism in hopes of bringing Judah back to God.

The young king must have understood a principle we often lose sight of, namely, that faithfulness is more important than success. That doing what’s right, regardless of the odds, is crucial. Josiah must have known that spiritual greatness is measured not by victory but by our determination to use the power God gives us, however great or small, to further his purposes.

Because of his faithfulness, the Lord spared him the pain and grief of witnessing the disaster that eventually overtook the land he loved.

Like Josiah, we sometimes face situations that seem impossible: a difficult marriage, a challenging job, a divided church, or life in a world that sometimes despises the things we cherish most. We wonder how anything good can result from the current course of affairs. Unlike Josiah, we don’t know the outcome in advance. None of us can preclude the possibility that our circumstances will radically change for the better. But like him, we can remember that God never requires us to be successful, only faithful.

Reflect On: 2 Kings 22:3ÔÇô20

Praise God: For hearing the prayers of the humble.

Offer Thanks: For the freedom we have to worship him.

Confess: Any self-righteousness that keeps you from identifying with the sins and failures of God's people.

Ask God: To renew the church, so that all of his people may worship him in spirit and truth.