JOSIAH

 JOSIAH

Steps of Josiah’s spiritual triumph and his revival that inspired Israel

1. Influence—Each of us has had someone who has influenced our lives for God.  

2. Inquiry—There came a time in Josiah’s life when he had to know the truth for himself.  

3. Purging—Once Josiah knew what the truth was, he acted accordingly and took decisive steps to clean up his life and nation. 

4. Commitment—Josiah committed himself completely to serving God.  

Josiah's reforms are described in two biblical accounts, 2 Kings 22–23, and 2 Chronicles 34–35.

Josiah became the sixteenth king of Judah. He reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem from 640–609/8 BC. The “people of the land” (2 Chronicles 33:25) enthroned him at the age of eight after the assassination of his father, Amon.

No other king like him - father and grandfather were not faithful to God but his great grandfather was very faithful.

Josiah’s Great grandfather, Hezekiah, was a Godly man and a great king.

Hezekiah made sure that he began his reign in the right way. He understood that without a right relationship with God, there could be no blessing of God upon his life and nation. Hezekiah started out by instructing the priests and Levites to perform their duties as and renew the worship of the Lord in accordance with the Law of Moses.  Reconsecrated the temple through celebration.  Reinstituted the observance of the Passover in Jerusalem- tradition that identified who they were in their relationship to God.  People had lost track of their traditions.  They celebrated the renewal.  “He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.”  Sennacherib responded with an invasion.  Assyrians were very cruel.  Hezekiah apologized and gave a large sum to avert the invasion.

Hezekiah falls ill. This part of Hezekiah’s history is very interesting. Here was a godly king who walked in the ways of the Lord, and when he got very sick and was about to die, he called on the Lord, reminding the Lord of his faithfulness to Him during his life. The Lord heard his prayer and granted him fifteen more years. It is also ironic that during this time, he fathered the next king of Judah, Manasseh, who became the most wicked king to rule in Judah’s history.

During this time, the new coming world empire to rule—Babylon—was having birth pains. They would become to Judah what Assyria was to the northern nations of Israel. And Isaiah prophesied that, eventually, they would be taken captive to Babylon. This became a reality under the reign of King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah and the third son of Josiah. King Hezekiah had great respect for Isaiah, the prophet. He listened to him and took what the prophet said as the Word of the Lord. Isaiah counseled him during most of his reign in Judah. Hezekiah listened and obeyed Isaiah’s instructions. Isaiah was the prominent prophet during both Hezekiah’s reign and that of his son Manasseh. Manasseh, however, didn’t have the same respect for Isaiah that Hezekiah had. In fact, his treatment of Isaiah was just the opposite of that of his father. He beat, tortured, and persecuted Isaiah.

It was at this moment Sennacherib, King of Assyria, made the mistake of treating the God of Judah the same as all the other gods of the countries he had conquered.  Assyria threatens Judah through a letter - Hezekia shares the letter with everyone (unafraid).  He acknowledges that the Lord is the only true God.  He asks the Lord to hear and see the insults that Sennacherib has made against Him. He acknowledges that the claims of Sennacherib were true in defeating the other nations, but only because they were really not gods at all but merely man-made objects of wood, stone, or precious metal.  He implores the true God of heaven and earth to deliver them from Sennacherib’s hand.  Hezekiah asks that it be done so that all the kingdoms of the world will know that He alone is God.

The Assyrians are defeated!

Later Josiah would face the same issues.  As Assyria weakened, Josiah found it increasingly easier to act independently so that when Josiah made the covenant with God and the people in 622 BC, it amounted to a formal defiance of the Assyrian deities and political control.

Socially when Josiah became king, the people were Godless.  When Josiah came to power, he began his rule under the influence of both his father’s reign and his grandfather’s reign, Manasseh and Amon. Both of them were the most ruthless and wicked kings recorded in Judah’s history. Sin and wickedness followed godless living and the worship of false gods.

Taxation was very high.

While Josiah’s grandfather and father ruled, those who were inclined to serve and worship God either were done away with, or they went into hiding. Godly people were hunted down, killed, and their property confiscated. So when Josiah came to the throne, there were not very many godly and righteous people as its residence.

All of this makes it even more significant for Josiah to do what he did. And you can be sure that there was much opposition against his reforms. The fact that he did it with such confidence and boldness is outstanding. (God, give us leaders today who will be so brave and bold.)  

Other Influences 

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or the left. 2 Chronicles 34:1–2  “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength” (2 Kings 23:25).

The Influence of His Mother, Jedidah

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath” (2 Kings 22:1). This passage is all we are told about Josiah’s mother. We are told: That her name was Jedidah, which means “God’s darling.”

The influence of God’s faithful servants

Priestly Influence Hilkiah, the High Priest Hilkiah, the high priest, appears to have had a good relationship with Josiah. Hilkiah worked very closely with Josiah in the collection of money for the repairs to the temple and then was also in charge of the oversight of the restoration work.  Josiah was also in relationships with prophets like Jeremih and Habbakka.  

The Results of Godly Influence Josiah Did What Was Right in the Eyes of the Lord.

HOW CAN WE BEST INSURE THE QUALITY OF THE WORLD?

Guide Your Children to Find God’s Purpose for Their Lives.

Find God’s Will for Your Life.

Make Wise Choices.

Live by God’s Word.