One of the more fascinating stories of the Bible is the story of Josiah who became king at the age of 8 years old. He later became known as one of the greatest kings to ever have lived. He did some remarkable things at a young age - inspite of the fact that his father and grandfather lived very pagan lives - (Manasseh - 2 Chronicles 33:1-10; Amon - 2 Chronicles 33:21-22). In fact, scripture show us that the land of Israel had not worshipped God in over 57 years. Josiah shows that age doesn't have to be a factor in serving God.
2 Chronicles 34:1-2 1- 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 walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 - In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images.
SIX THINGS JOSIAH DID TO BRING TRANFORMATION TO HIS LIFE
1. He Removed Sin From His Life - Vv. 1-7
2 Chronicles 34:4-7 (NIV) Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles, the idols and the images. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
2. He Put God’s Word In His Heart - V.18
2 Chronicles 34:17-19 (NIV) They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers." Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.
3. He Influenced People Around Him - V.30
2 Chronicles 34:30 (NIV) He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites--all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD.
4. He Decided To Follow God With All His Heart - V.31
2 Chronicles 34:31 (NIV) The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD--to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.
5. He Was Bold In Sharing His Faith With Others - V.32-33
2 Chronicles 34:32-33 (NIV) Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their fathers.
6. He Became A Worshipper Of God - 35:1
2 Chr 35:1 1 Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, … (NKJ)
No comments:
Post a Comment