“So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried there in the royal cemetery. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.” 2 Chronicles 35:24 NLT
One of the greatest kings ever recorded in the Bible is a man named Josiah. I've always liked this story, even as a young boy because he became king at the age of 8 years old and changed a nation.
Before we can study the significance of Josiah's life and how he affected his country, we need to first look at a little history of his great grandfather, Hezekiah. His grandfather, Manasseh. And finally his father, Amon.
Hezekiah - His name means "Jehovah does strengthen." He was a man of God. He served on this earth as a prophet, preacher, and King. He is sometimes best remembered for his petition to the Lord when he was sick unto death. The Lord heard his prayer and granted him a lease of life for another 15 years.
Hezekiah was a devout servant of Jehovah. He commenced his reign by repairing and cleansing the temple, reorganizing its religious services and its officers. Hezekiah removed the high places, cast down the brazen serpent which Moses had made, but which had become an object of idolatrous worship. Hezekiah was also a contemporary with the prophet Isaiah.
Manasseh - His name means "making to forget."
He became King at 12 years old in 698 B.C. He ruled until 642 B.C. of which time he died. 56 years was he King of Judah. History tells us that he did more evil and sin then even the wicked evil kings before. He undid everything that his father stood up for. He brought back high places, altars to baal and other gods. He was so wicked that he used his own son as a sacrifice of fire. The prophets warned against him and Isaiah warned against him.
History tells us that Manasseh murdered Isaiah by standing him in the temple courtyard on his head, he then stretched his legs apart and sawed him in two.
Amon - His name is derivative of the Chief sun god who the Egyptians served.
He followed the footsteps of his father. Sources say that he was more wicked than his father even. He became king at the age of 22 and was murdered within two years by some servants in his palace.
There is now 58 years without God. Think about that. Ponder it. There was now 58 years without God's presence!
Josiah - His name means "Jehovah Heals."
Josiah served as king from 8 years old to 39. The greatest spiritual awakening took placed under his reign. It didn't matter to him that he was only 8 years old. It didn't matter to him that there was now 58 years of idol worship to other gods. It only mattered to him that he was going to serve God and use his influence to help others find God also.
Two things were evident when Josiah became King: 1) idols were everywhere, 2) sin was everywhere.
5 Things That Made Josiah Prosperous In His Circumstances
1) Josiah Despised Sin - (34:1-7)
“During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.” 2 Chronicles 34:3 NLT
2) Josiah Loved God's House - (34:8-18) - when Josiah came to the throne it had been 66 years since there had been a service in the temple. He started services in the house of the Lord again.
“In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the LORD his God.” 2 Chronicles 34:8 NLT
3) Josiah Loved God's Word - (34:19-30) The Word became central in Josiah's life. Manassah made it law that no one could have a book of the law. This went on for 58 years.
“Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites—all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD’s Temple.”
2 Chronicles 34:29-30 NLT
4) Josiah Loved God With All His Heart - (34:31) Josiah made a covenant that he would serve God all the days of his life.
“The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll.”
2 Chronicles 34:31 NLT
5) Josiah Possessed A Mighty Influence - (34:32-33)
“And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors. So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 34:32-33 NLT
His youth directors name was Hilkiah (he was a high priest) and Josiah listened to him. In the eighth year of his reign he began the attempt to change his own conduct as King, and the life of the court to the laws of God. In his twelfth year he commenced to suppress idolatry and other unlawful worship. In his sixteenth year he began to seek after the Lord. It is at this time that he becomes close friends with Zephaniah. In his eighteenth year he took steps to repair and fix up the temple; While the temple was being built, Hilkiah, (Josiah's youth pastor) found the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and handed it over to Shaphan, who read it to Josiah.
Josiah was impressed that if the people departed from God then dreadful consequences would follow. He tore his clothes and humbled himself before God, who assured him that the disaster would not come in his time. (II Kings 22:8-20)
The king and his and his people then decided to worship God only. They then took all their idols and burned them and through them in the brook of Kidron.
He killed the evil priest upon the altar. Then he concluded by holding a Passover (church service). It had the best attendance since Samuel was prophet.
Josiah died in battle by an arrow wound. Great lamentations were made for him by Jeremiah. The people felt his loss was something that would be hard to overcome.
In a short lived life he changed a nation. He wasn't a prisoner to his circumstances. He didn't care what other people thought. He was unimpressed about what others thought. He stood above them and declared his loyalty to God.
No matter what is happening to you right now - God is still on the throne and His promises do not change or waver. You can be influenced by men or you can be an influencer of men. The choice is yours to make. What will you do?
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