A Life that Leads



2 Kings 22:1-2  Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ² He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

I have always loved the named Josiah. It was on the short list of names when my son was born.  There is just something about the story of Josiah that strikes me, I think even more so now that I am a mother. 

It is interesting when you read through 2 Kings.  For a few chapters it is not only the names of the kings that are recorded but also the names of their mothers.  And the vast majority of the kings mentioned "did evil in the sight of the Lord".  These kings were so wicked, so evil, so debase that they not only adopted the religions of the nations that surrounded them, but made up new gods, created new idols and laid out new religious practices.  Some of the practices included prostitution and even child sacrifice.

Every once in a while a king would take the throne and his heart would some how be drawn back to the Lord and a desire for holiness on a personal and national level would be sparked.  Josiah was one of these kings.

Josiah was 8 years old when he took to the throne.  He is described as following the ways of his "father David" completely.  Meaning his heart's desire was to please the Lord by obeying His commands.  He reigned for 31 years.  "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."  He stayed on course.

When he turned 26 Josiah commanded that the temple be restored.  The temple had been destroyed and desecrated.  Josiah commanded that monies be collected and used to rebuild it.  In this process of rebuilding something that was lost was found - the Book of the Law. 

When Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law he tore his robes.  He sent people to go and inquire of the Lord.  He knew God was angry with Judah and that it was because of their disobedience and idolatry.

They spoke to the prophet Huldah - a woman.  I thought that was interesting.  Anyway, Huldah explained that the Lord's wrath would still be carried out against Judah but because of Josiah's response to the Lord he would be spared the heartache of witnessing it.  "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. ²⁰ Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.”

Josiah responded by pledging himself and the nation back to the Lord.  And the people in turn pledged themselves to the Lord.  Josiah then started to "clean house".  He tore down all the idols and high places everywhere.  He killed the priests who had lead the people in idolatry.  Scripture says,  "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, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."

The Lord did not turn away from His anger though.  Judah would fall.  Its people eventually carried away into captivity. Shame and humiliation would cover the nation. 

BUT God kept His promise.  Josiah died in battle and never witnessed the fall of Judah.

Josiah was a man who stood up for what was right.  He took a hard line against sin and for God.  There were no great battles, no amazing miracles, no plagues or pillars of fire.  But the story of Josiah is a story of obedience, humility and devotion.  A king like no other before or after.  And the story began with an 8 year boy with a mother named Jedidah.

As a mother my desire is for my children to be like Josiah.  I want them to be successful at whatever they do but more than that I want them to be a man and a woman who turns to the Lord with all their hearts, with all their souls and with all their strength.  As their mother I commit to teaching my children what is right.  Like Josiah, children must learn what is right so they can do what is right. I must teach them through scripture, through prayer and through the way I live.  I must set them up for not just earthly success but spiritual greatness.  My children are amazing and could very well change history, but my desire is for them to be amazed and changed by the One who wrote history. 

Josiah could not change the course of the nation but he did not allow the nation to change the course of his heart.