Who is Josiah? II Chronicles 34; II Kings 22 & 23, tell his story. It is a good story. He is placed, because of his lineage, on the throne of Judah when he was eight years old. I’m sure he had a tutor, a governor, that would direct him in his decisions. For a time, this person would be the power behind the throne doing his best to steer the young king in the right direction. It is hard to fathom someone younger than my grandson making decisions for the whole nation, yet that’s the situation. The instruction he received for at least eight years seems to be godly. His sixteenth birthday rolls around, and kingly decisions are now being given without the help of his trusted counselor. The major edict is to purge the nation of its idolatry. For the previous 70 years, Judah has been idolatrous. King after king, Josiah’s ancestors and more recently his father (Amon) and grandfather (Manasseh), have been evil, leading the nation in open rebellion against Jehovah. His forefathers sacrificed, sometimes his children (II Chron. 33:6), to craved images leading Judah straight toward the judgment of God. Turning 26 years old, Josiah begins repairing the Temple, God’s house. The country has been without the Word of God for decades. All the copies of the OT Law had been destroyed. At least that was the belief. As the restoration is underway something miraculous happened. The workmen are cleaning debris, and they uncover a scroll that had been hidden. What was written on the scroll? It was a copy of the Law, the books of Moses, the first five books of our Old Testament. As he reads and listens to the commands, he is alarmed at how disobedient his country has become toward the Lord. He desires more understanding, so he calls for a woman with a great testimony, Huldah, a prophetess. She gives him encouraging words (34:28) telling him he will have already died before the nation falls under judgment. This young king calls the nation together for a revival toward Jehovah and His word. They celebrate Passover once more, remembering the Exodus from bondage way yonder in the past in Egypt. When he was 39 years old, Pharaoh Necho II, rebelled against the Assyrians. He sought passage through Israel and Josiah rejected the request. Most think he’d formed a treaty with Assyria. As the Egyptians approached, Judah had marshalled forces to meet them. Josiah was leading the fight. The battle begins with Necho’s archers firing their arrows toward Israel. One of the arrows strikes Josiah and in a short time he is dead. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, and weeping women mourn for him with lamentations (35:25). Struck down before reaching forty.
What do we learn from Josiah’s life? 1. Life isn’t always long. Everyone doesn’t reach three-score and ten years. Live your life for the Lord your whole life. 2. If you have lousy parents, God will bring godly people into your life to help you, guide you and love you. 3. Do right, even as a youth, and God may honor you greatly. Did you know that when the name of Josiah is mentioned he is usually described as “good King Josiah?” How did he get that moniker? He earned it by a life of obedience to the Lord God of Israel.