Josiah

MEMORY VERSE: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word.” —Psalm 119:9

II KINGS 22:1,2; 23:1-5,25

JOSIAH was one of the kings of Judah of whom it is said that he “walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (vs. 2) This means that he was a good king, who endeavored throughout his reign to do the Lord’s will as it was revealed to him.

During the reign of Manasseh this ungodly king established idol worship throughout the land, introducing it even into the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. Amon succeeded Manasseh, and he also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Amon was Josiah’s father, but he reigned only two years, being slain by his servants in his own house.—II Kings 21:1-9; 19-26

The premature death of Amon brought Josiah to the throne at the very early age of eight. In the eighteenth year of his reign, at the age of twenty-six, he gave directions for the repair of the temple. The workman doing this job found a copy of the book of the Law of the Lord, and it was read to the young king.—II Kings 22:3-10

Being righteously inclined, and at heart desiring to serve Jehovah, the reading of his Law made a tremendous impression upon the young king, and he at once set about to accomplish a work of reformation throughout the land. The northern kingdom of Israel had been destroyed, and many of the Israelites carried captive to Assyria; so Josiah, who was officially king of the southern kingdom of Judah, extended his authority over Samaria, the former territory of the northern kingdom of Israel.—ch. 23:15-20

Bethel was the center of Israel’s religious worship of heathen gods, and Josiah ordered the destruction there of the idols, groves, etc., pertaining to that worship. The same destruction was carried out throughout Judah, and, as we have seen, in the temple at Jerusalem. Josiah did a thorough job of ridding the land of heathen worship.—ch. 23

Upon hearing the reading of the Law, Josiah was made aware of the passover feast which was to have been celebrated once each year. Forthwith he gave instruction to the priests of Israel to make arrangements for the passover. This was a grand experience for the king and for the people. Concerning it the record states, “Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah.”—ch. 23:21-23

From reading the book of the Law of the Lord, Josiah learned that judgments from the Lord might well be expected because of the people’s sin, and he was disturbed by this thought. So he gave instruction to the priest to inquire of the Lord concerning the situation. The priest and others visited the prophetess Huldah. Through her they learned from the Lord that evil would be brought upon the nation according to “all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read.”—ch. 22:13-17

The visiting of the Lord’s wrath upon the people eventually resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem, and the temple, and the captivity of the people in Babylon. But because of Josiah’s faithfulness to the Lord, he gave him a wonderful assurance. The Lord said to him, “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers … into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.”—ch. 22:19,20

Here is a definite proof that the dead are unconscious; that they “know not anything.” (Eccles. 9:5) If the dead are more alive than the living, then Josiah would have been able to see the evils which befell his people and his nation after he died better than would have been possible had he remained alive.

The young king Josiah was a good example of the effect the word of the Lord will have in the life when its precepts are obeyed. May we all be alert to take note of the will of God as expressed through his Word, and to obey it!

QUESTIONS

Who was Josiah, and what was his attitude toward the Lord?

How did Josiah demonstrate his obedience to the Lord?

How did a certain promise of the Lord to Josiah prove that the dead are actually dead?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |