You’ll find the story of king Josiah in II Kings 22 -23. Josiah was a good king. His story inspires me in many ways.
Josiah was his own man.
Josiah became king at just eight years old. If you look at his lineage, you will see that both his father and grandfather were wicked rulers. It would have been easy for Josiah to follow in their footsteps, but he chose a different path. He looked to his Godly ancestor David as an example, and did what was pleasing to God.
[Josiah] did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.
~II Kings 22:2
Josiah’s story reminds us that no matter what circumstances we’re born into, no matter how bad the influences around us, we can still choose to do what is right.
Josiah had a tender heart.
In his mid twenty’s, king Josiah decided to restore the Lord’s Temple, which had been neglected for decades. During the restoration, the high priest, Hilkiah, found the Book of the Law (i.e. the first five books of The Old Testament).
Look at how Josiah responded when the scripture was read to him:
When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.
Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:
“Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
~II Kings 22: 11-13
Josiah didn’t ignore God’s Word. He listened intently and took it to heart. We ought to do the same. We should let God’s Word convict us, guide us, and shape us.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12
Josiah took action.
James 1:22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Josiah was a doer. When he realized that he and the nation of Israel were not following God’s law, he made sweeping changes. Much of what he did is recorded in II Kings 23, but here’s a summary:
- He read the scripture to the people, and reaffirmed the covenant between God and Israel.
- He had all pagan articles in the Temple removed and destroyed.
- He got rid of all the pagan priests appointed by his predecessors.
- He got rid of the shrine prostitutes at the Temple.
- He banned priests who had served at pagan shrines from serving at the Temple.
- He destroyed numerous altars and shrines to false gods.
- He got rid of mediums, psychics, and household idols.
- He reinstituted the Passover celebration.
That’s a pretty impressive list, no!?
I’m motivated to be more like Josiah. I want to be focused on God, even when the people around me are not. I want to listen carefully when God speaks to me through His Word, and let it transform me. Lastly, I want to be a “doer”, not a “hearer only.”
