Sermon Central
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A Look At King Josiah
Contributed by Guy Glass on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This is a short character study on King Josiah. What we will find out about him is that as good as a king as he was, he meddled later on, and as a result of one SINGULAR case of meddling, tragedy followed. We can NEVER be sure what the consequences of o
d) By keeping the Passover
2 Chron. 35:18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.
II JOSIAH’S RUIN – 2 Chronicles 35:20-27
A 39 years
1 Judah is at peace with all of its neighbors
2 Judah is strategically located between
a Egypt
b Assyria
3 Judah is also a conquered nation
2 Chron. 33:11-12 So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
4 Babylon was at war with Assyria
a According to Daniel – the Babylonian Empire was established by God
5 Egypt was on its way to assist the Assyrians
a They sent ambassadors to speak to Josiah
b Josiah refused to listen
2 Chron. 35:20-22 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, "What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."
22Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Neco had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
c Notice
1) God had told Neco to go
2) God did not tell Neco why
JOSIAH WAS OPPOSING GOD – HE MOVED IN THIS ONE INSTANT FROM BEING A GREAT KING TO BEING A MEDDLER!
a) It is God alone who decrees the rise and fall of nations
Isaiah 10:5 "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger,
in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
Jeremiah 51:11 "Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields!
The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes,
because his purpose is to destroy Babylon.
The LORD will take vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
d Josiah had no command to oppose
1) He chose to oppose – he chose to meddle!
Proverbs 20:3 It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
e The result
2 Chron. 35:20-24 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, "What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."
22Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Neco had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
