JOSIAH, THE BOY KING
2 Kings 22:1-23:30; 2 Chronicles 34:1-35:27
INTRODUCTION
A. The prophecy (1 Kgs 13:1-3).
B. Fast forward 300 years to its fulfillment (2 Kgs 23:15-16).
I. GOD’S TESTIMONY TO JOSIAH (2 KGS 22:1-2)
A. Josiah’s life epitomizes the truth spoken by his contemporary, Ezekiel the prophet (18:20), for his grandfather and father had led the nation to sink deeper into sin than the nations God destroyed when he brought the Israelites into the Promised Land (2 Kgs 21:9; 2 Chron 33:22).
B. The only thing we can credit for Josiah’s success is his mother, about whom we know nothing other than that she raised a great son.
1. Jeremiah began prophesying in the 13th year of Josiah’s reign and may have influenced the young king. However, most eight-year-old boy kings will be overbearing little bullies, especially with a daddy and grand daddy like Josiah’s.
2. It is hardly likely that had his mother been like the cows of Bashan that Josiah would have had the heart of David (Amos 4:1).
II. JOSIAH’S REFORMS
A. Temple repaired (2 Chron 34:8-13)
B. Book of the Law discovered (2 Chron 34:14-21)
C. The covenant was restored (2 Chron 34:29-33)
D. The Passover was once again observed (2 Chron 35:1-18)
III. JEREMIAH’S INSPIRED STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
A. The return to the “old paths” was in form only (Jer 3:6-10).
B. Jesus’ Parable of the Sower teaches us that much of our “success” is only temporary (Lk 8:1-15).
C. If our mission is to go to heaven and take as many with us as possible, we will not be discouraged with this truth, but will rejoice that we are allowed to be fellow workers with God, and do our work carefully (1 Cor 3:5-15)1
CONCLUSION
A. Godly leaders may stand gallantly for the truth, but the bottom line is that the faithfulness of one person or generation does not pass to the next generation in the way inherited wealth may be passed down—without work on the part of the heirs.
B. It should trouble the hearts of the faithful when they see a generation choosing the path of the world, but we need not burden ourselves with guilt because of their choices; and be sure, each generation will choose the gods whom they will serve.
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“But on this foundation of Christ others built. Paul is not here thinking of the building up of wrong things, but the building up of inadequate things. A man may present to his fellow men a version of Christianity which is weak and watered down; a one-sided thing which has stressed some things too much and others too little, and in which things have got out of balance; a warped thing in which even the greatest matters have emerged distorted” (Barclay).
Paul’s message to those who would teach wrong error is clear (Gal 1:6-9).
