THE REVIVAL KINGS # 5 JOSIAH II CHRON. 34,35 & II KINGS 22,23
The Revival That Wasn’t Too Late.
Introduction
This morning we come to the last great revivals under Josiah. He was the last of the Revival Kings.
Asa - Jehoshaphat - Joash - Hezekiah - and now Josiah
The hour is late in the history of Judah - it is 5 minutes before midnight in the history of the nation and yet God is about to send Revival.
The reign of King Josiah follows the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, two of the wickedest kings that Judah had. They had plunged the nation deep into idolatry and sin.
Josiah was the great, great grandson of Hezekiah - one of the godliest kings of Judah.
Josiah was also the grandson of Manasseh - the wickedest king of Judah.
( the story of Manasseh is a wonderful story, it is the story of a wicked king that found grace, but that’s another sermon.)
You might think that after the evil reigns of Manasseh and Amon that there would be no hope for the nation, but there is always hope in God. God is a God of hope.
Remember - God is still sovereign in the matter of revival. Revival always begins with God. We may think that it begins with us but in reality it begins when God begins to move in the hearts of man.
This morning open your Bible to II Kings 22 and II Chron. 34. Keep your finger on each passage because we will be back and forth between them.
Remember - The books of Kings presents a historical account of the histories of Judah and Israel.
The books of Chronicles presents the events from "God’s viewpoint".
This morning I want us to notice several things about Revival.
I. Revival is Personal and Individual II Chron. 34
1. The boy king Vs. 1
He was 8 years old when he began to reign.
2. Three things said here of young Josiah. Vs. 2
a. He did that which was right "in the sight of the Lord".
1.) Not in the sight of man but in the sight of God.
2.) We could learn from that today.
Not in the sight of "political correctness"
Not in the sight of "intellectual pressure"
Not in the sight of the "world"
b. He walked in the ways of David his father.
Remember, David was the standard by which God measured the kings. David was a "10"
c. He walked the straight line. He didn’t waver.
3. At age 16 - He began to seek the Lord.
In the first 8 years of his reign he probably reigned through a regent or advisor - a godly one. It was probably the priest, Hilkiah, but the Bible doesn’t say. PARENTS - GODLY INFLUENCE MATTERS.
4. At age 20 - He began his reforms - He came into his own. Vs. 3b
II. Josiah’s Reforms
Remember true revival has two sided. I doesn’t just mean turning to God - it means turning from some things. There is a positive side and a negative side to true revival.
THE NEGATIVE SIDE
1. He destroyed the altars of Baal and its idols Vs. 4,5
He destroyed the idols so completely that he ground them to dust so they could never be used again.
He polluted the altars with the bones of the dead priests of Baal to make them unfit for worship’
2. He was thorough - all the land that he had control over Vs. 6,7
3. How thorough was he - II kings 23
a.) Vs. 7 - He destroyed the houses of the homosexual temple prostitutes
b.) Vs. 9 - He did away with child sacrifice
c.) Vs. 24 - He did away with those who dealt with unclean spirits’
Psychics, Astrology , Mediums, "white witches",
He closed the "doorways" to the occult
THE POSITIVE SIDE
1. Josiah repaired the temple. II Chron. 34:8-13
2. He raised money of repairs
3. The men worked faithfully
4. Honesty II kings 22:7
III. Josiah’s Discovery - The Word of God II Chron. 34:14-17
While cleaning out the Temple they found something long forgotten - The Word of God.
It’s interesting where God’s Word had been lost -- In the Temple.
Could the Word of God be lost and forgotten in the church today. Programs - Quarterlies - Rituals.
IV. Josiah’s Response
1. Repentance - He humbled himself. Vs. 18,19
2. He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21
V. God’s Response II Chron 34:22,23
1. Justice - Vs. 24,25
2. Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-28
3. Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one. Vs. 31
VI. The Passover Kept II Chron. 35
The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.
Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.
Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.
VII. Josiah’s Death - Feet of Clay
Josiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years. He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.
One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.
Conclusion
What do we as Christians need to learn from these Revivals?
1. Revival is first of all Individual and Personal.
2. Revival involves both taking something out of our lives - SIN
and putting something back into our lives - DEDICATION TO GOD
3. Revival involves a return to the Word of God.
