The Seeker

Feature 4 – September 2015 – Grace & Truth Magazine

JOSIAH
The Seeker

It is refreshing to see the expression “and he did what was right in the sight of the L ORD ” attached to some of the kings of Israel and Judah. But it is also sad that such a commendation had to be penned in the Scriptures when talking about the people of God, a nation that was to be a light to the Gentiles. The Spirit of God had the inspired writers pen the above expression because so many kings of Israel and Judah did what was “evil in the sight of the L ORD .”

The kings before Josiah, his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon, were both wicked (2 Chr. 33). Manasseh repented after the LORD brought judgment through the Assyrians (2 Chr. 33:10-17), but Amon did not. Josiah was very different. Why? Perhaps an answer is seen in the exercise of his heart, as found in 2 Chronicles 34:3: “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molten images” (NKJV).

Let us explore the good reign of this king based on his seeking the LORD in his youth.

The Early Seeker
Josiah became king at the tender age of eight – likely too young to rule Judah and guide the people of God. Although it is one of the silences of Scripture, we can infer that the LORD had placed godly counselors around this child. Godly adults in the form of parents, grandparents, guardians and Sunday school teachers are always beneficial to children. In fact, fathers are implored to bring up their children in the fear and admonition, or instruction, of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). All parents are directed to “train up a child the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Apparently the godly guidance given to Josiah reaped fruit for God, as we read that in the eighth year of his reign, when he was still young, he conscientiously sought God personally. He sought God for himself and that made all the difference.

Young people, and in fact all people, must make the transition where the God of my fathers becomes my God! David stated in Psalm 23 that the LORD is my shepherd. He further said that I shall not want. The psalm is full of personal pronouns. The young King Josiah crossed the bridge, as it were; he made the transition and walked hand in hand with the LORD. Because his personal relationship with God developed, he was linked to David, Israel’s second king, rather than to kings who taught the people to sin – even his father Amon. He is mentioned with the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). After four years of seeking the LORD and walking with Him, the young king was ready to act on God’s behalf. His marvelous acts are seen in three areas: He purges the house of God, responds to the Word of God and reestablishes the Passover. As we enjoy a personal walk with the Lord, we will do the same: We will be clean and obedient vessels that are sanctified and fit for the Master’s use (2 Tim. 2:19-21), remembering the Lord Jesus Christ as He has requested (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

The Sanctified Seeker
Idolatry had been rampant in Judah and Jerusalem during the reign of Amon. Because King Josiah was in close fellowship with the Lord GOD of Israel, and because he was king, he could use his authority to purge the land. We are reminded in 2 Chronicles 34:3 that he sought the God of his father David. A close walk with God certainly makes sin repulsive, and Josiah must have been repulsed by the images that were in the land and the temple.

As a spiritual man, he has the consciousness to act, and as a king, he has the authority to act. Verses 3-7 describe his actions. He was not worried about the people’s reaction; they were fickle. They had followed a bad king. Now they would follow his rule. It took clear leadership and concentrated effort to purge the land and the temple. Idols had to be found and destroyed, some even ground to dust (v.4).

The apostle Paul revealed the great truth of the house of God to young Timothy: “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). For Christians, the house of God is to be characterized by:

• Order,
• Good conduct and behavior on the part of the saint,
• The presence of the living God, dwelling through the Holy Spirit, and
• The upholding of the truth of the Scriptures because the Church is the pillar, speaking of support and ground, or the foundation, of the truth.

But what has happened? Like in the days of Josiah, the people of God have strayed from the truth. In 2 Timothy 2:19-21, Paul calls the house of God “a great house.” In the great house there were vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Paul encourages godly saints to purge themselves from the dishonorable vessels so they would be “vessels of honor, sanctified and fit for the Master's use, prepared for every good work.” The same way Josiah purged the land and the temple, we must be purged vessels, gathering with those who truly desire to please the Lord, in obedience to Him.

The Seeker Who Builds
Having worked toward purging the land and the temple of idols, King Josiah gave orders for the temple to be repaired (2 Chr. 34:8-16). Building is one of the timeless principles of God (1 Cor. 3:10-15). As repairs were made, Hilkiah found the book of the law. As we walk before the Lord in righteousness, He is able to reveal more of His perfect will to us and show us the next step – both being always found in His Word. Shaphan read the book to Josiah (2 Chr. 34:18). When the king heard the judgments, he tore his clothes (v.19) – a sign of mourning. He repented for himself and the nation. Josiah sent leaders to inquire of the prophetess Huldah and the judgments were confirmed. But Josiah would not see them in his day because of his proper response to the Word of God.

So too, we must respond properly to His Word. If He gives a word of rebuke, we must take it and adjust ourselves. If He sends words of teaching, we must learn them and govern ourselves by them. And if He issues a word of correction, we must change the misguided practices. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

The Obedient Seeker
Finally, Josiah reestablished the Passover: “Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month” (2 Chr. 35:1). The details of the Passover are given in the chapter, where we see that Josiah encouraged the priests in their duties after setting them in order. He instructed the Levites to put the ark of the covenant into temple and to stand in their holy places according to their divisions. He gave the common people 30,000 lambs and 3,000 cattle for the Passover from his personal possessions, and Hilkiah and other leaders followed his example.

Josiah celebrated the feast on the day and month specified in the Law. They had a wonderful and orderly Passover before the LORD. “There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet. And none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept – with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept” (vv.18-19).

Lessons Learned From The Seeker
When all things are in order in our lives, we can have a wonderful time remembering the Lord with His people. The Passover was for Israel; we have the Lord’s Supper (Lk. 22:14-20). It starts with the individual desire to seek the Lord for ourselves as Josiah did. We may not all be young, but we can all seek the Lord. This young king, although not perfect, is an example to all believers. He sought the God of his father David, wanting to know Him personally. Doing so, he then purged the land of idols, responded to the book of the covenant and reestablished the Passover.

We can learn from this boy who became king, and do the same. It is time to seek the Lord!

By Albert Stuart