Introduction:

1. Israel’s history shows the need for strong leadership as their conditions ebbed and flowed with the kings they enthroned.

2. Nothing has changed since these ancient times.

3. Judah’s last great king has so many lessons for us all to learn.

Discussion:

I. Josiah’s Beginnings

A. Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh led Judah so far into pagan sins that they reached the point of no return (2 Kings 21:1-18).

B. His father Amon continued these practices (2 Kings 21:19-26).

C. At the age of 8, Josiah inherited this mess (2 Kings 22:1).

II. Doing God’s Work, Discovering God’s Law

A. Josiah broke the cycle of wickedness and followed his great-grandfather Hezekiah in serving the Lord (2 Kings 18:1-5; 22:2).

B. He began by repairing the temple (2 Kings 22:3-7).

C. After Hilkiah found the law of God, Josiah proved the immense value of a godly leader (2 Kings 22:8-23:27; Proverbs 14:34).

1. He tore his clothes in lamentation (vs. 11; Joshua 7:6).

2. He sought instruction from God (vv. 12-20).

3. Hearing the verdict, he brought the nation back to God by removing the sinful practices of his progenitors (23:1-24).

D. The sweeping nature of these reforms are impressive:

1. All the people were called to hear the law (23:1-2).

2. He renewed the covenant with God (23:3).

3. He removed and burned the vessels for pagan worship which Manasseh brought into God’s temple (21:1-9; 23:4, 6).

4. He removed the idolatrous priests and destroyed the high places with their various implements (23:5, 8-15, 19).

5. He dug up the bones of the deceased idolatrous priests and burned them on the altar at Bethel (23:16-18; 1 Kings 13:2).

6. He then executed the priests on the same altar (23:20).

7. He eliminated the mediums, necromancers, household gods and all the other abominable practices (23:24).

8. He restored the Passover to what it had not been since the days of the judges (23:21-23).

E. He turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might according to all the Law of Moses (23:25; Deuteronomy 6:5).

1. In short, he was all in to obey the will of God at all costs.

2. For this, he was spared from seeing the destruction of his beloved country (22:18-20).

3. Further, he was lauded for his good character (23:25).

F. His life ended in battle because he refused to believe Pharaoh Neco’s claim to speak for God (2 Kings 23:28-30).

III. Applications for Today

A. Family history neither determines nor excuses one’s choices.

B. We are never too young to love and follow God (Ecclesiastes 12:1ff).

C. Having a heart for God is the beginning point (22:2); knowing and obeying His word completes us (22:8-23:27; Ecclesiastes 12:13).

D. No matter the culture into which we are born, we must strive to turn people back to the Lord.

E. To do so, we must love the Lord with all our heart, souls, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5; 2 Kings 23:25; Matthew 22:37).

1. Josiah brought about a remarkable restoration in Judah.

2. His leadership was remarkable, but its power was not his own.

3. Like all the other heroes of faith, Josiah was made of the same things as you and me; humble submission to God is the key.

4. May we all strive to lead our peers back to God like Josiah.