It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete, - Deuteronomy 31:24
Good morning everyone!. Today’s sermon focuses on Josiah, the last “good” king of Judah. There are 1½ chapters about Josiah in 2 Kings and 2 chapters about him in 2 Chronicles. That said, we could easily spend a couple of weeks discussing him, but, seeing that we are trying to complete this series by Christmas, I am just going to give you an overview today. I hope you will take some time to read and study these chapters more carefully on your own at home.
I. THE LOST BOOK (2 Kings 22:1-13; 2 Chronicles 34:1-21)
Josiah became king when he was 8 years old after his father Amon was assassinated. He reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years and his mother’s name was Jedidah. He was a good, righteous king who walked in the ways of the LORD and did not veer astray.
During the 18th year of his reign (around the age of 26), King Josiah sent his servant Shaphan to the temple in order to count the money that had been collected for its maintenance and then distribute it among the workers who had made the repairs. When he arrived, Hilkiah the high priest reported that, during the renovations, he had found a lost book of the law (dating back to the days of Moses). Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who, after he’d finished counting the donations and paying the laborers, returned to the palace and read it to the king.
When Josiah heard the words of the book, he was greatly convicted and tore his clothes. He realized that the previous generations, particularly during the recent reigns of Manasseh and Amon, had not obeyed the LORD’s commands and had provoked His wrath. Josiah assembled a team of servants led by Hilkiah to go inquire of the LORD as to what he and the people of Judah should do to make things right.
II. PROPHECY AND COVENANT (2 Kings 22:14-23:3; 2 Chronicles 34:22-33)
Hilkiah and his team came to speak with Huldah the prophetess. She stated that God planned to bring judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah for their perpetual disobedience and sinfulness. However, because Josiah was humble and deeply grieved over his people’s waywardness, the forthcoming destruction would not occur during his reign. Hilkiah brought word back to Josiah.
The king summoned all the people of Judah to gather at the temple in Jerusalem. He read the words of the book of the covenant that had been found to those present. Standing beside the pillar, Josiah pledged to obey all the commandments written in the book and to wholeheartedly honor the LORD’s covenant. All the people agreed and joined in his promise.
III. REFORMS AND PASSOVER (2 Kings 23:4-27; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19)
From the days of his youth, well before Hilkiah’s discovery of the lost book, King Josiah implemented many religious reforms intended to lead his people back to the LORD. These extensive efforts were solidified and accelerated after the lost book of the law was found and read. Josiah’s reforms extended beyond the boundaries of Judah into areas of what had formerly been the northern kingdom.
Josiah brought out all of the vessels in the temple that had been made for false gods, burned them, and carried their ashes to Bethel. He did away with all of the idolatrous priests who burned incense on the high places throughout Judah. He removed the Asherah from the house of the LORD, burned it, ground it to dust, and threw it in the graves of those who worshiped it. He broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes and of the women who wove hangings for Asherah that were in the temple. He tore down the high places and defiled Topheth, the place where parents made their children pass through the fire. He did away with the horses and chariots which had been dedicated to pagan gods. He destroyed heathen altars and sacred pillars. Josiah actively and vigorously sought to purge Judah of its impurity and sinfulness.
Josiah tore down the altar that King Jeroboam had built at Bethel a few centuries earlier just after the northern and southern kingdom split. He ground its stones to dust. Then he looked out upon the mountain and saw all of the graves of Israel’s false priests. He exhumed all of their bones and defiled them by burning them on the demolished altar. However, he did not burn the remains of the prophet from Judah or the old man from Bethel, thereby fulfilling the prophecy which had been made (1 Kings 13:2, 31-32).
Josiah also reinstituted the Passover. The people of Judah commemorated the Passover with a great celebration in Jerusalem. He also removed mediums, spiritists, and all sorts of other abominations throughout the southern kingdom. Josiah turned to the LORD with all of his heart. Nevertheless, God did not alter His previously declared plan to judge Judah for its sin.
IV. UNTIMELY DEATH (2 Kings 23:28-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-27)
Babylon, who had formerly been a part of the Assyrian Empire, had been gaining strength over the past few decades. It had rebelled against the weakening Assyrians and, along with a few allies, had already captured its capital city Nineveh. Assyria had relocated its capital to Haran. In 609 BC, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt marched north to Haran in order to help the Assyrians in their ongoing struggle with Babylon. However, as he and the Egyptian army passed through Judah, Josiah came out to meet them in battle. Josiah didn’t want the Assyrians to succeed and therefore sought to prevent Egypt from assisting them.
Neco asked Josiah to withdraw and let them pass, but he would not. So, though they were not enemies with each other per se, Egypt fought against Judah at the Battle of Megiddo. Tragically, Josiah was killed in the fighting around the age of 39 or 40. His body was brought to Jerusalem where he was buried in his own tomb. All of Judah was devastated and mourned the righteous king’s untimely death. The prophet Jeremiah, who had begun his ministry in Jerusalem during Josiah’s reign, even wrote and chanted a lament for the fallen king. Josiah’s son Johahaz took his place.
CONCLUSION
Before we close, let’s identify a few prominent figures who lived during this time period. I just mentioned Jeremiah - he was the 2nd of the major prophets chronologically, following Isaiah. Also, around this same time, both Zephaniah and Habakkuk lived and prophesied, making them the 8th and 9th minor prophets chronologically. All 3 of these men spoke about the upcoming fall of Judah and urged its people to repent.
Whenever I think about Josiah, my mind always goes to the lost book that was found during his reign. When he read it, realizing that it was the very Word of God as recorded by Moses, he came under great conviction. He didn’t perceive it as out-of-date or irrelevant though it had been written over 800 years earlier. Instead, he held it in great regard and perceived that his people’s plight was a direct result of their disobedience to its laws. Josiah understood that God’s Word had a direct application not only to his life, but to that of Judah and Jerusalem.
That said, I wonder how many professing Christians today have a lost book in their house? Somewhere their Bible just sits on a shelf, collecting dust and slowly turning yellow. Perhaps they know where it is, but they never open it or read it, so its message is lost for all intents and purposes. Friend, do you not realize the immeasurable value and power of God’s Word? It can transform your life, as it did for Josiah and has for countless others over the generations - myself included. Find it. Open it. Read it. Obey it. Share it.
Good morning everyone!. Today’s sermon focuses on Josiah, the last “good” king of Judah. There are 1½ chapters about Josiah in 2 Kings and 2 chapters about him in 2 Chronicles. That said, we could easily spend a couple of weeks discussing him, but, seeing that we are trying to complete this series by Christmas, I am just going to give you an overview today. I hope you will take some time to read and study these chapters more carefully on your own at home.
I. THE LOST BOOK (2 Kings 22:1-13; 2 Chronicles 34:1-21)
Josiah became king when he was 8 years old after his father Amon was assassinated. He reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years and his mother’s name was Jedidah. He was a good, righteous king who walked in the ways of the LORD and did not veer astray.
During the 18th year of his reign (around the age of 26), King Josiah sent his servant Shaphan to the temple in order to count the money that had been collected for its maintenance and then distribute it among the workers who had made the repairs. When he arrived, Hilkiah the high priest reported that, during the renovations, he had found a lost book of the law (dating back to the days of Moses). Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who, after he’d finished counting the donations and paying the laborers, returned to the palace and read it to the king.
When Josiah heard the words of the book, he was greatly convicted and tore his clothes. He realized that the previous generations, particularly during the recent reigns of Manasseh and Amon, had not obeyed the LORD’s commands and had provoked His wrath. Josiah assembled a team of servants led by Hilkiah to go inquire of the LORD as to what he and the people of Judah should do to make things right.
II. PROPHECY AND COVENANT (2 Kings 22:14-23:3; 2 Chronicles 34:22-33)
Hilkiah and his team came to speak with Huldah the prophetess. She stated that God planned to bring judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah for their perpetual disobedience and sinfulness. However, because Josiah was humble and deeply grieved over his people’s waywardness, the forthcoming destruction would not occur during his reign. Hilkiah brought word back to Josiah.
The king summoned all the people of Judah to gather at the temple in Jerusalem. He read the words of the book of the covenant that had been found to those present. Standing beside the pillar, Josiah pledged to obey all the commandments written in the book and to wholeheartedly honor the LORD’s covenant. All the people agreed and joined in his promise.
III. REFORMS AND PASSOVER (2 Kings 23:4-27; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19)
From the days of his youth, well before Hilkiah’s discovery of the lost book, King Josiah implemented many religious reforms intended to lead his people back to the LORD. These extensive efforts were solidified and accelerated after the lost book of the law was found and read. Josiah’s reforms extended beyond the boundaries of Judah into areas of what had formerly been the northern kingdom.
Josiah brought out all of the vessels in the temple that had been made for false gods, burned them, and carried their ashes to Bethel. He did away with all of the idolatrous priests who burned incense on the high places throughout Judah. He removed the Asherah from the house of the LORD, burned it, ground it to dust, and threw it in the graves of those who worshiped it. He broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes and of the women who wove hangings for Asherah that were in the temple. He tore down the high places and defiled Topheth, the place where parents made their children pass through the fire. He did away with the horses and chariots which had been dedicated to pagan gods. He destroyed heathen altars and sacred pillars. Josiah actively and vigorously sought to purge Judah of its impurity and sinfulness.
Josiah tore down the altar that King Jeroboam had built at Bethel a few centuries earlier just after the northern and southern kingdom split. He ground its stones to dust. Then he looked out upon the mountain and saw all of the graves of Israel’s false priests. He exhumed all of their bones and defiled them by burning them on the demolished altar. However, he did not burn the remains of the prophet from Judah or the old man from Bethel, thereby fulfilling the prophecy which had been made (1 Kings 13:2, 31-32).
Josiah also reinstituted the Passover. The people of Judah commemorated the Passover with a great celebration in Jerusalem. He also removed mediums, spiritists, and all sorts of other abominations throughout the southern kingdom. Josiah turned to the LORD with all of his heart. Nevertheless, God did not alter His previously declared plan to judge Judah for its sin.
IV. UNTIMELY DEATH (2 Kings 23:28-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-27)
Babylon, who had formerly been a part of the Assyrian Empire, had been gaining strength over the past few decades. It had rebelled against the weakening Assyrians and, along with a few allies, had already captured its capital city Nineveh. Assyria had relocated its capital to Haran. In 609 BC, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt marched north to Haran in order to help the Assyrians in their ongoing struggle with Babylon. However, as he and the Egyptian army passed through Judah, Josiah came out to meet them in battle. Josiah didn’t want the Assyrians to succeed and therefore sought to prevent Egypt from assisting them.
Neco asked Josiah to withdraw and let them pass, but he would not. So, though they were not enemies with each other per se, Egypt fought against Judah at the Battle of Megiddo. Tragically, Josiah was killed in the fighting around the age of 39 or 40. His body was brought to Jerusalem where he was buried in his own tomb. All of Judah was devastated and mourned the righteous king’s untimely death. The prophet Jeremiah, who had begun his ministry in Jerusalem during Josiah’s reign, even wrote and chanted a lament for the fallen king. Josiah’s son Johahaz took his place.
CONCLUSION
Before we close, let’s identify a few prominent figures who lived during this time period. I just mentioned Jeremiah - he was the 2nd of the major prophets chronologically, following Isaiah. Also, around this same time, both Zephaniah and Habakkuk lived and prophesied, making them the 8th and 9th minor prophets chronologically. All 3 of these men spoke about the upcoming fall of Judah and urged its people to repent.
Whenever I think about Josiah, my mind always goes to the lost book that was found during his reign. When he read it, realizing that it was the very Word of God as recorded by Moses, he came under great conviction. He didn’t perceive it as out-of-date or irrelevant though it had been written over 800 years earlier. Instead, he held it in great regard and perceived that his people’s plight was a direct result of their disobedience to its laws. Josiah understood that God’s Word had a direct application not only to his life, but to that of Judah and Jerusalem.
That said, I wonder how many professing Christians today have a lost book in their house? Somewhere their Bible just sits on a shelf, collecting dust and slowly turning yellow. Perhaps they know where it is, but they never open it or read it, so its message is lost for all intents and purposes. Friend, do you not realize the immeasurable value and power of God’s Word? It can transform your life, as it did for Josiah and has for countless others over the generations - myself included. Find it. Open it. Read it. Obey it. Share it.