Josiah – Part 1 – The Boy King

Josiah, the Boy King

Part 1

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. (2 Chronicles 34:1)

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. (2 Chronicles 34:2)

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Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. (Proverbs 4:26)

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:27)

The Historical Scene Setting Background

    Can any of us imagine leading a country or a nation at the age of eight; and yet, Josiah came to the throne at this young age. In the history of Israel there had been others who came to the throne in their early years, for example Joash was seven years old when he began his reign as monarch. And much like Josiah, Joash came at a time of Baal worship. In fact, Athaliah (the daughter of Jezebel) reigned as queen over Judah for seven years and had brought Baal worship in it’s fullness to the southern kingdom. Athaliah was the only queen to rule over Judah. Joash (the only child to survive of David’s line) was rescued from Athaliah’s attempt to destroy all the seed royal because of the quick actions of a godly priest (Jehoiada) and his faithful and brave daughter. Seven years later Athaliah was slain by the priests at the direction of Jehoiada, and Joash (the rightful heir) was placed on the throne at the age of seven. As long as Jehoiada lived Joash was faithful unto Jehovah; however, when Jehoiada died at the age of 130, Joash turned to engage in evil acts with the encouragement and counsel from the young, arrogant princes who surrounded his throne. When Joash was rebuked by Zechariah (a priest and son of Jehoiada) he was slaughtered by the orders of Joash.

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. (2 Chronicles 24:20)

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 24:21)

Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it. (2 Chronicles 24:22)

   The difference between Josiah and Joash was that Joash had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5) Josiah had the convictions to walk in the ways of David for he did not turn to the right or to the left, but kept his face steadfast in God’s will and by the direction of the Holy Spirit of God.

   What was the condition of the kingdom that Josiah faced at the very beginning of his rule? Since the days of Hezekiah there had been two (2) ungodly kings over a (57) fifty-seven-year span. Manasseh (Josiah grandfather) reigned fifty-five years (55), and Amon (Manasseh’s son) reigned two (2) years in Jerusalem. Amon (Josiah’s father) was slain in his own house by his servants, and like Jehoram (a previous monarch) Amon also departed not being desired. It is recorded of Jehoram: Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. (2 Chronicles 21:20)

   It is a sad thing for any leader of any nation to depart not being desired of that nation. Josiah came to a nation in disarray and given over to Baal worship. We are sure that there were still memories of Hezekiah’s wonderful reign; yet there had been fifty-seven (57) years of tyranny. Manasseh’s reign was so tragic that he offered his sons and daughters to the fire-god Molech, and caused the blood of his people to flow in the streets of Jerusalem; Amon, Manasseh’s son was no better. His servants slew Amon and the people made his son, Josiah, king. The people also dealt with the conspirators in 2 Chronicles 23:35 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

The Prophecy

   During the reign of Jeroboam (first monarch of the northern kingdom) approximately three hundred and forty years (340) before Josiah came to the throne, an unnamed and unknown servant of God * from Judah prophesied about a child king who would be named Josiah.

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. (1 Kings 13:1)

And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. (1 Kings 13:2)

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. (1 Kings 13:3)

   The first question we have is “Why did God give this prophecy at this particular time period in the days of Jeroboam.?” The location of the altar in Bethel (house of God) has a specific meaning. It was here in Bethel that Abraham built his first altar to God and was assured of the promises given to him by God concerning his seed, and the future of their inheritance in the land. This is a place that God had chosen to be the house of God in Abraham’s day.

   The division of the twelve tribes and the leadership of Jeroboam was key. He had spent years in exile in Egypt and had learned all the wickedness of the worship of Baal, and the history of Egypt’s golden calves. When Jeroboam came to power over the northern ten (10) tribes, called Israel, he established Baal worship in both Dan (the most northern part of the kingdom), and Bethel (the most southern part of the kingdom) to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem to worship the true God of heaven and earth. (The southern kingdom contained only 2 tribes, Benjamin and Judah, and was referred to as the kingdom of Judah.)

   Let us set the scene in Bethel: we have Jeroboam, an apostate king; we have the golden calf of Baal to stand between Jerusalem and Jeroboam’s kingdom as a new object of worship; and we have the altar of Baal to establish a new place of sacrifice. The golden calf usurped authority over the house of God (Bethel). The altar usurped authority over the altar that was built by Abraham — a substitute of worship. Looking much like Abraham’s altar; yet, without the presence of God Almighty. The altar of Jeroboam was built in the spirit of man to usurp God’s rightful place. What a dreadful scene we have. It is at this point in time and at this place in time that the Almighty God sent His servant, the prophet from Judah, to rebuke this altar. (1 Kings 13:2) And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. By Jehovah sending His prophet from Judah, He was tying Jerusalem to Bethel; for Jerusalem is the city of the great King and the place of God’s throne. Why did God tie these two places together for us? Why Jerusalem and Bethel? To answer this we must move back in time to Jacob’s vision of the ladder ascending up to heaven, and the Lord standing at the top; this also took place at Bethel. Here at Bethel God reaffirmed His promises to Jacob that He had given to Abraham when Abraham was at Bethel. We not only have two places tied together, but we have two patriarchs tied together — Abraham and Jacob.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12)

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; (Genesis 28:13)

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 28:14)

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Genesis 28:15)

   Now, let us move forward in time to the Gospel of John. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51) In the dream of Jacob, the Lord Jesus was seen standing at the top of the ladder. He is there in authority giving to Jacob a reassurance of the promises made to Abraham. It is now from this place (Bethel) that Jacob’s seed enters into the promises of God. The Lord does not descend, but the angels of God are ascending and descending. This is the ministry of angels to man. In the vision of Nathanael in the Book of John, Nathaniel is under a fig tree; the fig tree is a symbol of the nation of Israel in a righteous position before God. The vision of Nathaniel reveals the Son of God, the King of Israel. When Nathanael met the Lord, the Lord described the vision that Nathanael had; however, the Lord is seen on earth, and the angels are ascending (going up from the earth) and descending (coming down to the earth) upon the Son of man, who is Christ. What this shows us of the Son of man is that He is Omnipresent, both at the top of the ladder, and at the same time at the bottom of the ladder. At that time Nathanael recognized the Lord Jesus from his vision, and that is why Nathanael declared the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God, the King of Israel.

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (John 1:48)

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. (John 1:50)

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)

The Two Visions Tied Together

   The vision of Jacob and the vision of Nathanael are both tied to Bethel and Jerusalem; thus, establishing these places as one in God’s prophetic picture. This leads us to the prophecy concerning Josiah. As Jacob’s dream and Nathanael’s vision were part of the same prophecy, so Josiah’s reign being the fulfillment of prophecy also speaks of the Lord reigning over Jerusalem in His millennial kingdom in righteousness. Many prophecies have more than one leg. The Holy Spirit has given these prophecies to enlighten and encourage us in God’s purpose and plan. We will return to this prophecy as we study the life of Josiah.

   Let us go back to the beginning of his reign . . . He was eight (8) years old when he began to reign. God the Holy Spirit draws our attention to the number eight (8) for this number stands for a new beginning. It is the eighth day that is the day of resurrection, which was also called the first day of the week, both giving light to what is supernatural in God. On the first day of Genesis God divided the light from the darkness.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4)

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:5)

    This was His supernatural light which He declared by the word of His power to divide the darkness and show forth the glory of God. His light was a divine decree. In the supernatural order, He is the harbinger of all true light. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:4-5) The sun and the moon were not given until the fourth (4) day. (Genesis 1:16-19) All of God’s light to man must come in a supernatural order. For His light reveals the darkness and divides the darkness. In Him was the light of man, the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. The number eight reveals od’s new beginning. On the eighth day, or the day of resurrection, we receive greater light in the words ‘He is not here, He has risen.’ This was the beginning of a new day for all mankind. For now, we have the risen man, Christ Jesus, who has completed the work of redemption upon the cross of Calvary through His death and suffering.

   Josiah being eight years old establishes a new beginning for Israel. In the divine sense, even though Israel had not repented, God was sending His divine light in Josiah to deliver Israel out of the darkness; as Christ has delivered us out of our darkness to glory in the marvelous light of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:(1 Peter 2:9)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.(James 1:17)

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)

The Eighth Day

   These Scriptures confirm that God is the harbinger of light. No matter what time period of man’s history it is God the Son who gives light unto man; and without His light, we are of all men most miserable. In reference to the eighth day, we will anchor our thought from the Book of Leviticus. These verses establish the eighth day, nine (9) times in the Book of Leviticus God the Holy Spirit draws us into the eighth day.

1. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; (Leviticus 9:1)

2. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:3)

3. And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. (Leviticus 14:10)

4. And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. (Leviticus 14: 23)

5. And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest: (Leviticus 15:14)

6. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 15:29)

7. When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 22:27)

8. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:36)

9. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. (Leviticus 23:39)

   Even though I have taken these verses out of context, we see that they individually establish God’s eighth day; whether it be the cleansing of the leper, or the establishment of circumcision under the law, or the cleansing of the priest, or the eighth day of the holy convocation; we have God establishing this eighth day as a type of the day of resurrection in our Lord Jesus Christ.

   In Ezekiel we have a prophecy concerning the millennial day or the reign of Christ. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 43:27) These verses should give us a better understanding of the eighth day (they are not a complete view of the number eight), looking back in the old economy under the law then looking forward to the bright morning of resurrection, and onward to the fuller glory of Israel when she beholds her King.

   We see a need of dependency upon Jehovah in the youth of Josiah, being only eight years old. In fact, Josiah’s name means ‘supported by Jehovah.’ This is very fitting, for surely at this age he was cast upon the Lord. It was his grandfather who offered his children to the fire-god Molech, and we have confirmation that this practice continued into the days of Amon, the father of Josiah. And he (Josiah) defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. (2 Kings 23:10) It is no surprise, therefore, that God was tired of the sins of Israel. For all the children are the Lords, and Jehovah will exact His vengeance on any nation that destroys His children. In the United States of America, we are (to date) over 55,000,000 (55 million) children who have passed through the fires of Molech in the abortion clinics of this country. Who is going to pay this price? This nation that falsely claims to be under God and mistakenly believes that it is indivisible is going to pay the price for their hypocrisy and evil when God rains down His fire of judgment upon the people of this land. No one takes the life of even one of God’s children and gets away with it — for every member of His children is written in His book before the foundations of the earth — and He will recompense.

   The name Amon means ‘a proclaimer of oneself,’ and/or ‘skilled in flamboyant speech.’ Amon left this world after a two (2) year reign on the throne. Even his servants could not put up with his ungodliness; consequently, they conspired against him and killed him, but this was only fulfilling God’s purpose and will.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. (Job 34:16)

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? (Job 34:17)

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?(Job 34:18)

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. (Job 34:19)

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. (Job 34:20)

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. (Job 34:21)

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. (Job 34:22)

For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. (Job 34:23)

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. (Job 34:23)

. . . . . . . so Amon was no more, he had filled up the cup of God’s wrath against himself, and the hammer of God’s judgment fell upon him. I would also like to bring this to your attention, even though these men were carrying out the will of God they were responsible for their own evil works. For God has said, ‘touch not my anointed.’ [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. (Psalm 105:15)

   The people of Jerusalem must have realized this truth from the word of God, for they took the conspirators and slew them. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. (2 Chronicles 33:24-25)

    Amon had failed to see that all governments is divinely in God’s hands; yet man must be told through God’s judgment when man is not reigning in righteousness. It is God who rules in the kingdoms of men. (Daniel 4:31-37)

While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. (Daniel 4:31)

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:32)

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.(Daniel 4:33)

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (Daniel 4:34)

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35)

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (Daniel 4:36)

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)

   Even a tyrant is under the hand of the Sovereignty of God. God is able to use a tyrant in His hand of Sovereignty to judge evil nations. With their own evil they are judged. The evil that one allows is usually the same evil, when spread throughout the entire kingdom, that they come to despise and hate when it affects one’s own person. This was the kingdom that this young child king entered into. He was chosen of God before he was born. He was the fulfillment of God’s prophecy; and yet, Josiah would not realize this until he destroyed the altar at Bethel. Amen

The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)

* Possibly, Iddo, the seer (2 Chronicles 9:29)

© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh

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All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)