Josiah, The Boy King
Part 2
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)
. . . . . and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. (2 Chronicles 33:25)
The sovereignty of God is an absolute; however, man tries to regulate God’s sovereignty in His rebellious will against the Almighty God. The Spirit of God is found in Genesis 1:1 hovering over the face of the deep. What takes place in the next six (6) days are a tribute and an understanding of God’s Sovereignty over all things. It is indisputable that God created all things and He created them for His own pleasure whether it be minerals, or vegetables, animals or even man, all have been created for the pleasure of God. Because of Pentecost some Christians feel that the Spirit of God did not move upon the hearts of men in the Old Testament. Although the Spirit of God works differently in the age of grace concerning that grace, for He is the ambassador of Christ to us. He has been sent to lead us into all truth whether New Testament or Old, that we through the Scriptures can be brought into a relationship with the Son of God by the divine working of the Spirit of God through the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. On the day of Pentecost all who were present were affected by the movement of the Holy Ghost. It was the moving of the Holy Ghost that united them together, and consequently, they went forth in the power of the Spirit of God to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Josiah we see a movement of the Holy Ghost fulfilling prophecy and bringing the hearts of the people by the divine sovereignty of God in their willingness to make Josiah king of Judah. Truly, the God of heaven works in His sovereignty over the kingdoms of men.
Eight (8) years old and chosen of God to lead the nation of Israel out of darkness. Josiah was given a godly mother, and a godly grandfather by God. Jedidah, his mother, was given of God. Her name means ‘beloved of Jehovah.’ Remember that Josiah’s name means ‘supported of Jehovah,’ and this godly mother was part of that support. Her father, Adaiah, was also a godly man and part of God’s support system for this young eight year old king. Adaiah means ‘adorned by Jehovah.’ The Holy Ghost placed these names before us to show His divine care of this child. Both Josiah’s mother and her father were called to nurture this child in the things of God. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1)
The Wisdom of God
Chapter 8 of Proverbs is a must study for every Christian. For in Proverbs 8 you are embraced by the wisdom of God and it is Christ who is called the wisdom of God ( Luke 11:45- 49) who cries out and mercifully encourages your heart and soul in His divine Person. When you approach Proverbs 8 with the sovereignty of God it opens this chapter as a rose blooms in the spring. Each verse becomes a petal of divine wisdom to the soul who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. This proverb would have been part of Josiah’s teaching and he responded to it as a child of God.
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: (Luke 11:49)
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Proverbs 8 was given to us by the Holy Spirit through Solomon, the son of David. God takes us back to the days of Solomon by using the name Jedidah (the mother of Josiah). After Bathsheba and David named their child Solomon, Nathan (the prophet) came and named this child Jedidiah, ‘beloved of the Lord,’ and this name was given to Solomon by the Lord through Nathan, the prophet. Through the name of Jedidah (Josiah’s mother) ‘beloved of Jehovah’ we are led back in time to be connected to the other name of Solomon Jedidiah (beloved of Jehovah) named by Nathan as instructed by the LORD.
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. (2 Samuel 12:24)
And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. (2 Samuel 12:25)
Is not the Holy Spirit drawing us into the heart of this boy king Josiah. In 2 Chronicles 34:2 the Holy Spirit begins to build the character of this son of David. For once again, like Hezekiah, Josiah is brought into a relationship with David as his father.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)
There is a silence presented to us from Josiah’s coronation at eight years old and the eighth year of his reign bringing us to the age of sixteen (16). During this silent time Josiah was under the divine care of God, his mother, and his godly grandfather who was Josiah’s mentors in the things of God. At this point in time it is recorded that Josiah began to seek after the God of David, his father. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11) Now Josiah takes it upon himself to seek after the Lord.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:5)
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. (Psalm 32:6)
Josiah would by this time know the Psalms of David, and would be aware of all that David was to the kingdom of Israel, and also the blessings that God had in store for him if he walked after the ways of David. We have a testimony at the end of the life of Josiah. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. (2 Kings 23:25) I mention this verse at this time to show you what Josiah learned in his youth concerning the truth of Jehovah carried him and supported him all the days of his life. Truly, Josiah was supported of the Lord. In his youth the Holy Spirit was probing the heart and soul of Josiah. This applies to all men, whether young or old. The heart must seek the Lord and in truthfully seeking, He will be found of that soul. This is all part of the process of salvation. It is God who begins the holy work of salvation. The Holy Spirit of God sows the seed of Christ, troubles the soul of it’s need until that soul collapses at the cross of Christ, and asks for mercy through the divine blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary by the Son of God. In our day, we are well aware of the difference between the good seed and the wayward seed. It is the seed that falls on good ground that we must nurture. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus gave the parable of the seeds that are sown in this world. (Matthew 13:18-23) Read and meditate on these precious verses. Let the Holy Spirit discern them in your hearts and souls. We are not talking about temporal things, we are talking about eternity, and about your soul and the souls around you.
This young king, Josiah, sets forth to establish his faith. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26) Josiah, therefore, sets his face against the wind of opposition against his God. The work of the Holy Spirit is bestowed on a willing heart and soul of the young king. In the twelfth year of his reign which brings him to the age of twenty (20) he began the outward work of his convictions. The twelfth year of his reign would encompass all of Israel (all twelve tribes) for he would not be satisfied in cleansing just Jerusalem and Judah. He would cleanse the whole nation of Israel of the sin of idolatry and do everything possible to bring the hearts of the people back to Jehovah and the love of the truth. In the study of the history of Israel, this would be Israel’s last chance to be united once again as the twelve tribes of Israel under one king.
The Cleansing of Israel
The cleansing of Israel would be a monumental task, and Josiah would whole heartedly commit himself to this work. The altars of Baal and the priests of Baal would be destroyed throughout the whole land.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. (2 Chronicles 34:3)
And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. (2 Chronicles 34:4)
Josiah was so committed that he amassed his army of purification, and as king went forth with them; that they would know his presence and be under his complete supervision as he cleansed Israel by the direction of God the Holy Spirit. In the process he did something that not even Hezekiah had done. Josiah burnt the bones of the priests and destroyed the priesthood of Baal. He incinerated them on their own altars. Not since the days of Elijah had such a purging taken place. For Elijah had destroyed 850 prophets of Baal in the days of Ahab and Jezebel.
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. (1 Kings 18:19)
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. (1 Kings 18:40)
Both in the days of Elijah and Josiah, the people of Israel were given over to Baal worship. This was truly spiritual wickedness in high places. The priests of Baal had set up a rule of their own, and had approval of the people and their evil kings such as Ahab, Manasseh, and Amon. Throughout the history of Israel the people were prone to worship Baal. Josiah was determined to purge the whole land and finally rid Israel of Baal. The world in it’s wisdom would turn away from this young king, but God was working in the hearts of men around this king to confound the wisdom of this world.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Corinthians 1:19)
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (1 Corinthians 1:22)
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:23)
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26)
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:28)
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (1 Corinthians 1:28)
That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:29)
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31)
The Only King Who Had a Prophetic Legacy
What was different now from all the previous kings of Judah? Some good, some bad, but this king (Josiah) was different from them all. He was the only king who had a prophetic legacy. He was the only king who purged all the land of Israel. He was the only king to celebrate a Passover all the way back to the days of Samuel, the prophet, and according to the law of Moses. He was a child of prophecy and he walked in the ways of the Lord and fulfilled his prophetic place in God’s divine order.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)