2 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 34 - Josiah: The Boy Ruler Turned Reformer

LINK: 2 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 34 (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Josiah of Judah - 2 Kings 21:26-23:30; 2 Chronicles 33:25-36:1

Reigned: 640-609 B.C. for 31 years
Character: The Best
Manner of death: Killed in battle by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt 

During Josiah's reign, Nineveh, the capital of the powerful Assyria that carried Israel away in 722 B.C., was destroyed in 612 B.C. by the Babylonians. In 609 B.C., the whole Assyrian Empire fell to the Babylonians.

Josiah reigned righteously and followed God completely. The 2 Chronicles account says that he began to seek the God of his father David when he was 16 years old and began to purge Judah of the high places, Asherim, and carved and molten images at age 20 (2 Chronicles 34:3-7). When he turned 26, he found the Book of the Law. One reading had such an impact on him that it changed the course of the nation of Judah and staved off God's judgment on Judah's idolatrous ways for a few more decades.

The prophets Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk prophesied during Josiah's reign.

REFLECTION and APPLICATION

Reading Josiah's humble reaction to finding and reading the Book of the Law reminded me of this video that I saw many years ago. It is a documentary of the humble reaction of the Mouk people of Papua New Guinea when they heard the Word of the Lord for the first time. Please watch it and weep for joy! It is eight minutes, but it is incredible. Their response is 11 minutes in. You will be VERY happy you watched it!

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the wholehearted example of Josiah and the Mouk people who heard Your Word and responded in obedience! May we have that kind of response when we hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate on Your precious Word. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.