Sabbath: Josiah’s Reforms
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25, Hab. 1:2-4, 2 Kings 22, Phil. 2:3-8, 2 Kings 23:1-28, 1 Cor. 5:7.
Memory Text: Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him
(2 Kings 23:25, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goosalt.com
Parents know just how hard it is to see their children, especially when they are older and out of the parents’ control, make choices that they know will hurt them. Of course, this heartache doesn’t apply only to parents and children: Who hasn’t at some point seen friends or relatives or anyone make choices that you knew would be detrimental to them? This is an unfortunate aspect of what it means to have free will. Free will, especially moral free will, means nothing if we don’t have the freedom to make wrong choices. Afree
being who can choose only the right is not truly free, or even truly moral.
Thus, much of Scripture is the story of God warning His people about not making wrong choices. This has been a major part of what the book of Jeremiah is about, too: the pleadings of God, who respects free choice and free will, to His chosen nation.
And though, unfortunately, most of the stories are not good, this week we will get to see a glimmer of hope; that is, we see one of the few kings who, using free will, chose to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 21.
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The sacred role of parents in the home is to be kept fresh in the minds of both adults and young ones by the Fifth Commandment – “Honor your father and your mother…” (Exodus 20:12). All parents bear responsibility to the Creator for what they allow by those in their custody. Wise parents understand that it is cruel, if not criminal to allow the absolute exercise of free will by children in their care.
King Josiah’s mother is named in scripture just ahead of stating that He did right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 22:1-2). The young king was not born perfect or righteous, but clearly his mother used her role well to guide one who would be made king at only eight years of age. Though there is a concerted effort to blur the distinction between male and female roles not all mothers need bow.
Others like the priest Eli who failed to restrain his sons (1 Samuel 3:11-14) and duly reaped the results of his negligence through the depraved conduct of his offspring present an example of parental malpractice (1 Samuel 2:29-31). This among other things eventually led to the departure of the glory of God from Israel (1 Samuel 4:10-22).
The Holy Father takes His parenting seriously. Answering to no one He holds Himself responsible to some degree for what happens to the children on earth (Psalm 103:19-22). To this end scripture sometimes credits Jehovah with doing things He could prevent but chose not to in order to satisfy the greater purpose of His eternal will for the universe (Daniel 2:21).
When God restrains or restricts His children at home, or those estranged, so they may not exercise to the fullest extent their will, it is for their good and the good of God’s kingdom (Romans 8:28). Be glad that you have not done everything that has crossed your mind to do. Be glad the Lord stopped some thoughts and actions before they reached maturity. Be glad the Father is looking out for you.
Choices!
The serpent said two things in the Garden - were they both lies?
1. You shall not die
2. You will know good and evil
The first was a lie, but the second was true, Adam & Eve and all of us now know good and evil.
According to Eve what was her choice? To get wisdom or not to get wisdom.
The real choice was trust Jehovah or trust the serpent.
In Jeremiah's time they thought the choice was trust the established church or trust this doom saying prophet but the real choice was (and still is), trust Jehovah or trust the serpent who tells you can do whatever you feel like without any consequences.
As a parent, I can only teach, encourage and pray that my children make a choice of faith in God Almighty the Creator with their free-will choice. When I study the Scriptures in Hebrews 11, its Gods servants with faith in Him. The interesting thing is that Hebrews 11 does not mention any of their children, why? King Josiah could easily have followed his father and grand father but by faith (I believe) chose to do what is right in the eyes of God. Everyone of us has to make that choice of faith and by His grace we may have our names in that book. Our children included.
God bless!
The Memory Text regarding JOSIAH is interesting, because there are very similar words written concerning Hezekiah :
2Kings 18:5 Hezekiah "trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
In terms of 'ranking' the kings of Judah and Israel, it seems that we would do well to exercise some caution. Hezekiah's individuality, and his trust in God, rendered him a great man. Josiah's individuality, and his turning to God to do His will, rendered him a great man too.
There was none like Hezekiah, before or after; and there was none like Josiah, before or after.
"For in the eighth year of [Josiah's] 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."(2Chron 34:3)
It appears that in Josiah's case, it was not until he was 16 that he actually "began to seek after" God. And according to the same verse, it was about 4 years later that he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem, opening the work of national reform. I think we are mistaken if we see Josiah, as an 8 year old boy, initiating religious reforms... it looks like he was 20 years old when he actively began this work. Am I mistaken on this point?
It is unfortunate we aren't given more details of Josiah's early life. In fact I had thought we did have more, until I dug in. I think it is safe to say that at 8 years old he didn't do much 'reigning'. He was more of a figure head under the guidance of older people--possibly some of the ones who deposed his father. It is interesting and unusual that they didn't try to assume the throne themselves (typical) which suggests they may have had more Godly motives.
In any event his turning to God 8 years later at age 16 doesn't necessarily mean that those first 8 years were evil. It only means that his commitment wasn't made until that point. It is possible his whole reign was headed in a positive direction, but not until he was 16 did he fully appreciate an accept the responsibility placed on him and make the decision to aggressively embrace that mission.
Like King Josiah, we are supposed to turn to God and also help others. Josiah was still young but he chose the way of God. In 2 Kings 23:1-The happy continuance of the goodness of Josiah's reign, and the progress of the reformation he began, reading the law (v. 1, 2), renewing the covenant (v. 3), cleansing the temple (v. 4), and rooting out idols and idolatry in all places, as far as his power reached, places him as one of the best kings that ever sat upon the throne of David. He was sincere and had zeal in carrying on the work of reformation. King Josiah also fulfilled the commandment of God to put away those who practiced the occult and spiritualism. For this there was none like him.
The great reformation in the days of Josiah is an example of simply going back to the word of God and seeking to base all thought and practice on what God has revealed in His word. Why there was no king like him is because Josiah was one of the most remarkable kings of Judah, unique in the strength of his obedience and commitment. He stands as a wonderful example of what a leader can and should be.
There were other great kings of Judah and the united kingdom of Israel - such as David and Hezekiah. Yet one thing that made Josiah unique was his godliness in his day. He lived in a remarkably wicked time, so his godliness was remarkable against the backdrop of his times.
He turned to the Lord from whom his fathers had revolted. It is true religion to turn to God as one we have chosen and love. He did what he could to turn his kingdom also to the Lord and this he did with his heart and soul; his affections and aims were right in what he did. We make nothing of our religion if we do not make heart-work of it.
Lord warn Isreal not to turn from him
Josiah is to me the Type to the last days young people who will finish the work of the Lord and I must praise God for preparing our young minds who will lead the charge tomorrow as the final curtain of this world comes to a final play. So I must take this time to thank our mom and dads for grooming our modern day Josiah (boys and girls). Must thank our Sabbath School Teachers, Youth & Pathfinders Directors, School Teachers both SDA and Non SDA, and members in molding and shaping by encouragement or by example. I believe history will come to play as the Waldensian and Huguenots children help spread the Eternal Gospel then would re-enacted again with our kids. God is a Good Lord He will not allow our elderly to go through the impending day of Jacob's Trouble that is coming at the Doorstep. So lets take courage and let us continue to persevere for our kids and youth as we prepare for the last onslaught of the Devil
The Act of the Apostles is an awesome book Sister White explains the way Josiah’s Reforms takes place and how his intersection for the people of God changed their lives as well as the warning of the future. How foolish of us not to take heed to the warning that the lord is given us in this time of all our lives rest assure we will not be excuse for not warning the world of the Judgment that is about to come on the earth.
Ruby, perhaps you meant Prophets and Kings rather than the Acts of the Apostles. What was so significant about the way Josiah's reforms took place and how is it applicable to us today?