II Kings 23:24-30, II Chronicles 35:20-26
“Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.” (II Kings 23:24)
Having read the law, Josiah did everything he could to keep it, destroying any idols that were seen and getting rid of all the mediums and psychics he learned about in an effort to follow God’s commands completely. Even Hezekiah had not been as thorough in eliminating the idolatry as 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.” (II Kings 23:25)
Although Josiah was more careful about seeking God than Hezekiah, he was not as successful in turning the nation to God. Hezekiah had shared his ideas and goals with the people and sought their input. The people owned the decision and took the responsibility to eliminate the idolatry. Josiah ordered the idolatry eliminated and the people left it to his officers to do because, although they had agreed with his covenant, they didn‘t feel it was really their decision.
“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.” ” (II Kings 23:26-27)
When Hezekiah died, the people were firmly committed to serving god and Manasseh had to actively lead them into sin. Under Josiah’s leadership, the people followed the law because it was what they had agreed to rather than because of a commitment to God. God knew what was in their hearts, and whether they were doing these things because they wanted to or because it was a way of avoiding a hassle. Jeremiah 17:10 declares, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Without Josiah’s hand on the reins to keep them in line, Judah would go back to the things Manasseh had practiced, and God knew it. The people were only trying to please Josiah and had not really turned to God.
“Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.” (II Kings 23:28-29)
Assyria was starting to decline, and Egypt rebelled against Assyrian rule, invading the land and going northeast to the Euphrates to engage them. Suspecting that if they won, the Egyptians would turn on Judah, Josiah attacked them. II Chronicles 35:20-25 describes the events.
“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.” (II Chronicles 25:20-22)
Pharaoh Necho tried to convince Josiah that he was only trying to break the Assyrians power over Egypt and had no desire to invade Judah. He believed it was God who was directing him to attack Assyria and that Josiah would be going against god to try to stop him. Josiah refused to listen, attacking the Egyptians at Megiddo.
“And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” ( II Chronicles 35:23-24)
“And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre…” (II Kings 23:30a)
In the ensuing battle, Josiah was mortally wounded and asked his servants to take him back to be treated. Transferring him from his war chariot to a more comfortable traveling vehicle, they returned to Jerusalem where he died. Highly respected, he was buried alongside his ancestors and his death was deeply mourned.
“And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.” (II Chronicles 35:25)
Josiah was mourned, not only for his political power, but for his stance for God as well, with the temple singers writing and singing several songs about his death. One of the mourners was Jeremiah the prophet, who had begun his ministry about the middle of Josiah’s reign, according to Jeremiah 1:1-2. Zephaniah also prophesied during Josiah’s reign, according to Zephaniah 1:1.
“Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.” (II Chronicles 35:26-27)
“…And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.” (II Kings 23:30b)
“Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.” (II Kings 23:24)
Having read the law, Josiah did everything he could to keep it, destroying any idols that were seen and getting rid of all the mediums and psychics he learned about in an effort to follow God’s commands completely. Even Hezekiah had not been as thorough in eliminating the idolatry as 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.” (II Kings 23:25)
Although Josiah was more careful about seeking God than Hezekiah, he was not as successful in turning the nation to God. Hezekiah had shared his ideas and goals with the people and sought their input. The people owned the decision and took the responsibility to eliminate the idolatry. Josiah ordered the idolatry eliminated and the people left it to his officers to do because, although they had agreed with his covenant, they didn‘t feel it was really their decision.
“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.” ” (II Kings 23:26-27)
When Hezekiah died, the people were firmly committed to serving god and Manasseh had to actively lead them into sin. Under Josiah’s leadership, the people followed the law because it was what they had agreed to rather than because of a commitment to God. God knew what was in their hearts, and whether they were doing these things because they wanted to or because it was a way of avoiding a hassle. Jeremiah 17:10 declares, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Without Josiah’s hand on the reins to keep them in line, Judah would go back to the things Manasseh had practiced, and God knew it. The people were only trying to please Josiah and had not really turned to God.
“Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.” (II Kings 23:28-29)
Assyria was starting to decline, and Egypt rebelled against Assyrian rule, invading the land and going northeast to the Euphrates to engage them. Suspecting that if they won, the Egyptians would turn on Judah, Josiah attacked them. II Chronicles 35:20-25 describes the events.
“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.” (II Chronicles 25:20-22)
Pharaoh Necho tried to convince Josiah that he was only trying to break the Assyrians power over Egypt and had no desire to invade Judah. He believed it was God who was directing him to attack Assyria and that Josiah would be going against god to try to stop him. Josiah refused to listen, attacking the Egyptians at Megiddo.
“And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” ( II Chronicles 35:23-24)
“And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre…” (II Kings 23:30a)
In the ensuing battle, Josiah was mortally wounded and asked his servants to take him back to be treated. Transferring him from his war chariot to a more comfortable traveling vehicle, they returned to Jerusalem where he died. Highly respected, he was buried alongside his ancestors and his death was deeply mourned.
“And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.” (II Chronicles 35:25)
Josiah was mourned, not only for his political power, but for his stance for God as well, with the temple singers writing and singing several songs about his death. One of the mourners was Jeremiah the prophet, who had begun his ministry about the middle of Josiah’s reign, according to Jeremiah 1:1-2. Zephaniah also prophesied during Josiah’s reign, according to Zephaniah 1:1.
“Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.” (II Chronicles 35:26-27)
“…And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.” (II Kings 23:30b)
No comments:
Post a Comment