King Josiah

Have you noticed there seems to be a pattern forming when we hear the stories of the Old Testament? God’s relentless pursuit of His people! There is a word that has stood out to me over and over again. It is the word Redemption or to Redeem which means to save us from sin, to make right, regain possession or clearing of a debt.

Josiah was only 8 years old when he became king of Judah. He broke his family cycle and was a good king. His grandpa Manasseh and his father Amon both did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. At the age of 16 Josiah began to seek God. And in the eighteenth year of his reign he wants to purge the land of idol worship and rebuilds the temple to what it was. In doing this, The Law or first 5 books of the Old Testament were found and read to Josiah. He is so overcome with grief that he tears his clothes. Everything changes. He realizes all that was going on was very evil and has the 1st Passover in a long time.

2 Chronicles 34:27 tells us, “You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.”
Josiah was redeemed. He wept before the Lord in repentance. Josiah may have been a great king of his time, “Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.” 2 Kings 23:25, but right after his death the people go right back to their evil ways. Josiah was not the answer to the people’s evil hearts.

What can we learn from the story of Josiah?

– Our past does not have to define us.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Gal. 2:20

– We can be cycle breakers.
In Him we are a new creation, the old is gone! 2 Cor. 5:17

– We need to live out our faith.
Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Phil. 1:27

– God redeems us when we repent of our sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. 1 John 1:9

Only the ONE who created you can forgive you, REDEEM you, take away your emptiness inside and make you whole, give you hope and a future with HIM! That is the ONE TRUE KING Jesus Christ who came and paid the ultimate price for you taking your sins upon himself. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

We are either moving toward Jesus or away from HIM. There is no standing still. Which way are you moving?