The Last Good King

Mark Dunagan
12/02/12 - Sunday Evening

The Last Good King

2 Kings 23:25

Josiah was the 16th king of Judah, and he was eight years old when he ascended to the throne (2 Chronicles 34:1).  There were a number of things that could have discouraged or prevented Josiah from being a godly king:  1.  His father and grandfather had been very wicked (33:23).  2.   He was ruling over a nation in a state of political and moral decline.  3.  He was very young when given such responsibility.  Yet it looks like he was surrounded by good and godly advisors—and he listened to them.

Sweet Sixteen

In the eighth year of his reign, when he was 16 the text says that “he began to seek the God of his father David” (34:3).   I am impressed that:  1. His position of power had not corrupted him, instead of becoming arrogant, he was humbled by his responsibilities.  2. Even though he had a job that demanded much of his attention, and the nation had many problems, he deliberately took the time to seek God.  It is very important what one believes and the outlook on life that one chooses in the teenage years.  This is when ideas that have consequences are set and the state of mind I choose at this time can determine the rest of my life (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

“I Don’t Have the Time”

This common excuse does not fair so well when measured against Josiah.  He was extremely busy, and yet had the time to serve and pursue God.  When it comes to time management, I find the following principles or guidelines helpful:

• We are not the first generation pressed for time.  When modern people complain about 12 hour days they easily forget that most people in the past, farmers, housewives, etc...all worked 12 plus hour days.  The 8-5 work day and the 40 hour work week are more of a modern invention than a standard throughout time.  If the farmer in time past who worked from before sun up to past sun down still had time to pray, read his Bible, attend services, go to gospel meetings and help his neighbor then we have the time to do as well.
• “Washers, dryers, garage door openers, microwaves, personal computers, electric can openers, double ovens, sewing machines, remote controls, answering machines, and dishwashers---all designed to save us time.  Ironic isn’t it?  What have we done with all the time we have saved?  Some sociologists fell that advanced technology has encouraged individuality and isolation, that we have turned our efforts toward becoming a success as an individual, and that we have lost the concept of succeeding as a family” (Covenant Marriage, Gary Chapman, pp. 98-99).
• Complaining that we do not have time to do the things we are morally obligated to do, such as seeking God and serving others is an indictment against our Creator.  That He either expects too much from us or was unwise in the way He designed our 24 hour day. 
• One couple with six children was asked, “How do you do it all?”  They replied, “We don’t”.  Using my time wisely means that I cannot presently do everything that I might want to do.  I must make some wise choices.
• Remove the commitment to things that are not helping you spiritually.
• Look at your daily schedule, go hour by hour and you will find time you can reclaim.
• Do not buy into the idea that other people and situations are making it where you don’t have time.  People and situations only take time from us when we allow them.
• Couples can gain time by delegating some household chores to their children.  Remember, children do not automatically and magically become responsible adults when they hit 18.  Equally remember that when you delegate chores, your children or your mate may not exactly do that chore as you would do.  But the objective is not perfection, but rather, children learning responsibility and the redeeming of your time.

The Importance of Mentors

The Bible equally mentions that Josiah had access to other men during this period of time who wanted to serve God as well (2 Kings 22:10; 23:1-2).   In the Bible we have a number of relationships where a young man was learning from an older man, such as Joshua and Moses, Elisha and Elijah, Timothy, Titus and Paul.  We equally have verses that stress the need to train the next generation, “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).  Paul also frequently commends Timothy for following and adhering to his instruction (2 Timothy 3:14; 1:13).

Is There a Lack Today?

I recently read an article from the denominational world in which the writer said that while older Christians spent a lot of time mentoring young men, the next generation (baby boomers) tend to have neglected this.  “Churches, marriages, families, and communities continue to suffer because older men are not shepherding younger ones. Older men mentoring younger men, life-on-life, is not just a good idea, it is commanded and modeled throughout the entire biblical story (1 Tim 5:1, Titus 2:6, 1 Peter 5:1-5, 1 John 2:13-15, Proverbs 27:17)” (Baby Boomers and Discipleship, Anthony Bradley).

Getting Serious

At 16 Josiah began to seek God.  I am impressed that Josiah did not fall for all the distractions that can keep a 16 year old boy from seeking God.  Some might say that trying to teach 16 year olds about God is a waste of time, for their minds and hearts are on so many other things.  Yet not this man.  Such seeking lead to another stage of Josiah’s life, the stage of purging (34:3-7).  Getting serious about God means getting serious about what offends God.  In addition, before I can clean up the world, or help others with their sin (Matthew 7:1-4) I need to clean up my own life (2 Timothy 2:21).  A useful man for God is also a man who is pure and clean on the inside.

A Time to Build

At age 26 Josiah started to repair the temple (34:8).  In like manner, for the Christian, life is not solely about abstaining and removing things from my life, there is a time to add and acquire needed qualities.

Those who Help Themselves

God did not leave Josiah without direction.  As they were repairing the Temple it just so happened that the Law of God was discovered (35:14).  Yet this law would not have been found if Josiah had spent his life doing other things.  Immediately the Law is read and Josiah discovers how far from God the nation had fallen (34:18-21). 

History Unchanged

Because of centuries of rebellion God’s wrath would fall on Judah, just like God had said centuries before in the Law (34:24-25).

History Changed

God equally tells Josiah that the calamity that is coming will not arrive in his lifetime.  Observe that Josiah’s actions did not cause everyone to change and after his death the nation would revert to its old ways.  Yet for a moment, a period of time, Josiah’s godliness postponed the consequences.  God was impressed that Josiah took the Law so seriously, and wondered what could be done, and tore his clothes and wept.  Today we need more young people who care about the fact that God is not being honored in the lives of many.  We need to take sin seriously, and weep as well that so many feel they can ignore God without any consequence.

Read it Anyway

Calamity was coming, yet Josiah had the Law read in the hearing of all the people (34:30).  Josiah also made a covenant to keep the Law in his own life and made others stand with him (34:31-32).   God’s word needs to be taught, even if at the end of the day a generation might ignore it.  It always makes sense to fight such a battle.  Like many faithful people, Josiah lived during a time when God’s people were not at their best and when everything seemed to be going downhill.  Yet, he still lived a solitary faithful life in the midst of all the confusion.

Josiah made a covenant with God—not a contract.  Someone has noted:

• Contracts are often made for a limited period of time.
• Contracts often are written because both parties do not fully trust one another.
• Contracts often have an opt out clause, that is, “I only have to fulfill this IF you give me what I want”.  When Josiah made a covenant with God there was no “if—then” clause. Josiah would serve God, even if the nation fell.  He was prepared to serve God, even if he lost all his possessions or his health.   

Finish Strong

Throughout his lifetime Josiah did not turn away from following the Lord (34:33).  Like Paul, he fought the good fight right up until the very end (2 Timothy 4:8).

The Old Paths:   Jeremiah 6:16

Being faithful does not mean inventing new things in the name of God, rather, it means obeying and observing what God had commanded in the first place (35:1).  In addition, Josiah led a restoration movement that sought to remove from Judah all that was offensive to God.  And there was a lot to remove!  (2 Kings 23:4-24).  Yet this daunting task did not stop him from moving and acting.  In addition, it was removed!  True worship was restored and the nation cleansed for a while.  Can we get back to the Bible?  Absolutely!

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com | 503-644-9017
Beaverton Church of Christ | www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net