I recently finished reading the chronicles of the kings of Israel. If you’ve read these narratives then you are completely aware of the ongoing, inconsistent and unpredictable cycle of good king/evil king that runs throughout this entire two-book series. In total, thirty-nine kings ruled in Israel; twenty in the southern Kingdom of Judah, and nineteen in the northern Kingdom of Jerusalem. And of the combined number of kings, only eight were described as good. And of this sad small number, hardly any of the kings were one hundred percent completely obedient and committed to Yahweh, that is except for one, King Josiah.

Josiah became king at the ripe old age of eight. For just a moment, stop to think about yourself, your children or grandchildren at age eight, and try to wrap your head around that one! On a side note, Josiah wasn’t the only young, or even the youngest king to lead God’s people, as Solomon was twelve years old when he succeeded his father David, and Joash was a whopping seven years old when he became king. But the distinguishing mark that set King Josiah apart from all of the other kings, including the small fraction of those described as good, was not at all age related, but rather a matter of the heart. This is evidenced by the very first description we read of him.

He, (Josiah), did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. 2 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬

And what’s of even greater significance is the very final description of him…

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart…. 2 Kings

King Josiah was radically different in a good way, in a really good way. He was actually the only one in the elite group of good kings that finished strong, and I mean, remarkably strong! And honestly this should be the heart cry of every Christ follower, to run our life race with perseverance, finish our journey with integrity and bring glory to God. Finishing strong however, is not the result of chance or happenstance but rather requires intentionality, commitment, and as a child of God, wholehearted devotion to Yahweh. In between the bookends of Josiah’s positive beginning and grand finale finish as a good king, there was one specific, definitive moment in his reign that empowered him to live his life completely committed and sold out to God.

The Book of the Law…

Upon receiving word from the court secretary that the high priest had found the Book of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in despair.

(The tearing of one’s clothes is an ancient tradition among the Jews… associated with mourning, grief, and loss.)

https://www.gotquestions.org/tear-clothes-Bible.html

 

He then immediately responds by sending the high priest along with other officials to the Temple to inquire of the Lord regarding the words recorded in the book. Although Josiah is not thoroughly informed, he has a strong inclination that the Lord may be angry with the nation as a whole for disobedience and disregard of His Law. While in Jerusalem, Hilkiah the High Priest and his traveling companions consult with the prophetess, Huldah where they receive a word from the Lord for King Josiah…

This is what the Lord says:

“I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done…But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—… You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace…” 2 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭(NLT)

On a personal note I must say that I was impressed that following the prophetic word declaring that he would be spared from disaster, Josiah did not respond with complacency but rather fervency, and from this point in his kingship on, he completely commits himself to turning the nation back to Yahweh and wholeheartedly following God’s law. The first step in this process began with a public reading of God’s entire law.

And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple. 2 Kings‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬

Following this sacred act, King Josiah led the nation in a renewal of God’s covenant…

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul…and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. 2 Kings‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬

This then was followed by an incredibly significant and most meaningful celebration as the king reinstated the Passover in accordance with the Book of the Covenant. And to be clear, this wasn’t simply an ordinary religious observance, but rather an extraordinary momentous celebration…

There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah. 2 Kings‬ ‭23‬:‭22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

And King Josiah’s final action in reestablishing the nation and leading the people in wholehearted devotion to Yahweh, was a radical cleansing of the nation, whereby he completely eradicated every form of idolatry, pagan practice and offensive image from the land, as well as every ungodly leader from their position. Josiah left absolutely nothing undone.

(For a comprehensive list of all that was destroyed see 2 Kings 23: 4-19 & 24.)

Once again, unlike the majority of kings before and after him, Josiah’s story ends well in that he finished strong, resulting in great glory to God. And although this is indeed an inspiring narrative, in addition to King Josiah’s zealous acts, there is much we can glean from his life.

As I pondered this, I was led to consider that what enabled Josiah to be so incredibly effective as king, empowering him to accomplish all that he did, not to mention finishing strong, (maintaining his title as a good king), resulted from his wholehearted response to the entirety, as in every part, of God’s Word. For all practical purposes, Josiah was a radical in every sense of the word. If he lived in today’s society he would more than likely be labeled a fanatic or perhaps an extremist, and even potentially a lunatic. But in all honesty Josiah simply responded justifiably to Truth. He was one hundred percent all in, with no hint of gray in his color wheel. King Josiah was completely transformed by the truth of God’s Word, and this dramatically impacted not only who he was on the inside but of equal significance, what he did on the outside. And when considered from this perspective, it is apparent that a radical response to God’s truth should not be viewed as the extreme but rather as the norm.

When presented with the reality of who God is, (The One true God), who we are as His children, (called, chosen, dearly loved), and what He has called us to do, (share the message of His love with the world), there is truly only one right response, and that response is, yes…

Yes Lord, I believe you are God. Yes Lord, I will uphold your Holy Word. Yes Lord, I will share your love with others. And… Yes Lord, I will live on mission for Your purposes. And all of these positive affirmations combined, will more than likely label you, and label me as radicals. But we certainly won’t be the first, nor will we be the last. In fact, the entire biblical narrative is complete with stories of ordinary people like you and me who have been radically transformed by the reality and realness of God, the Truth of His Word, the freedom in His Spirit and the power of His love.

At a critical point in his kingship Josiah made a choice to pursue God zealously by radically responding to the truth of His Word. He led the people he served in wholehearted devotion to Yahweh, the One true God. He finished his reign strong and he left a lasting legacy as a good king. After reading the story of King Josiah I am a mixture of encouraged, inspired and also challenged. I am encouraged as I remember that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Inspired with the realization that one person’s commitment has the potential to influence a multitude of others for the Kingdom of God. And challenged to give my all and do my best for the sake of the gospel and for the glory of King Jesus. I can think of no greater compliment to receive at the finale of my journey on earth than that which was written of King Josiah…

There was no king to compare with Josiah—neither before nor after—a king who turned in total and repentant obedience to God, heart and mind and strength…. The world would never again see a king like Josiah. 2 Kings‬ ‭23‬:‭25‬ ‭(MSG)‬‬

Way to finish well King Josiah!

Applause, applause…

All Glory to God!

King Josiah,

radically different, in a really good way!

The entire story of King Josiah is recorded in 2 Kings 22 & 23: 1-29

Reflect….

• What is your initial response to the word radical and why?

• In addition to King Josiah, make a list of other biblical figures that were, radical in a really good way.

• For example, John the Baptist, think about what made him radical and why. Now continue your own list. This might be something fun to do with a friend separately, followed by a sharing and comparison of lists.

• What aspects of King Josiah’s life inspired/challenged you the most?

• In what specific ways would you like to adopt a more radical heart and mind in regards to your faith?

• Close this time in prayer to God, thanking Him for His radical, unchanging love for you.