Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-2
The story of Josiah is also found beginning in 2 Chronicles 34. Josiah is one of the rare good kings of found in the book of Kings, beginning to reign as king at a young age of 8 years old. At 16 years of age he began to be zealous for the things of God and began getting rid of the idol worship throughout the land. At 26 they found a copy of the Pentateuch while repairing the temple. After hearing the reading of the books Josiah became even more determined to follow God’s commands. Josiah’s priest Hilkiah and Josiah’s main appointed leaders went to the prophetess Hulduh and talked with her. Huldah immediately has a ‘word’ from the Lord for Josiah found in verses 16-20 of chapter 22 of 2 Kings.
What also isn’t mentioned in the account of Josiah is the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah which is said to have begun in the 13th year of Josiah’s reign. Now that puts 2 prophets within Josiah’s reach for advice and counsel. At the end of Josiah’s reign Necho king of Egypt came against the king of Assyria near Carchemish on the river Euphrates. Necho had sent ambassadors / envoys to Joisah telling him to stay out of the conflict as Necho was just following God’s commands. But Josiah didn’t take Necho’s advice and disguised himself and went to the battle anyways. While at the battle in Megiddo archers hit Josiah, and after being brought back Josiah died from his wounds.
I have read this story many times but this time I had questions I had never considered before. Why didn’t Josiah not consult with the two prophets (Huldah and Jeremiah) in the land before going out to the battle? Or at least confer with them asking if Necho was actually telling him the truth about following God’s commands? Did Josiah’s pride get in the way? The accounts in both books Chronicles and Kings say nothing that answer these questions.
The other question I had was… did God possibly have mercy towards Josiah, allowing his death so as to not take away from all the good Josiah had done throughout his reign and life? Which made me wonder if we can ruin all the ‘good’ things we’ve done in His service later in our lives. Even the apostle Paul said …
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Josiah even was prophesied about 322 years before his reign — God definitely had plans for that young king. Looking at the timeline it seems Josiah died when he was 39 years old. He had reigned and ruled well in his time in the ‘seat’ of power.
The story made me ponder .. would God take us home early to preserve our ‘good works’ done from His instructions to us? Would that be mercy by God for us? Can we negate our ‘good work’ by making bad decisions late in our lives? Do I seek out counsel from those I know ‘hear’ His Voice before making big dangerous decisions for confirmation from what I am believing God / the Holy Spirit is telling me?
Makes me ponder and remember to ‘stay humble’ before Him and ask for counsel from those whom the Lord has put in my trusted ‘circle’ who know His Voice intimately. Who is in your inner circle of trusted friends who you know hears His Voice with clarity? Who do you seek out for advice and confirmation of the ‘Words’ you are receiving from the Lord?