2 Kings 22:1-2
“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.”
I want to draw your attention to the last part of verse two: “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.”
In Deuteronomy 17:20 it talks about the ideal king: “that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”
From reading 2 Kings 22-23 we see that Josiah is this ideal king. He transcends even David and Hezekiah in his faithfulness. In Josiah’s eighteenth year of reign he commanded the people to keep the Passover and “no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah…Before him there was no king like him, who 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, nor did any like him arise after him.” 2 Kings 23:23-25
Let us strive to emulate King Josiah’s faithfulness!
Lord, I pray that today we would turn to you with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might!
I love the account of Josiah. Rich lessons in the lives of the kings! "He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness." Ps.147:10. Really enjoy your posts! ~Ann
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