Overall Theme: King Josiah-The Young Reformer

Talk #1Josiah’s Heritage & the Early Years

2 Chron. 34:1-13

“As for me and my house…” Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:14-15

“Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the

land of Egypt.”

“Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the

land of Egypt.”

See 1 Kings 12:26-32

“Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin” – occurs at least 17 times in the Divine record!

- God had ordained that Josiah (‘founded of Yah’) would undo what Jeroboam initiated.

Major impact on many because of one man’s sin!

Undoing the Legacy of Jeroboam I

Who is the True God: Yahweh or Idols?

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.Isaiah 48:3-5

The legacy of Manasseh (2 Kings 21) did after the abominations of the heathen built up again the high places which Hezekiah had destroyed reared up altars for Baal made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel worshipped all the host of heaven built altars in the house of the LORD made his son pass through the fire observed times, used enchantments dealt with familiar spirits and wizards set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house (of Yahweh) seduced [the people] to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another

Manasseh’s positive influence on Josiah?

Manasseh

Amon

Josiah

Manasseh dies at 67 when Josiah was 6 yrs and Amon was 22 yrs

Amon reigns 2 yrs

Josiah begins toreign at 8 yrs

Manasseh alive during first 6 yrs of Josiah’s life

67

22

6

v. 3 “seek” - #1875 ‘darash’ – to tread or frequent, to follow, seek, ask, and diligently inquire.

- lit. ‘to beat a path’ – i.e. develop strong, godly habits of mind and behaviour. (He’s 16 years old)

- ‘pathways of Godly thinking’ – a real, earnest focus everyday – diligence & regularity!

“a pathway is made by walking”

NOT an occasional, casual, superficial interest in the Bible!

2 Chron. 34:3 “purge” - #2891 ‘taher’ – to be bright, pure, physically sound, clear, unadulterated, uncontaminated – Literally to be free from foreign admixture!

At 20 years old he’s ready to act, and he knows what to do with idols! (God rewards endeavour, and sends Josiah ‘help’ in the

form of Jeremiah! See Jer. 1:1-2)

Josiah was trying to rid the land of ALL defiling influences!

(How are we doing in our ‘circle of control’?)

1. An association with pleasure & things the flesh loves.

2. The power of suggestion in the images. Represented a “lifestyle”.

3. Visual!! Distracted people from God and His Ways.4. Diverted people’s time, energy, money and

affection from the one True God.5. The fact there were MANY idols implicitly told

people “It’s OK to only serve this idol part of the time, and another idol part of the time, and even serve God part of the time, if you like!”

Common Elements of all Idols:

Contrast this last point the teaching of Scripture: There is only ONE true God, so give Him 100% of yourself, and make

NO idols or images! He will tolerate NO rivals.

Covetousness = Idolatry! (Stuff Worship)

Ephesians 5:5

1 Samuel 15:22-23

SUMMARY & LESSONS:

Develop good habits of mind & actionGod will bless single-minded seeking for TruthBe thankful for a Godly environmentSeek good friends in the TruthKnow what’s right and what’s wrongHave the courage to stand up for what is rightShun evil & the world’s allurementsMake decisions with your “mind” not your “eyes”Generate a real desire to know God