The Child King
Josiah is a child when he becomes king, a mere eight years old. He rules for thirty-one years and does right in God’s eyes, just as his ancestor King David had done.
Eight years into his reign, which makes him sixteen, he seeks God, just like David. Four years later, he purges the nation of idol worship. In his eighteenth year as king, he sets about to purify the land and the temple.
He orders that the offerings given at the temple be used to repair it. While doing the renovations, the high priest finds the Book of the Law in the temple.
While we don’t know how long God’s Word had been misplaced, its contents surprise Josiah and all the people as something they had no knowledge of.
Upon hearing its words, Josiah tears his clothes in agony to display his remorse over what prior generations had done in disobeying God and disrespecting his worship. He sends his aides to consult with the prophetess Huldah to seek the Lord over what to do.
She confirms that God will indeed enforce the punishment warned about in the book for the people’s persistent rebellion against him.
Yet because Josiah had humbled himself before God, the Lord promises that the king will not witness destruction during his lifetime. He will see peace.
The promised punishment will happen later. But it will happen—just as God had already done to the nation of Israel to punish them for their ongoing sins.
Then Josiah celebrates Passover like never before, something not seen during the time of the kings or even the time of the judges. It’s an extravagant observance lasting seven days.
How do we expect God to respond when we humble ourselves before him?
What can we do to celebrate God and worship him more fully?
[Read about Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34–35. Discover more in 1 Kings 13:2 and 2 Kings 22–23.]
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More Old Testament Sinners and Saints is part of the Bible Character Sketches series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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