Josiah - The Frustrated Reformer

[Insight]

Greetings,

In coming months I hope to present a series on the life of Josiah, who being a child-King grew to a mature leader in Israel. Although being a progressive study please feel obliged to add comments as required.

My aim is to better understand his life and consider him from a number of perspectives:

(1) Learn more about the historical background of the times

(2) Better understand the position and teaching of the prophets who ministered during the reign of the boy-king

(3) To consider Josiah’s character during a dark part of Israel’s history

(4) See what lessons we can learn and apply in our own lives

(5) And finally, gain a heavenly perspective of God’s view of this period of history and the life of Josiah.

In reading the life of Josiah I have found this to be a dramatic period in Israel’s history with the overarching lesson that teaches me the need for His people (us) to enthusiastically follow God through the direction of a wise and true leader.

Unfortunately, we find that time and time again the nation rebelled, and in the days of Josiah they too were not prepared to do truely follow a righteous King.

 

[Insight]

We find that both Jeremiah (Jer 1:1) and Zephaniah (Zeph 1:1) prophesied during the reign of Josiah. It was their calling to reveal Israel’s true character, which had not followed the reformation established by the king.

It is apparent from the record that Josiah’s reforms were enforced by law and through his personal commands,and not out of the willing hearts of the people.

Today this type of worship is considered hypocritical, where they are made to do one thing, but prefer to do another. The prophets spoke of this problem in Israel and many warnings came as a result of their hypocrisy. Today, many do not fear the Yahweh of Armies or His punishment whcih is always severe.

We find that Nahum also prophesied about this same time. He spoke of the coming judgement and overthrow of Assyria and Nineveh. This nation was brutal in their treatment of Israel, beyond the Fathers approval.

In relation to Nineveh, he saw in a vision of a coming enemy who would break down the walls of the city, and heard the victorious shouts of the invaders, the chariots clashing in the streets, the soldiers rushing with torches to set fire to the buildings until what was once a beautiful and magnificent city became a ruined waste (See Nah. 2:1,2,3,4,5,6,7-8; 3:1,2,3). Nahum saw with his own eyes the fall of this brutal city. In many ways the destruction is likened to the total and utter destruction of the infidels over the earth during the end days (See Nah. 1:14-15).

Nineveh

I cannot imagine what it was like for Josiah to be born into such a troubled time. A child-king matured and in many ways vainly worked to bring about a true reformation in Israel. Like many reformation era’s on the surface the work seems well established and appears like it could be maintains, but the cancer had already set into the foundations and the prophets revealed the nation for what it really was.

Dear reader, I suggest in all the Holy Scriptures that perhaps the greatest encouragement (Heb 3:13) contained in the history of this time. It’s a matter of unfolding the events and seeing the story of Josiah as a frustrated reformer who desired nothing more than to see Israel walk blamelessly before their God.

The real story of Josiah begins 340 years before he was even born inb another dark peroid of history.

Musings:

Consider the modern day images, idols and temples of gods in the earth today? What was in Ninevah that is occupies our cities today?

 

[Groundzero]

We find that both Jeremiah (Jer 1:1) and Zephaniah (Zeph 1:1) prophesied during the reign of Josiah. It was their calling to reveal Israel’s true character, which had not followed the reformation established by the king.

It is apparent from the record that Josiah’s reforms were enforced by law and through his personal commands,and not out of the willing hearts of the people.

Today this type of worship is considered hypocritical, where they are made to do one thing, but prefer to do another. The prophets spoke of this problem in Israel and many warnings came as a result of their hypocrisy. Today, many do not fear the Yahweh of Armies or His punishment whcih is always severe.

We find that Nahum also prophesied about this same time. He spoke of the coming judgement and overthrow of Assyria and Nineveh. This nation was brutal in their treatment of Israel, beyond the Fathers approval.

In relation to Nineveh, he saw in a vision of a coming enemy who would break down the walls of the city, and heard the victorious shouts of the invaders, the chariots clashing in the streets, the soldiers rushing with torches to set fire to the buildings until what was once a beautiful and magnificent city became a ruined waste (See Nah. 2:1,2,3,4,5,6,7-8; 3:1,2,3). Nahum saw with his own eyes the fall of this brutal city. In many ways the destruction is likened to the total and utter destruction of the infidels over the earth during the end days (See Nah. 1:14-15).

Nineveh

I cannot imagine what it was like for Josiah to be born into such a troubled time. A child-king matured and in many ways vainly worked to bring about a true reformation in Israel. Like many reformation era’s on the surface the work seems well established and appears like it could be maintains, but the cancer had already set into the foundations and the prophets revealed the nation for what it really was.

Dear reader, I suggest in all the Holy Scriptures that perhaps the greatest encouragement (Heb 3:13) contained in the history of this time. It’s a matter of unfolding the events and seeing the story of Josiah as a frustrated reformer who desired nothing more than to see Israel walk blamelessly before their God.

The real story of Josiah begins 340 years before he was even born inb another dark peroid of history.

Musings:

Consider the modern day images, idols and temples of gods in the earth today? What was in Ninevah that is occupies our cities today?

Very interesting! Josiah was an incredible king! Very true about what you said as well. Obviously Josiah realised that there was only one way to save Israel, and that was by force. Who knows what might have happened if he hadn't died prematurely! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[Insight]

We need to go back to the time of Jeroboam who led ten tribes away from their allegiance to Rehoboam the grandson of David.

Jeroboam was well known for not only setting up a rival kingdom, but he also established a rival religion.

For context please read 1 Kings 12 & 13

Jeroboam called all the people together to dedicate the altar he had set up for this purpose. As he was about to burn incense a loud voice sounded out from among the crowd. It was a prophet from Judah (1 Kings 13:1), and he had been sent north with a message from Yahweh.

He harshly shouted his message to Jeroboam as the king stood by the altar:

And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: “Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.” 1 Kings 13:2,3,4,5

Many years had gone by since that dramatic prophecy...the false altar had been dedicated and all that remained was a fractured Kingdom. Now a young child named Josiah sat upon the throne of David as king. I imagine as a child he grew to understand this famous prophecy and as he matured his attention to see it fulfilled increased (2 Kings 23:17,18), its appears, every letter!

Map of the Israel during the Kings - Divided Kingdom of Israel

Courtesy of Bible History.com

 

[Insight]

How often are we told the son of a wicked father “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed after the gods of his Father?”

Was it divine providence that Josiah’s father died when he was so young? Being raised with no formal religious training he escaped the corrupting influence which otherwise would have seen follow in the footsteps of past Kings.

We know he was only "eight years old when he began to reign" (2 Kings 22:1), and appears to have remained under the guidance of his mother, as the custom of the Jews. The record presents her as a person of some importance. Her name was Jedidah, which is the feminine form of David, and means Beloved. She was the daughter of Adalah, which means Yahweh has adorned. Her full name is rather beautiful in its meaning “The Beloved whom Yahweh has adorned”. She came from the city of Boscath, a Judaean town not far from Lachish, on the border of Philistia (Josh 15:39).

One might well ask where she gained her love of God. Doubtless she influences her son to this end bending his character towards God from a very early age.

No one knows why she is so carefully referred to in 2 Kings 22:1 which is not consistent with other mothers in Israel. The first eight years went by quickly with little fuss. It would be interesting to know more about those eight years especially his training for the time when he must take over the kingdom independently of their oversight.

This came about at the age of sixteen when he took over his royal duties completely as King, and began to independently make decisions for the Nation. It was a young age to seek to do the will of Yahweh and run the Judean Kingdom.

Though, God would be with him.

His reign revealed the work of God as illustrated by the prophet Azariah's: "Yahweh is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you" 2 Chron 15:2.

 

[Insight]

We see that over the next four years Josiah consolidated his kingship in the land. He carefully analysed the spiritual condition of the kingdom, and found extreme wickedness, that his long awaited desire for complete reform was upon him. Finally at the young age of twenty he trusted in his God to attempt what may have seemed the impossible.

A reformation was in absolute need for paganism (2 Chronicles 34) in all its forms had risen up within Israel. We find in the days of Amos after the partial reform by Manasseh the streets were seen the Chemarim (Zeph. 1:4) the word implies blackfrocked priests ministering to the altars of Baal.

Chemarim means:

black, (Zeph. 1:4; rendered "idolatrous priests" in 2 Kings 23:5, and "priests" in Hos. 10:5). Some derive this word from the Assyrian Kamaru, meaning "to throw down," and interpret it as describing the idolatrous priests who prostrate themselves before the idols. Others regard it as meaning "those who go about in black," or "ascetics."

On all sides incense arose to foreign gods, and people bowed down to their images.

The abominable and immoral rites of this evil worship were freely practised. Josiah determined to rid the land of it all. He decreed a complete abolition of all these things. The initial work was begun in Judah and Jerusalem, and was then extended to the territory of the northern kingdom (2Chron. 34:3-6).

The cleansing work went as far as the towns of Manasseh,Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali. These cities were outside the boundaries of Judah. He actually extended his cleansing into the territory of Israel -- the people who had already gone into captivity. This might seem rather a waste of effort. However, Josiah knew that the land belonged to God, and that it was polluted by the idols -- even though Israel had been taken away by the Assyrians some time before.

Map of Divided Kingdom

Courtesy of jewishvirtuallibrary.com

 

[Insight]

Josiah personally supervised the activity and arranged for the altars to be thrown down, images broken up, pillars cut down, idol-priests slain, and the "holy places" of false worship desecrated by the bones of the dead.

At his command the people busied themselves in the work, with every appearance of keen enthusiasm; it must have seemed to many as though the nation was on the crest of a wave of genuine reform, as though the worship of Yahweh was about to be enthusiastically established in spirit as well as in complete truth.

But then, suddenly, unexpectedly, the stern harsh voice of criticism was heard openly denouncing the nation for hypocrisy.

This disturbing message came from a young man who was destined to be projected before the public glare, as Yahweh's prophet of judgment, until the nation was taken into captivity by the Babylonians in the days of Zedekiah.

His name was Jeremiah.

 

[Groundzero]

Really enjoying it.

 

[Insight]

Really enjoying it.

Your encouragement is appreciated thank you.

Insight

 

[Insight]

Just north of the Mount of Olives, was a city mainly inhabited by priests, called Anathoth. Historians suggest Anathoth was situated about three miles northward from Jerusalem according to Eusebius and Jerome.

Among its residents was a young priest by the name of Jeremiah. He was of the family of Hilkiah. As the high priest in the days of Josiah was also called Hilkiah (See 2 Kings 22:4-14), it may have been that Jeremiah was son of the high priest.*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathoth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almon,_Mateh_Binyamin

Anathoth, Almon below Alemeth

Yahweh had a most important work for this young priest to perform. In the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign, a year after he had commenced his reform (compare 2 Chron 34:3 with Jer 1:2), the word of Yahweh came to the young priest with the following message:

"Before you were born I knew you, and I set you apart and ordained you a prophet unto the nations" Jer 1:5

* This is disputed by some on the basis that Anathoth was a priestly city given to the family of Ithamar, whereas Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, was of the line of Eleazar (1 Chr 6:1-13), and Anathoth had been given to descendants of Eli, not Eleazar (1 Kings 2:26-27). But if this objection was completely valid, surely Jeremiah would have indicated this in his introduction? (Jer. 1:1) for his father Hilkiah was very prominent in the reign of Josiah.

 

[Insight]

When this young priest heard this message he was taken back:

"Ah, Lord Yahweh," he replied, "Behold, I cannot speak well! And, besides, I am but a child, nobody will heed me!"

But Yahweh commanded him to go forth in courage, and not hesitate to speak all that he was commanded. Yahweh understood the severity of His message and the burden He would place upon the Jeremiahs shoulders for whatever Jeremiah proclaimed in His name, concerning the nations He would fulfil. God told him:

"Gird up your loins, and arise, and speak unto the people all that I command you; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them."

He was told that God would protect him in this work, so that no harm would come to him in spite of the messages he would deliver. He was told that he would be sent against the kings, the princes, the priests and the people (Jer 1:18). He was warned that they would bitterly oppose him and even reject his message, but nevertheless, he must courageously continue to proclaim it, regardless the cost.

"They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee,"

Yahweh told him. While Josiah and the people were busy smashing the pagan idols with every appearance of sincerity, Jeremiah commenced his first message. He saw in vision the rod of an almond tree, and as he pondered its meaning, he heard the voice of Yahweh:

"Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten my word to perform it". Jer 1:12

What is the meaning of this almond tree?

 

[Insight]

"Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten my word to perform it". Jer 1:12

The Hebrew word for "almond" is shaked which signifies "The Watcher".

Almond (Shaked)

It was called “the watcher” because of its early blossom; it was the first of the trees to waken from the sleep of the Mediterranean winter. The word "hasten," used in the declaration of God to Jeremiah, is a similar word (shoked) so that there was a play on the words that Yahweh used to the prophet.

The Spirit hides hidden meaning within words to communicate its purpose.

The message meant that time was short; that what God intended to do would be done very quickly.

 

[Insight]

And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. Jer 1:13

The prophet saw a great iron pot towards the north. A strong fire was causing its substance to boil and bubble, so that at any moment, it threatened to pour over its sides. Jeremiah was told the meaning of this remarkable vision. He explained to Jeremiah that He would soon cause the kingdoms of the north to pour down over the borders of Judah and besiege Jerusalem.

What a terrible message for the people of the land to hear.

It showed them the evil days they were living in and that God’s punishment would overcome them. The severity of the message and its urgency in the Almond tree reminded them that their time was short and they must seek God will He still can be found. (Isa 55:6)

But were not the people already engaged in Josiah’s reform?

Were they not destroying the idol worship and its images from out of the land?

 

[Insight]

So what went wrong?

It is true that they were under Josiah, whose policies required the obedience and worship of the people, but the prophet proceeded to show that their actions did not reflect the true attitude of their hearts; in fact, they were acting hypocritically.

They were NOT acting out of a love of Yahweh, only out of command from a king, who was required to use force to see that his law was obeyed.

Josiah at this time must have heard Jeremiah's prophecies with such sorrow and amazement! How frustrating for a King whose love for God was sincere and perceived the importance of the work at hand only to be even more determined to again double his efforts to make his reformation truly effective and sincere.

Through the guidance of Yahweh, Jeremiah was able to detect what the king could not perceive, namely that the nation "had not turned unto God with her whole heart, but feignedly" (Jer. 3:10).

The Problem:

The facade of the reformation did not reflect the true attitude of the people. It appears many were still seeking Egypt’s help (Jer. 2:36). Some secretly preferred the pagan practices of Manasseh and Amon, whilst quite a number were indifferent as to what form of worship was followed.

In harsh, severe language the young Jeremiah listed the sins of the people. At the top of the list was the sin of HYPOCRISY. He used harsh accusing the people of insincerity towards God. Something He will not abide is insincerity.

Their Worship:

Jeremiah told the people their religious practices were hateful to God because they could not approach Him in love, but obeys out of observing the king's command which was demanded of them.

Judah was observing a religion (like the Roman Catholic Church) of force and fear, but not one based on faith and love. The people served God because it pleased the king, and in the face of his fierce resolve to root out the slightest remnant of paganism, they did not dare to do otherwise!

 

[Insight]

Meanwhile, the king did all in his power to make the people religious. He demanded that they contribute money for the restoration of the temple, and sent Levites into all parts of his realm, and even beyond the border into the land of Samaria, for this purpose.

Money was freely given, for the people feared to oppose one, as full of fiery zeal as Josiah. It was placed into the hands of Hilkiah, the high priest, probably Jeremiah's father, who divided it up among those who were appointed to perform the necessary labour. Foremen had been selected who were so interested in the work of restoring the temple that it was considered “unnecessary” to audit the accounts, "for the men dealt faithfully" (2 Kings 22:7).

And so Jerusalem became the scene of greatest activity. The temple, so long neglected, and even desecrated, was cleaned out ready for the work of restoration. It was all conducted under the supervision of Hilkiah, who cooperated with Shaphan, the king's scribe, to that end.

On one occasion, when Shaphan approached Hilkiah with instructions from the king, he found the high priest with a long scroll in his hands. Shaphan looked at the scroll. "I have found the Book of the Law in the House of Yahweh," declared the priest. The Book of the Law comprised the five books of Moses, and was placed in the side of the Ark in the Most Holy Place (See Deut 31:24,25,26). Every seven years, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel were gathered together, the priests had to read this book in the hearing of the people. In addition to that, whenever a king ascended the throne, the Law commanded that he write for himself a copy of this book, and read it daily that he might rule according to the will of God (Deut. 17:18) .

[sub][sup]Courtesy of the dailychapter[/sup][/sub]

But in the reign of Josiah, for at least over half a century since the days of Manasseh, that had not been done.

The temple had been closed up and abused; the Book of the Law remained forgotten under the piles of dust; the people had never heard of it; Josiah had never written out his copy; he had never even read it!

Can you believe?

 

[Insight]

Being full of curiosity, Shaphan took the book from the high priest, and began to read it for himself (2 Kings 22:8).

He read of the laws that Yahweh had set before the people, the severe warnings He had decreed against them should they disobey any of His instruction; the curses that were thundered against them if they should commit certain sins.

And Shaphan knew that those very sins were part of normal life in the Judah of his day. He realised the importance of the book that had been placed in his hands, and with the permission of Hilkiah, he hurried back to Josiah to reveal the finding.

Much of it the righteous king would already know, for it had been explained to him orally as a child. He knew the record of creation, the call of Abraham, the beginnings of the nation, the wonderful deliverance from Egypt, many aspects of the law... But then Shaphan commenced reading to the king the book of Deuteronomy; especially the last warning message of Moses given just before his death.

It warned the people that if they worshipped idols, if they turned from Yahweh, great and severe punishments would fall upon them. The book recorded the covenant to which the nation had bound itself, the terrible curses which would fall upon it if it proved guilty of certain sins.

"Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field... Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. Yahweh shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, rebuke... pestilence... consumption... sword... invasion... war... drought...famine... destruction!..." Horror-stricken the king listened to the voice of Shaphan as it continued on. "Thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness,and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee..."

Hour after hour the reading continued:

"Blessings if they do good... cursings if they do evil... plagues, sicknesses, the land desolate... Like Sodom and Gomorrah... the heat of great anger...

What is the meaning?

Because they have forsaken the covenant of Yahweh God of their fathers... the anger of Yahweh kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book... before you life and death... Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day... it is not a vain thing for you, it is your life . . ."

To these responsibilities the nation (and their descendants) had responded with the word:

"AMEN" or "So be it!"

 

[Insight]

The curses pronounced its own judgment upon Judah & Israel. One can only imagine the clarity these curses brought upon a horrified king. He knew that Judah was at that very moment committing the very sins outlined in Duet 27. These warnings and the announcement of punishment from Jeremiah made the judgments certain.

With deep concern, the king listened to the reading of the Law for the first time. As curse after curse was pronounced, his anxiety mounted. At last he could stand it no more. With a cry of grief, he tore asunder his royal robe as a sign of mourning, symbolically indicating that he had no cover for his feelings.

He knew that the nation was already beginning to suffer some of the things threatened. For the first time he began to fully understand the significance of the signs of the times of his day.

"The great wrath of Yahweh is kindled against us because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book!" he declared to Shaphan in 2 Kings 22:13.

What is Josiah to do?

 

[Insight]

Josiah appointed a deputation of the leaders of the nation and, with Hilkiah (High Priest) and Shaphan (Court Scribe), he instructed them to enquire of Yahweh whether the punishments pronounced would indeed be administered.

But to whom could they go?

There was the young priest Jeremiah, who had proclaimed several prophecies in the name of Yahweh, but he was not yet fully established as a prophet in the eyes of the nation, and further to this he did not dwell in Jerusalem, but in Anathoth (see Map post #10), some distance away. Perhaps the reason why the high priest did not enquire of Yahweh was due to the temple not being fully restored for a proper approach to Yahweh.

There was a woman of high spiritual standing living in Jerusalem, close to the temple. Her name was Huldah (2 Kings 22:13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20), and she was a prophetess.

It was not normal for the nation to seek the aid of a woman in interceding with God, but the king must have realised in that time of need so few were in Judah who he could trust and rely on for help. The leaders of the nation had proved unworthy of their trust, so finally the deputation was sent to this woman for assistance.

This action of the deputation really endorsed the message of Jeremiah. So low had the nation sunk, in spite of all the activity and excitement of apparent reform that Yahweh would converse through no other in Jerusalem than Huldah the prophetess!

Her name signifies "Fleeting," as though to underline the fact that time was short and the matter urgent. To her the deputation went and explained its mission. Through her Yahwehs answer was relayed: "Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and all the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses written in the Book found by the king. Because they have forsaken Me and worshipped idols, My wrath shall be poured upon this place and shall not be quenched. But as for the king who sent you, because his heart is tender and he has humbled himself before Me, behold, he shall be gathered to his fathers in peace, neither shall his eyes see the evil I will bring upon this place!"

A very subdued deputation left the home of Huldah to convey this sober message to the king.

Yahweh would not change his mind concerning his judgement.

 

[Insight]

Depressing as this message was, there remained hope. In that God had threatened to punish the nation, we have seen how the Kings Reformation work came out of humility and zeal. I believe this had delayed the pouring out of Yahweh’s judgment, showing the few individuals the need to seek Yahweh in truth, while He may be found.

Could the nation be saved if these believers were multiplied across the nation?

 

[Insight]

The kingdom of Israel divided into two parts, the northern kingdom (Israel/Ephraim) represented in red, and the southern kingdom (Judah/Jews), represented in blueThe kingdom of Israel divided into two parts, the northern kingdom (Israel/Ephraim) represented in red, and the southern kingdom (Judah/Jews), represented in blue