Topical Bible: Seeking God: Josiah

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Topical Encyclopedia

Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah, is a prominent biblical figure known for his earnest pursuit of God and his significant religious reforms. His account is primarily recorded in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. Josiah's reign, which began when he was only eight years old, is marked by a sincere commitment to restoring the worship of Yahweh and eradicating idolatry from the land of Judah.

Early Life and Reign

Josiah ascended to the throne following the assassination of his father, Amon, who had continued the idolatrous practices of his predecessor, Manasseh. Despite the spiritual decline during his father's and grandfather's reigns, Josiah's heart was inclined toward God. The Bible notes, "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2).

Spiritual Reforms

At the age of sixteen, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. By the time he was twenty, he initiated a campaign to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols, and cast images. This was a significant move to cleanse the land of pagan worship and restore the worship of Yahweh.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah ordered the repair of the Temple in Jerusalem. During this restoration, Hilkiah the high priest discovered the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD. When the book was read to Josiah, he tore his clothes in distress, realizing how far the nation had strayed from God's commandments. He then sent a delegation to inquire of the LORD, which led to a prophecy from Huldah the prophetess, affirming the impending judgment on Judah but also acknowledging Josiah's humility and repentance (2 Kings 22:11-20).

Covenant Renewal and Passover Celebration

In response to the discovery of the Law, Josiah gathered all the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Temple, where he read the words of the Book of the Covenant. He renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD, committing himself and the people to follow the LORD and keep His commandments with all their heart and soul (2 Kings 23:1-3).

Josiah's reforms culminated in a grand celebration of the Passover, which had not been observed with such devotion since the days of the judges. The Bible records, "No such Passover had been observed since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah" (2 Kings 23:22). This event underscored Josiah's dedication to restoring proper worship and obedience to God's laws.

Legacy

Josiah's reign is remembered as a time of spiritual renewal and reform. His efforts to seek God and lead his people back to the covenant relationship with Yahweh set a standard for righteous leadership. Despite the eventual downfall of Judah due to the accumulated sins of previous generations, Josiah's personal devotion and reforms left a lasting impact on the spiritual history of Israel. The Bible commends him, stating, "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 strength, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him" (2 Kings 23:25).

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 34:3
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... He was seeking God in the way of His commandments, and God met him there. ...
Josiah's conduct on this discovery marks his character. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Prayer and the House of God
... Josiah was bent on promoting a revival of religion ... instructed out of God's Book
concerning God's Law ... Ezra, returned from Babylon, was seeking the reconstruction ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xiv prayer and the house.htm

The Book of the Law
... Overwhelmed with sorrow and dismay, Josiah rent his garments and bowed before God
in agony of spirit, seeking pardon for the sins of an impenitent nation. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Note F. --Chap. xviii the Whole Heart
... Of Josiah we read (2 Kings 23:3, 25): "The king and all the men of ... I cried with my
whole heart." Praise and prayer; seeking God and keeping His precepts; all ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/note f chap xviii the whole.htm

The Rediscovered Law and Its Effects
... it is really brought to the standard of God's law; and it is well for us if, like
Josiah, we rend our ... emotion is not the highest motive for seeking the Lord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the rediscovered law and its.htm

The Captivity.
... and at sixteen he began to rule, seeking the Lord ... Josiah bade the scribes read it
aloud, and then for the ... how black was her disobedience in the sight of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Liberty of Conscience Threatened
... aforesaid successors, I will to my utmost persecute and oppose.'""Josiah Strong,
Our ... their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 35 liberty of conscience.htm

July the Twenty-Second visions and Tasks
... JULY The Twenty-second VISIONS AND TASKS. 2 CHRONICLES xxxiv.1-11. Josiah "began
to seek after God." The other day I saw a ... He was "seeking after" Turner! ...
/.../july the twenty-second visions and.htm

Approaching Doom
... in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of ... king, the written admonitions
contained in the inspired roll, God was graciously seeking to warn ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... of the men of his own city, Anathoth, "seeking his life ... who were still faithful to
the memory of Josiah[10 ... was at length brought to acknowledge the God of heaven ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm