2 Kings 23:1-25
Thursday, 01 June 2023
“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD…… with all his heart and all his soul….” 2 Kings 23:3
Josiah was eight years old when he became king (2 Kings 22:1). The previous chapter talks about Josiah’s ancestors – his father Amon and grandfather, Manasseh – both who did not walk in the ways of the LORD but did things that would displease the LORD! So the eight-year old boy Josiah has two lives in front of him to follow – the wicked ways of life is already available before his young immature mind. What a pattern of life portrayed by those two people before Josiah’s eyes! Who can blame this young lad if he chooses to follow his father or grandfather? Yet – Josiah made the right choice! He chose to walk according to the ways portrayed by one of his great-great grandfathers- David!!(2 Kings 22:2).
Christian life is a life with a purpose! But each of us will fulfill the purpose of our lives, based on the choices that we make in our lives!!
Even as life offers plenty of choices before us, it is for each of us to decide what we would choose! Rather than regretting at the end of the life for wrong choices made, let us direct our paths by making the right choice! Ecclesiastes 12:1 says “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come …”
The young King Josiah made the right choice to seek his Creator. In his capacity as the king, with all freedom and authority that was at his disposal and even with two of his immediate ancestors showing something contrary to godly living, he was determined to follow the right path! Many do not do certain sins because of lack of opportunity – that’s not righteous living. We live a righteous life when we choose to live a godly life, even when chances are available to live otherwise.
Look at the wonderful ways in which God directed Josiah – he had the desire to repair the Temple of God during which the high priest at that time found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD (V.8). King Josiah asked the law to be read and when he heard what is written in the law, which is the will and counsel of the LORD, he “tore his clothes” – which is a sign of repentance and humility. God immediately responded to Josiah through prophetess Huldah (Vs.15-20).
When you take the first step to walk before the LORD, He will guide the rest of your steps!!Psalm 37:23 [NLT] says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” First Josiah was directed to the word which was read to him and then he was directed to the Prophetess who spoke to him the counsel of the Lord. Then Josiah took appropriate actions -he removed all the idols, and utterly wiped out all the idol worship centres and priests. 2 Kings 23:25 testifies of Josiah: “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.” What a testimony of a life that was lived before GOD!!
Let us direct our lives too, so that a similar testimony will be made about us! Make the right choices today so that your life will be blessed by God!
Thought for the Day: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” -James 1:22 [NLT]
Listen: 'Today I choose'
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