Josiah’s role in biblical history is interesting. He is upheld as the most godly of kings in a time when Judah’s fall was inevitable. Idolatry had become so entrenched in the nation that there was nothing else for God to do than to give his people over to the nations whose gods they insisted on worshipping. But like Hezekiah, Josiah led great reforms in Israel re-establishing the temple worship and leading the people back to God. Certainly not everyone entered into this sincerely, but certainly some did, and this is where we discover the significance of Josiah’s revival. It did not ward off the coming exile of Judah, but it did raise up a godly generation of young people in whose hearts the seed of faith was firmly planted. Among this generation was Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel was a child of Josiah’s revival. He took the faith of Josiah into exile with him. It was in the exile that the seed of faith planted in Daniel’s generation would spring to life and give birth to a faithful remnant. This remnant would build a strong faith community in Babylon, free from idolatry, who would return decades later to rebuild the city that had been destroyed because of the sins of their fathers. You can see God’s plan here in raising up Josiah at such a time as this. It is wonderful to see the divine wisdom and providence at work. You also have a role in God’s plan. It has been determined before you were born. Step into the role God has for you.
Ask God to lead you into the role he has prepared for you to play in his mission.
Read 2 Kings 22:1-23:30
