Josiah Reigns in Judah
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images. And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins[a] all around, he broke down the altars and beat the Asherim and the images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem
2 Chronicles 34:1-7
Points to Ponder
“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 King 13:2
1. Josiah had a long family history of being evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet, it didn’t change the power of the 300 years old prophecy (1 Kings 13:2) The LORD preserved and prepared His vessel for the revival. At 8 years old, after his father’s assassination, Josiah became the king of Judah and the revival began. God did amazing things in a young mind like Josiah thousands of years ago. He can also do it today. If you have one at home, hope always. He/she may be the one God chose to bring the revival.
2. When Josiah was 16, he chose a path for himself – He walked in the ways of David without wavering. Do you know how hard it was for him to do that? He had to go against his family traditions, the culture of the society, and every religious practice of the day. Yet, at 16, he has decided to follow the LORD. Whether you are 16 or 60, it’s your choice to walk with God or without. It’s also a choice we must make DAILY. So, have you decided to walk with God today? Say to God “Lord, I will walk with you today and do what’s right in your sight. Amen.”
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 
Amen!
LikeLike
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 ESV
LikeLike
It always gives me hope to read about Josiah as a teacher in the youth ministry, and as a parent. How do you teach an 8-year-old (a 2nd grader) and a 16-year-old (a high schooler, a teenager) to know God and follow Him? It’s gotta be God who first made Himself known to him. Parents and teachers should continue our job and effort to teach and guide, but ultimately it’s God who leads their (and our) steps to the path He desired for them.
LikeLike
Everything is our choice – we can just follow the flow or follow our leader (Holy One) to do whatever is right before Him. When we know His word and close to Him, then He will reveal His will and what He loves us to do.
May everything we do, do it all for the glory of God!
LikeLike