KING JOSIAH - THE LEGAL APPROACH

THE EVIDENTIAL ISSUES.

2 Chronicles Ch .35 v 25 "Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah....

 Jeremiah preached inward repentance.The priest was concerned about the nations idolatry.While cleansing the temple, Hikiah the priest accidentally "stumbles" upon a Book. He passes it on to Shaphan the secretary who in turn passes the Book to Josiah.To corroborate its authenticy, they are sent to Huldah- an unknown woman- who pronounces judgment on the land- but King Josiah would die in peace.

One wonders why they enquired from this lady from the servants quarters when Jeremiah was still around prophesying. Of course, it was a set up job. The prophecy turned out to be completely false.First judgment was to come from the Chaldeans as prophesied by Jeremiah. But Josiah, incited by the Priest Hilkiah went on a rampage against the idolaters of the land- to the point of burning the bones of the priests upon the  altars.The irony is that after Josiah died, the Hebrews went back to pagan worship.The great "revival' ended with Josiah's death.

The evidence is clear. Hilkiah wanted to centralize  worship and get rid of the idolaters.But he was frustrated by Jeremiahs prophecies. Hilkiah  had no political clout. But the Book of Moses had great authority.And Hilkiah used the Bible.A whole nation was fooled. It was the ultimate deception. From David Koresh,Jim Jones to Hilkiah - deception from religious authorities is the ultimate weapon of Satan.Eventually the nation was wiped out by the Chaldeans.Exactly as prophesied by Jeremiah.

Disciples: What will be the Sign of your coming?

Jesus Christ: Take heed that you do not be deceived.

KING JOSIAH - THE EXEGETICAL APPROACH

THE BIBLE READERS DILEMMA

"....and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace....'"  (2 Kings 22:18-20)   "And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo..." (2 Kings 23:29-30)

King Josiah's life is an enigma. First the prophecy about him that he would die in peace. The reality was that his life ended  tragically at the hands of an Egyptian King. What is the the Bible reader to make out of all this?

Let us examine the situation. God gave the promise of a peaceful ending to King Josiah.In the Old Testament, God is a Covenant keeping God. The New Testament teachings are conditional too.God has provided the atonement for the world. The command? Repent and believe  in this message. We can have fellowship with God .The conditions?  If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another.."

To grab at promises while ignoring the conditons attached is dangerous. In the 80's many  Christians  were caught up in the "Confess and Possess" doctrine, only to be severely disappointed.( although the Bible promises many things) Our faith must be rooted in the whole counsel of God. A believer is advised not to select Scriptures here and there and expect God to work.Josiah had Gods promise- but he strayed ouitside God's will.And the promise did not work. His life was recorded for a reason. VJ- the Midnight Owl

KING JOSIAH - THE DEVOTIONAL APPROACH

In Josiah's 31st year as king,he faced a national security crisis. Egypt sent an army to attack a site on the Euphrates River.To get there,they had to cross through Judah's territory.Josiah refused to allow this foreign army on his soil.King Necho of Egypt warned him to stay out of his way.Josiah decided to face him in battle. He faced Necho and lost his life in a war that God had not santioned.

Josiah was a great  King who had introduced many spiritual reforms in the nation and was much loved by the people.But he lacked one thing.Unlike other Kings,he did not have any military victories on his personal record. In terms of battlefield victories, he certainly could not be classed together with King David, Saul or any of the other Kings. He needed this war only for one thing-his social validation.And that proved to be his undoing.

Understand this.Much of what we want in life must be perceived in this way- what will it cost us? It is a fact of life that people who achieve millionaire status, move on to desiring titles. Someone or something to validate their social status- even the desire to being admired. It is this hidden desire that causes chaos in the dynamics of interaction.Ignore people and they are certain to feel their worth questioned.

Reflect.Your deepest validation already took place at the Cross by God Himself. Know this truth and it will set you free  from this bondage.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

KING AMON

2ND CHRONICLES 33:21-26

ITS MY  LIFE, ITS MY CHOICE

"Amons officials plotted against him and assasinated him in the palace" v24

We are where we are in life because of the sum total of our own choices. With the exception of birth all almost all other areas are within our choice.And Amon chose the "tresspassing life". Maybe,like his father, he wanted to sow his wild oats before choosing to follow God. But what King Amon did not realize was this- no two life patterns repeat itself in exactly the same way. The only thing that repeats in  life is its utter unpredictability.

 "Amon trespassed more and more..." Enjoy while you can. But his fun  was cut short. And when he was not anticipating it, the downfall came from his own quarters and his life ended. (Such is the price one has to pay for being ignorant of the people who mingle around us.)Life choices are a simmering battleground for Christains. In an inherently morally decayed society, where almost everything is available for our indulgence, we are forced to restrain our feet on a daily basis.A certain choice can be pleasurable for a season but can turn catastrophic as it was for King Amon.

If we chose the evil and hope to turn to God in some future day like King Amon there is always a possibility that we may suddenly be confronted with some unforeseeable pain and tragedy.Since there is no one on earth to tell us our appointed time, it is prudent to stay away from all appearance of  evil and respond to God early in life.

Understand this.Life ends abruptly for many people cutting their dreams short.We read about them in the daily news.Tragic accidents, brutal murders and victims of  horrific abuse. Since life is so fragile, include in your  prayers  "And deliver us from all evil." Don't walk in Amons footsteps.

The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Psalm 34:16).

KING MANASSEH

2ND CHRONICLES 21: 17-25

A GRANDFATHERS LEGACY

“Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters and carried him off to Babylon.”

Shakesphere once said “The evil that men do, lives after them.” Manasseh followed his grandfather's footsteps-Ahaz. His personal resume contains the following data-"Rebuilding the high places which his father Hezekiah had broken down, burning his sons in the fire,soothsaying,witchcraft,sorcery and consulting mediums and spiritists.' Unequalled by other kings.

But disaster soon came.An Assyrian king conquered him and carried him off to Babylon in hooks. He went through a terrifying experience.But he humbled himself  before God. And by some miracle, he was released and returned to Jerusalem.

On his return he immediately removed all the foreign gods.Manasseh's testimony would make headlines in todays churches. Other Kings caught in such a situation had committed suicide.Saul did exactly that. But Manasseh survived-somehow. There was an invisible hand involved here.

In the New Testament there is a most wonderful verse “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17. In Ezekiel it says “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” 33:11

God heard Manasseh.And God has not changed. All that a person need to do is to confess his sins and not to persisit in foolishness. Turn back.Before it leads to a nightmare. The Midnight Owl.