Not Bound By The Past
Blue v1-19 Ch 22 2 Kgs
Josiah's dad had been assassinated. No matter that the king was evil, Josiah was only 8 or so when this happened and who knew this resilient boy would turn out nothing like his father. Josiah had been installed as king by the people of the land, just after they found out who the conspirator killers were that had plotted the death of king Amon.
Josiah was not held nor bound to his past. He didn't have a 'daddy did it,' 'my grand-daddy did it,' so guess i'm gonna have to do it too, mentality. Josiah chose to rule Judah in the way that David had done years before so this pleased the LORD. Josiah had the Book of the Law tracked down then read outloud but had found himself sincerely humbled as he realized, "Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us (community) because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book..." The king "tore his robes." The respect God should have been given... The obedience due His Name... Josiah sent for a word from prophetess Huldah...
God can't reward sin but he can reward humility and true repentance and "because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in My Presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this place."
Doesn't that show the depth of God's Character when God said Josiah would be buried with his fathers? Knowing how Josiah's father was evil, he caused much sin and had caused many people to sin...
God simply does not hold a grudge or act immaturely by telling Josiah something like, "Well since You please me and your father didn't I don't want you to be buried next to that dirt-bag! That's too close for comfort. I'll put you next to someone good like Elisha, whose bones are worthy." No, God is so much more mature, looking at it more from the office of a Father, setting again the living example of how to respect authority without being blind to the true issue or consequence that will result from the office of that authority whether the person holding that office is producing good or bad fruit~
Josiah's dad had been assassinated. No matter that the king was evil, Josiah was only 8 or so when this happened and who knew this resilient boy would turn out nothing like his father. Josiah had been installed as king by the people of the land, just after they found out who the conspirator killers were that had plotted the death of king Amon.
Josiah was not held nor bound to his past. He didn't have a 'daddy did it,' 'my grand-daddy did it,' so guess i'm gonna have to do it too, mentality. Josiah chose to rule Judah in the way that David had done years before so this pleased the LORD. Josiah had the Book of the Law tracked down then read outloud but had found himself sincerely humbled as he realized, "Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us (community) because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book..." The king "tore his robes." The respect God should have been given... The obedience due His Name... Josiah sent for a word from prophetess Huldah...
God can't reward sin but he can reward humility and true repentance and "because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in My Presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this place."
Doesn't that show the depth of God's Character when God said Josiah would be buried with his fathers? Knowing how Josiah's father was evil, he caused much sin and had caused many people to sin...
God simply does not hold a grudge or act immaturely by telling Josiah something like, "Well since You please me and your father didn't I don't want you to be buried next to that dirt-bag! That's too close for comfort. I'll put you next to someone good like Elisha, whose bones are worthy." No, God is so much more mature, looking at it more from the office of a Father, setting again the living example of how to respect authority without being blind to the true issue or consequence that will result from the office of that authority whether the person holding that office is producing good or bad fruit~
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