Transformative Faith: Lessons from King Josiah

 

Summary

On this Mother's Day, we reflect on the story of Josiah, a king from the line of David, whose life offers profound lessons on righteousness and faithfulness. Josiah's family background was marred by dysfunction and abuse. His grandfather, Manasseh, was a king who committed abominations, even more evil than the Amorites, and his father, Amon, was assassinated after a short reign. Despite this, Josiah, raised by his mother Jedidah, became a godly king who sought the Lord early in his life.

Josiah's story is a testament to God's ability to transform lives, regardless of their origins. At the age of 16, Josiah began to seek God, a decision that shaped his entire life. He realized the importance of God's word when a dusty old book, the Book of the Law, was discovered in the temple. This discovery ignited a passion in Josiah to live a life that honored God, leading to a national reformation where he destroyed idols and called the people back to God.

However, Josiah's reforms, though radical, did not bring lasting change to the hearts of the people. The change was superficial, as the people conformed to Josiah's expectations but returned to their old ways after his death. This highlights the limitation of human efforts in bringing about true spiritual transformation, which can only be achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Josiah's life points us to Jesus, the greater Son of David, who not only changes cultures but transforms hearts. Jesus died under the judgment of God so that we might live in peace. He offers a new covenant, writing His law on our hearts and giving us His Spirit to create new desires within us. As we seek Him early, receive His word, and remain faithful, we find true freedom and peace in Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Seek the Lord Early: Josiah began seeking God at a young age, demonstrating that it is never too early to pursue a relationship with God. Early decisions to seek God can shape the entire direction of one's life, as seen in Josiah's transformation from a dysfunctional family background to a godly king. [11:03]

- Receive God's Word: The discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple was pivotal for Josiah. It underscores the importance of God's word in guiding us to Him. Without the Bible, even those seeking God may not know where to find Him. Immersing ourselves in Scripture is essential for spiritual growth and transformation. [18:24]

- Stay Faithful, Whatever the Outcome: Josiah's reforms were significant, yet they did not bring lasting change to the people's hearts. True faithfulness involves staying committed to God, regardless of visible outcomes, trusting that He is at work even when we cannot see it. [24:37]

- True Righteousness Comes from God: Josiah's efforts to reform the nation highlight the limitation of human efforts in achieving true righteousness. Only God can change hearts, and true righteousness comes from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit, not merely conforming to external expectations. [33:02]

- Jesus, the Greater Son of David: Josiah's life points to Jesus, who unlike Josiah, can change hearts and remove the judgment of God. Jesus offers peace and transformation through His death and resurrection, inviting us to seek Him, receive His word, and experience true freedom in Him. [37:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Josiah's Story
- [01:01] - God's Promise to David
- [02:13] - The Collapse of the Northern Kingdom
- [03:28] - Josiah's Family Background
- [05:33] - Manasseh's Abominations
- [06:49] - Josiah's Early Life
- [08:12] - Josiah's Godly Pursuit
- [10:02] - Seeking the Lord Early
- [12:27] - Receiving God's Word
- [14:12] - Discovery of the Book of the Law
- [18:24] - The Impact of God's Word
- [20:16] - Josiah's Reformation
- [24:37] - Staying Faithful
- [29:02] - The Limitations of Human Effort
- [33:02] - True Righteousness and the New Covenant
- [37:02] - Jesus, the Greater Son of David

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Kings 22:1-20
- 2 Chronicles 34:1-7
- Jeremiah 31:31-34

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the family background of King Josiah, and how did it influence his early life? [03:28]
2. At what age did Josiah begin to seek the Lord, and what significant event happened in the temple during his reign? [10:18]
3. What was the reaction of Josiah when he first heard the words of the Book of the Law? [18:59]
4. How did Josiah's reforms impact the nation, and what was the ultimate outcome after his death? [30:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Josiah's decision to seek God at a young age demonstrate the importance of early spiritual commitment? [11:03]
2. In what ways did the discovery of the Book of the Law shape Josiah's leadership and reforms? [18:24]
3. Why did Josiah's reforms fail to bring lasting change to the people's hearts, and what does this reveal about the nature of true spiritual transformation? [30:48]
4. How does Josiah's life point to the need for a greater transformation that only Jesus can provide, according to the sermon? [37:02]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you sought the Lord early in your life, or is this something you feel called to pursue now? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God? [11:03]
2. How can you prioritize receiving and immersing yourself in God's Word in your daily life? What practical changes can you make to ensure Scripture guides your decisions and actions? [18:24]
3. Josiah stayed faithful despite not seeing lasting change in his lifetime. How can you remain committed to God even when you don't see immediate results in your spiritual efforts? [24:37]
4. Consider the limitations of human efforts in achieving true righteousness. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and desires? [33:02]
5. Josiah's life points to Jesus, who offers peace and transformation. How can you actively seek Jesus and experience the freedom He offers in your daily life? [37:02]
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel the need for spiritual reformation. What steps can you take to align this area with God's will, and how can your small group support you in this journey? [20:16]
7. Reflect on the influence of your family background on your faith. How can you break any negative patterns and create a legacy of faithfulness for future generations? [09:22]

Devotional

Day 1: Early Pursuit of God Shapes Destiny
Josiah's life is a powerful example of how seeking God early can shape one's destiny, regardless of a challenging background. Despite being born into a family with a history of evil and dysfunction, Josiah chose to seek the Lord at a young age. This decision set him on a path of righteousness and godliness, transforming him into a king who honored God. His story reminds us that it is never too early to pursue a relationship with God, and that early decisions to seek Him can have a profound impact on the direction of our lives. [11:03]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to seek God more earnestly, regardless of your current circumstances or past experiences?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of God's Word
The discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple was a turning point for Josiah, highlighting the transformative power of God's word. This ancient text ignited a passion in Josiah to live a life that honored God, leading to a national reformation. The Bible serves as a guide, helping us to find God and understand His will for our lives. Immersing ourselves in Scripture is essential for spiritual growth and transformation, as it provides the foundation for a life that pleases God. [18:24]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time in God's word into your daily routine, and what specific changes do you hope to see in your life as a result?


Day 3: Faithfulness Beyond Visible Outcomes
Josiah's reforms were significant, yet they did not bring lasting change to the people's hearts. This highlights the importance of staying faithful to God, regardless of visible outcomes. True faithfulness involves trusting that God is at work, even when we cannot see it. It requires a commitment to God that goes beyond immediate results, believing that He is orchestrating His purposes in His perfect timing. [24:37]

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to remain faithful, even when you don't see immediate results, and how can you trust God more in this process?


Day 4: Righteousness Through Heart Transformation
Josiah's efforts to reform the nation highlight the limitation of human efforts in achieving true righteousness. True righteousness comes from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit, not merely conforming to external expectations. Only God can change hearts, and it is through His Spirit that we are empowered to live lives that reflect His righteousness. This transformation is a work of God, not something we can achieve on our own. [33:02]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on your own efforts rather than seeking God's transformative power, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in that area today?


Day 5: Jesus, the Heart Transformer
Josiah's life points to Jesus, the greater Son of David, who not only changes cultures but transforms hearts. Unlike Josiah, Jesus offers a new covenant, writing His law on our hearts and giving us His Spirit to create new desires within us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus removes the judgment of God and offers us peace and transformation. As we seek Him, receive His word, and remain faithful, we find true freedom and peace in Him. [37:02]

"And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (Ezekiel 36:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you more fully embrace the transformation that Jesus offers, and what steps can you take to align your desires with His will today?

Quotes


Josiah's family background, I think, could best be described as broken, dysfunctional, and abusive. His grandfather was a man by the name of Manasseh. If you look at chapter 21 and verse 11, listen to what God says about him: Manasseh, the king of Judah, he has committed abominations. He's done things more evil than all the Amorites did who were before him, and he has made Judah, that's the southern tribes, also to sin with his idols. [00:03:36]

Now, over in a later book in the Bible, Second Chronicles, where we have a parallel account of these kings, we're told there about Josiah that it was in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, that he began to seek the God of David, his father. So here's Josiah, and his father dies when he's just eight years old. [00:10:04]

Josiah got serious about seeking after God when he was a teenager. Now, we're not told why he sought after the Lord when he was a teenager, just that he did. Perhaps it was that he had seen how sin had wrecked previous generations of his family. But for whatever reason, early in life, Josiah said in his mind and heart, I want to be different. [00:11:09]

Now, here's the obvious question that arises in the story at this point: If you are seeking God, how are you going to find Him? And there probably are folks in the congregation who are saying, you know, you've described where I'm at. I want to be different. I don't want to continue the things that have been passed down the line in my family. [00:12:27]

Josiah knew that God was to be worshipped in the temple in Jerusalem. So it seems from chapter 22 that he decided early on that he would do some repairs that were badly needed to this temple of the Lord. He decided to repair it, that's verse five, and that would take some money, and there were taxes that were paid to the temple. [00:14:38]

Now, this book of the law was the book of Deuteronomy, the book that is earlier in our Bible that we looked at earlier in this series. What a surprise! The high priest finds the Bible, a dusty old copy, a part of the Old Testament scriptures, and it's lying neglected and disused in a vault in the temple. [00:15:35]

If you lose the Bible from the place of worship, what happens in the end is you have a kid like Josiah growing up with a desire in his heart to seek after the Lord, and he's got no idea where to find Him because even in the temple, the Bible has been lost. And maybe that was your experience too. [00:17:21]

The Bible very simply is the word of God. What that means is that when God's word is opened, God's voice is actually heard. So verse 10 and verse 11 of chapter 22, Shaphan the secretary told the king, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book, and Shaphan read it before the king. [00:18:24]

Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel, and notice the word: he made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God, and all his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. Josiah made them. [00:30:00]

True righteousness cannot come from trying to please some other people who want us to move in a particular direction. True righteousness can only come when your heart is changed by God, and that is why God promises a new covenant. He says, here's Josiah, and he gathers all the people and he reads the Bible. [00:32:45]

If you will come to Jesus Christ in faith and in repentance today, He'll give you more than His law. He'll give you Himself. He'll give you His Spirit, and His Spirit will create new desires and new capacities inside you so that from within, you have a desire to follow after all of His ways. [00:34:27]

Josiah died in peace, but his people lived under the judgment of God. Jesus died under the judgment of God, and His people live in peace. See, only Jesus can take away the judgment of God from you. Only Jesus can change your heart. That's why He came into the world. Seek Him early, receive His word. [00:37:13]

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