King Josiah was one of the most righteous and godly kings of Judah mentioned in the Bible. He reigned for 31 years from around 640 to 609 BC. Josiah became king at the young age of 8 after his father King Amon was assassinated. During Josiah’s reign, the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy) was rediscovered in the temple, which spurred Josiah to initiate extensive religious reforms in Judah to purify worship and return to proper obedience to God’s laws. Josiah reinstituted the celebration of Passover, destroyed pagan altars and idols, and repaired and purified the temple. He was a righteous king who turned the nation back to following the Lord. Unfortunately, Judah’s corrupt ways returned after Josiah’s death. But he serves as an exemplary model of godly leadership and wholehearted devotion to obeying God’s Word.
Here is an overview of King Josiah’s life and reign as described in the Bible:
Josiah’s Early Life
Josiah was born around 648 BC as the son of King Amon and grandson of King Manasseh, two of the most wicked kings of Judah who promoted idolatry and pagan worship. Yet from a young age, Josiah did not follow their evil ways. He ascended the throne at age 8 after his father was assassinated by his own officials after just 2 years of rule (2 Kings 21:19-24). Josiah reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years, from around 640-609 BC (2 Kings 22:1).
Josiah’s Godly Reforms
When Josiah was 16, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David and to walk in His ways (2 Chronicles 34:3). Then in the 18th year of his reign, while repairs were being done on the temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy). When it was read to Josiah, he immediately tore his robes in grief over how Judah had sinned by not obeying it. Josiah then reinstituted the covenant with the Lord and led the people to renew their commitment to obeying God’s Word (2 Kings 22:3-13).
Josiah then launched extensive religious reforms and purification of worship throughout Judah and Israel:
- He had the temple cleansed and pagan altars and vessels removed (2 Chronicles 34:3-7).
- He tore down the altars and idols to pagan gods and grinded them to dust (2 Kings 23:4-14).
- He destroyed the pagan shrines and got rid of the pagan priests (2 Kings 23:5, 20).
- He restored the celebration of Passover which had not been observed properly (2 Kings 23:21-23).
- He renewed the covenant with God to obey His commands with all his heart and soul (2 Kings 23:3).
- He had the Law read publicly and reinstituted proper worship (2 Kings 23:2).
Josiah purified the land from idolatry and restored the proper worship of God. He was wholeheartedly committed to obeying God’s Word as rediscovered in the Book of the Law. The Bible says there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul and strength (2 Kings 23:25).
Death in Battle
Despite Josiah’s godly leadership, Judah’s corruption and idolatry was deeply entrenched. Towards the end of Josiah’s reign, the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco was leading his army to assist the crumbling Assyrians against the rising Babylonian threat. Josiah led his forces to intercept Pharaoh Neco’s army and stop him from advancing. But Neco warned Josiah not to interfere. Josiah disguised himself in battle, but was struck by an arrow and died (2 Kings 23:29-30, 2 Chronicles 35:20-24). The whole land mourned the death of the righteous king. Josiah was buried with honor in Jerusalem as one who walked uprightly before the Lord (2 Chronicles 35:24-25).
Though Josiah’s reforms did not last long beyond his death, he served as one of the most righteous kings of Judah who sought to turn the nation back to proper worship of God. King Josiah’s devotion to God’s Word and to leading the people to obey it makes him a model of godly, courageous leadership for all generations.
Key Passages about Josiah
Here are some key Bible passages about the life and reign of King Josiah:
- 2 Kings 22:1-13 – The Book of the Law is discovered and read to Josiah
- 2 Kings 23:1-27 – Josiah’s religious reforms and reinstitution of the covenant
- 2 Chronicles 34-35 – Details of Josiah’s reforms and Passover celebration
- 2 Kings 23:25 – “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”
- 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 – Josiah’s death in battle against Pharaoh Neco
Lessons from Josiah’s Life
Here are some key lessons that can be learned from King Josiah’s life and reign:
- Seek the Lord wholeheartedly – Josiah’s devotion to fully obeying God’s Word is an example for us to follow with all our heart, soul and strength.
- Reject and remove idols – Josiah purged the land of idols and pagan worship, just as we must guard our hearts from idolatry.
- Renew devotion to God’s Word – The rediscovery of Scripture led Josiah to repentance and reform. We need to continually renew our commitment to obeying the Bible.
- Lead by godly example – Josiah led the people to repentance and obedience through his own faithful example, which leaders today should emulate.
- Wholehearted obedience – Despite opposition, Josiah obeyed God’s Law with zeal. We too must obey God’s Word even when it’s counter-cultural or difficult.
Though he lived centuries ago, King Josiah’s passionate devotion to God provides an inspiring example of loving and obeying the Lord for all generations. His zeal for God’s Word can encourage and challenge believers today to also pursue wholehearted obedience to the Lord.
Josiah in Biblical Prophecy
Josiah appears in a few prophecies regarding the coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem for their sins:
- 1 Kings 13:1-3 – Josiah was predicted by name centuries before his birth during the reign of Jeroboam as a coming king of Judah who would sacrifice pagan priests.
- 2 Kings 23:15-20 – Josiah fulfilled the prophecy in 1 Kings by destroying the altar at Bethel and sacrificing the pagan priests there.
- Jeremiah 22:11-17 – Shortly after Josiah’s death, Jeremiah prophesied judgment on Josiah’s son Shallum (Jehoahaz) for not following Josiah’s godly example.
- Zephaniah 1:1 – The prophet Zephaniah ministered during Josiah’s reign and foretold God’s coming day of wrath and judgment on Judah.
- 2 Kings 23:26-27 – Despite Josiah’s reforms, God’s wrath was not turned away because of the lingering evil of previous kings.
These prophecies reveal that though Josiah was used by God, the deep corruption in Judah was not decisively turned back even by his sweeping reforms. Josiah delayed God’s judgment during his lifetime, but judgment later came during the reigns of his sons due to the sins of prior kings and the people’s quick return to idolatry after his death.
King Josiah’s Significance and Legacy
In summary, here are some key things to remember about King Josiah’s significance and legacy:
- He was one of the most righteous and godly kings of Judah who led extensive religious reforms.
- He rediscovered the Book of the Law and sought to obey it wholeheartedly.
- He instituted reforms like destroying idols and pagan altars, cleansing the temple, and celebrating Passover properly.
- He led Judah to renew their covenant with God to obey His Word.
- He modeled passionate devotion to obeying the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might.
- Though his reforms did not permanently reverse Judah’s idolatry, he postponed God’s judgment during his reign.
- He fulfilled an ancient prophecy about defiling pagan altars at Bethel.
- His godly influence continued through the ministries of Jeremiah and Zephaniah after his death.
- Josiah exemplified courageous leadership, love for God’s Word, and a life of wholehearted commitment to obeying the Lord.
King Josiah left a powerful example of godly leadership and obedience to the Word of God that still speaks to believers today to passionately follow the Lord with all their hearts and lives.