Josiah

Praise God for Josiah!!! After so many of the early Israelite Kings "Did what was evil in the LORD's sight," (recorded in 1 Kings and 2 Kings), it is so refreshing to know that Josiah, "did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right." (2 Kings 22:2) (NLT)

Why did Josiah choose this way of life instead of doing what was evil in the LORD's sight? I don't know. I know part of it was his choice to do the right thing, and continuing to do so. I believe he loved God greatly! Maybe he learned to NOT make the same mistakes his predecessors had made. Maybe God chose him to be a shining example and gave him extra help.

Josiah became king at eight years old. Surely, he must have had good advisors and godly people as role models. 2 Kings 22:1 tells us his mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adahiah from Bozhath. Maybe Josiah's mother and grandfather taught him the way of the LORD at a very early age. I mean the dude is king at 8 years old! And, he chose to please God and did not turn away from doing what was right! AWESOME!

As we seek answers on his daddy, Amon's side the family, he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (2 KINGS 21:20). Verse 22:22 really hits me about Amon: He abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the LORD's way. 

As we go back one more generation to Amon's father, which is Josiah's grandfather, maybe there will be the treasure of answers to Josiah being such a godly man and good king! NOPE! Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh was one of the most evil of all the Israelite kings. The following verses sum up his reign and the LORD's decisions. 2 Kings 21:10-14 (NLT)
Then the LORD said through his servants the prophets: "King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in the land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols. So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish. Then I will reject even the remnants of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies. 

Josiah did much good in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Kings 23.
2 Kings 23:25: Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. 

In conclusion,
1. I want to be like Josiah and not like Manasseh or Amon.
2. We do NOT have to be like other people (even our father or grandfather). We are responsible for our own decisions.
3. Our decisions, whether good or bad, affect others.
4. In order to please God, we must have faith. We must obey Him, and we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.