Bible character overview - King Josiah
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Time to read 5 min
Introduction:
Welcome to an insightful character overview of King Josiah. Here you'll learn about who King Josiah was, what he did, and his strengths and weaknesses. Also, we have provided questions related to the story of King Josiah to provoke thought. They can also be used for personal/small-group studies.
Who was King Josiah from the Bible?
Key facts
- When: roughly around 648 - 609 B.C
- Where: Most likely Jerusalem
- Name meaning: 'God supports and heals'
Glimpse: King Josiah rose to power at a very young age but was committed to God and had a good heart. He took on an idolatrous nation and turned it upside down, purging it from all its evil and wickedness and bringing God back to His rightful place.
The book of the law
Josiah was born into the royal line of David, the son of King Amon and Jedidah. Josiah is first mentioned in 2 Kings 22, which states, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” After the assassination of King Amon, Josiah ascended to the throne at the age of eight. Israel had fallen into idolatry and wickedness following a succession of corrupt kings.
During repairs on the temple, Hilkiah, the high priest, found a book called the “Book of the Law.”. He brought it to King Josiah who requested it be read to him. After hearing its words and realizing how far the nation had strayed from God, King Josiah tore his clothes in sorrow and repentance.
Questions
→ Do you believe children and young adults can hold a high level of influence on those around them?
→ Do you often look to the world around you and think how far we've come away from God? What can we do to make a change?
"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem"
Inquiring of the Lord
After this, Josiah said to the priests, "Go and inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us" (2 Kings 22:13). So they went to a prophetess named Huldah, who spoke, saying that God would bring destruction to that place and its people.
Questions
→ Why should we inquire/ask God about things we are unsure about?
→ Should we only come to God in difficult times?
"This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods in order to anger me with all the work of their hands. My wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.''
Purging of wickedness
However, God said that because King Josiah humbled himself before the Lord, he would pass away and not have to witness the destruction. King Josiah then proceeded to purge the nation of idolatry, destroying the Asherah poles, removing idolatrous leaders, tearing down shrines, and more. He also reinstated traditions that had been lost. Yet God did not turn from His anger and continued in His endeavor to remove Judah from His presence.
2 Kings 23:25 says of Josiah, "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 strength, according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him."
King Josiah was eventually killed in battle by Necho, king of Egypt.
Questions
→ What stands out to you most about King Josiah's story?
→ What effect does evil have on a place and person? Is there anything in your life that you need to completely remove?
“ In addition, Josiah eradicated the mediums, the spiritists, household idols, images, and all the abhorrent things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord’s temple. ”
Strengths:
- Good heart: King Josiah was a man after God's own heart just like David and did right in the eyes of the Lord
- Full commitment: He did not do a half-hearted job when purging that place of wickedness, but he completely eradicated it
- God-fearing: He did not fear the people but he feared God
Weaknesses:
- N/A
Conclusion
King Josiah teaches us that we must fear God and not man. He was placed in a tough position at a very young age but he committed himself to the work of the Lord and did what needed to be done. His purging of evil also showed his love and care for the people as he knew that if they remained in the state that they were in, they would have been destroyed.
''For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life''
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