Josiah - 2 Kings 22 & 23

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Introduction.

1. Right before Judah was taken into captivity, it was an exceeding wicked nation.

2. The had turned completely to idolatry and had completely forgotten the God that brought them out of Egypt.

3. Then, along come Josiah.

4. Notice how he is described (2 Kings 22:2; 23:5)

5. Oh that the same could be said for us!

6. What characteristics did he possess that allowed him to be described this way?

7. Let us notice.

Body.

I. He reacts to the message (22:11, 18, 19).

A. Josiah shows genuine remorse when he realizes his condition.

1. He did not try to blame others.

2. He did not try to make excuses for himself.

3. He didn't get angry.

4. He realized the gravity of his situation.

B. What about us?

1. Do we realize the gravity of our situation.

a. Ephesians 2:12. "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"

b. Romans 6:23.

c. Isaiah 59:1-2.

2. Do we feel genuine remorse when we realize that we have sinned against God?

a. Like David did (Psalms 51:1-3). "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

b. Like Peter did (Matthew 26:75). "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

c. Like Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:9, 11).

3. Or do we try to shift the blame to others.

4. Do we get angry?

II. He acts on the message (Chapter 23).

A. True repentance requires more than sorrow.

1. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

2. Repentance is a change in action brought on by a change in heart.

B. Look at what Josiah did to repent:

1. He made a covenant with God (v. 3).

2. Brought all idols out of the temple and burned them (v. 4).

3. Removed all idolatrous priests (v. 5).

4. He defiled the high places from Geba to Beersheba (v. 8).

5. He defiled Topbeth so that children would not have to pass through the fire of Molech (v. 10).

6. He removed the horses that had been dedicated to the sun and burned their chariots (vv. 11-12).

7. Tore down altars to false gods that Solomon had made (vv. 13-14).

8. Destroyed altar in Bethel (vv. 15-18).

9. Took down all the shrines in the city of Samaria (v. 19).

10. Commanded the people to keep the Passover.

C. He strove to keep all of the law (23:25).

D. He completely dedicated himself to serving God.

1. He held nothing back.

2. What about us? What have we given up?

3. Matthew 16:24. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

4. Galatians 2:20. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

III. He was rewarded.

A. Because of his reaction, he was spared from the coming punishment.

B. There is a day of reckoning coming to the rest of us as well.

1. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

2. 2 Peter 3:10. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

C. Like Josiah, our fate rests on our reaction to God's Word (John 12:48).

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See how we ought to commit ourselves to God by looking at the life of Josiah. Text: 2 Kings 22-23.

Introduction.

1. Right before Judah was taken into captivity, it was an exceeding wicked nation.

2. The had turned completely to idolatry and had completely forgotten the God that brought them out of Egypt.

3. Then, along come Josiah.

4. Notice how he is described (2 Kings 22:2; 23:5)

5. Oh that the same could be said for us!

6. What characteristics did he possess that allowed him to be described this way?

7. Let us notice.

Body.

I. He reacts to the message (22:11, 18, 19).

A. Josiah shows genuine remorse when he realizes his condition.

1. He did not try to blame others.

2. He did not try to make excuses for himself.

3. He didn't get angry.

4. He realized the gravity of his situation.

B. What about us?

1. Do we realize the gravity of our situation.

a. Ephesians 2:12. "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"

b. Romans 6:23.

c. Isaiah 59:1-2.

2. Do we feel genuine remorse when we realize that we have sinned against God?

b. Like Peter did (Matthew 26:75). "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

c. Like Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:9, 11).

3. Or do we try to shift the blame to others.

4. Do we get angry?

II. He acts on the message (Chapter 23).

A. True repentance requires more than sorrow.

1. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

2. Repentance is a change in action brought on by a change in heart.

B. Look at what Josiah did to repent:

1. He made a covenant with God (v. 3).

2. Brought all idols out of the temple and burned them (v. 4).

3. Removed all idolatrous priests (v. 5).

4. He defiled the high places from Geba to Beersheba (v. 8).

5. He defiled Topbeth so that children would not have to pass through the fire of Molech (v. 10).

6. He removed the horses that had been dedicated to the sun and burned their chariots (vv. 11-12).

7. Tore down altars to false gods that Solomon had made (vv. 13-14).

8. Destroyed altar in Bethel (vv. 15-18).

9. Took down all the shrines in the city of Samaria (v. 19).

10. Commanded the people to keep the Passover.

C. He strove to keep all of the law (23:25).

D. He completely dedicated himself to serving God.

1. He held nothing back.

2. What about us? What have we given up?

3. Matthew 16:24. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

4. Galatians 2:20. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

III. He was rewarded.

A. Because of his reaction, he was spared from the coming punishment.

B. There is a day of reckoning coming to the rest of us as well.

2. 2 Peter 3:10. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

C. Like Josiah, our fate rests on our reaction to God's Word (John 12:48).

Conclusion.

1. Let us do our best to imitate Josiah.

2. When we hear God's Word; Let us get on it.

3. Have You?