Ep. 145. 2 Kings 21-23 | Wicked and Good

EPISODE 145

WICKED AND GOOD: 2 KINGS 21-23

Manasseh would be the most wicked King to ever rule over the kingdom of Judah, but by contrast, Josiah would be one of the very best. Josiah became King when he was eight years old. Not only did he restore the Passover, he also found the Book of the Law and had it read before the people. Not even in David's days was the Book of the Law read from as it had been during Josiah's reign. He sought the Lord with all his heart and led the people to follow the Lord. Judgment for the wickedness of the previous Kings was still coming upon Jerusalem and Judah, but for the time being, Josiah had led the people in faithfulness. 

When I first started doing ministry in 1997, I considered naming my ministry "Josiah Ministries." However, my friends at the time (and still now, in fact) said, "No one knows who Josiah is. You need a better name." Eventually, I did come up with a different name for my preaching ministry, but Josiah has always held a special place in my heart. 

If you are trying to develop a timeline of the Bible, you will find it interesting to know that Jeremiah became a young prophet during the 13th year of the reign of Josiah. Jeremiah was a prophet for approximately forty years, the first 18 years coming during the reign of Josiah. The young prophet and the young King led the nation. 

ADDITIONAL READING: Habakkuk 1:5; 1 Kings 13, 2 Chronicles 34,35; Jeremiah 1:2