How does Josiah's fate connect to God's warnings in Deuteronomy about disobedience? Setting the Scene: Josiah’s Final Battle “Josiah, however, did not turn away from him, but disguised himself to fight Neco. He did not listen to what Neco had said from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo. When the archers shot King Josiah, the king said to his servants, ‘Take me away, for I am badly wounded!’ ” (2 Chronicles 35:22-23) God’s Covenant Warnings in Deuteronomy • Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – Every king must copy, read, and obey the Law so “he will not turn aside from the commandment…so that he and his descendants may reign many years.” • Deuteronomy 28 – Blessings for obedience (vv. 1-14) and curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68); chief among the curses: – Defeat before enemies (v. 25) – Shortened days and loss of national security (vv. 20, 52) • Deuteronomy 30:17-18 – “If your heart turns away and you do not listen…you will surely perish; you will not prolong your days in the land.” How Josiah’s Death Echoes Deuteronomy’s Warnings • Ignoring a word from God – Deuteronomy 28:15 warns that turning a deaf ear brings curses. – 2 Chronicles 35:22 says Josiah “did not listen to what Neco had said from the mouth of God.” • Defeat before a foreign power – Deuteronomy 28:25: “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.” – Josiah falls to Egypt’s arrows on the battlefield. • Shortened reign and life – Deuteronomy 17:20 promises long reign for obedience; Deuteronomy 30:18 warns of shortened days for disobedience. – Josiah, though once a model king, dies at thirty-nine, ending a reign that might have lasted longer. • Foreshadowing national exile – Deuteronomy 28:36: “The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you.” – Josiah’s death clears the path for Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and eventually Zedekiah—kings who will be carried off or killed as Judah goes into exile. The Tragic Irony • Josiah had led the greatest covenant renewal since David (2 Chronicles 34). • Yet one unheeded word cost him the very blessings he prized. • The event underlines that even a righteous legacy cannot override God’s covenant terms: continual obedience is required. Living Lessons • God’s warnings in Deuteronomy are not idle threats; they operate with absolute reliability. • Past faithfulness is no license for present neglect; every generation—and every believer—must keep listening and obeying. • National leaders are especially accountable to heed God’s voice; their choices ripple through an entire people. |
    |