What lessons can we learn from Josiah's actions before his death? The Setting of Josiah’s Final Hours “Archers shot King Josiah… And there he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.” (2 Chronicles 35:23-24) Just months after leading Judah in its greatest Passover since Samuel’s day (35:18-19), Josiah rushed to the battlefield at Megiddo, ignored a warning “from the mouth of God” (35:22), was wounded, and died. His life ended abruptly, yet Scripture preserves the moment so we can gain wisdom. Lesson 1: Always Seek and Obey God’s Counsel • Josiah “would not listen” (35:22). Contrast that with his earlier pattern: “In his eighth year… he began to seek the God of his father David” (34:3). • Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Application: Past obedience never substitutes for present dependence. Every new decision demands fresh prayer and submission. Lesson 2: God Can Speak Through Unlikely Messengers • Pharaoh Necho said, “God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God” (35:21). • Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:28-30) and Caiaphas’ prophecy (John 11:49-52) show that God may use unexpected lips. • We test every message by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21), yet we must remain humble enough to listen. Lesson 3: Disguise and Deception Cannot Hide Us from God • Josiah “disguised himself” (35:22) just as Ahab did (2 Chronicles 18:29). Both were struck by random arrows. • Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” • Integrity, not strategy, keeps us safe in God’s will. Lesson 4: Spiritual Momentum Can Be Lost Quickly • Revival peak (35:18-19) to fatal error came in one campaign. • Galatians 5:7: “You were running well; who hindered you?” • Guard your heart daily; yesterday’s victories don’t guarantee tomorrow’s faithfulness. Lesson 5: A Righteous Legacy Still Bears Fruit • “All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah” (35:24). Jeremiah composed laments (35:25). • 2 Kings 23:25: “No king turned to the LORD as he did.” • Even when a believer stumbles, a lifetime of devotion influences others toward God. Lesson 6: God Keeps His Word—Blessings and Warnings • Josiah’s earlier reforms delayed judgment (34:27-28). His later disobedience did not cancel that grace, but consequences still fell personally. • Galatians 6:7: “God is not mocked… whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • Hold both truths together: God’s mercy is real, and His moral order is unbreakable. Putting It All Together Josiah’s closing scene invites soberness and hope. We learn to seek God afresh each day, heed His voice even from surprising quarters, walk transparently before Him, maintain vigilance, and trust that a life set on His Word leaves a lasting witness. |
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