- The Choice
- The Character
- The Covenant
- The Conquests
After covering Jehoshaphat in the morning service, Pastor Anders turns to Josiah: an eight-year-old God raised up, who stayed on David’s road, rediscovered the lost Word, tore his clothes over Judah’s sin, sought a word from God, and led a revival of surrender and the destruction of idolatry. The secret: he turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might (2 Kings 23:25).
Series frame The Choice — God chose the shepherd (1 Samuel 16). The Character — a man after God’s heart. The Covenant — forever promise through David’s line (2 Samuel 7). The Conquests — hear God, obey, confess, fear God more than man. Keys recalled: faith as hear-and-obey (Hebrews 11); forgiveness after failure; fear of God / revelation over reason (from David’s Psalms). The church is still at war — “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities… powers… spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12); the enemy is a lying serpent and a “roaring lion… seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). God still wants David-like conquerors. Tonight’s example: Josiah.9:30 PMEGBCbot
The Reign — Josiah was eight when he began to reign; he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem; his mother was Jedidah (2 Kings 22:1). You wouldn’t pick an eight-year-old for the throne; God did — like young David anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16), and like Jesus calling fishermen and a tax collector (Matthew 4; Matthew 9:9). God has a plan for children.
The Road — He “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2). Right in God’s sight, not opinion polls. Stay on David’s highway. Kings aren’t perfect (David with Bathsheba/Uriah; Peter’s threefold denial) — they get back on the road. Direction matters more than perfection.
The Repairs — In the 18th year he ordered temple repairs; the workmen “dealt faithfully” (2 Kings 22:3–7). Echo of David’s desire for God’s house and Solomon building it (2 Samuel 7). Application: repair “our temple” — our body and life — for God’s glory (allusion to 1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
The Reading — The book of the law is found; Shaphan reads it to the king (2 Kings 22:8–10). Punch line: the Word can get lost in the house of God — Bibles present, but activities first and “a little devotion” thrown in. Rediscover the Word.9:30 PMEGBCbot
The Reaction — When Josiah heard the words, he rent his clothes (2 Kings 22:11). He sent men to inquire of the Lord: great is the wrath kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book (2 Kings 22:13). Idolatry is exposed; the enemy’s lie is that idolatry is fine. Not a poll — they need a word from God.
The Revelation — They go to Huldah the prophetess (2 Kings 22:14). Judgment will fall because Judah forsook God for other gods (2 Kings 22:15–17); Babylon is on the horizon. Modern idols named: pleasure, prosperity, popularity, money, people. First two commandments (Exodus 20:3–4); Deuteronomy warns not to forget God when settled. Because Josiah’s heart was tender, he is gathered in peace and will not see the evil in his days (2 Kings 22:18–20). Still following David’s example generations later.
The Revival — 2 Kings 23: Saints gathered (2 Kings 23:1–2). Scriptures read — the Book of the Covenant (2 Kings 23:2). Surrender — the king stands by the pillar and makes a covenant (2 Kings 23:3). Stand taken — the people “stood to the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3). Sin dealt with — vessels for Baal, the grove, and the host of heaven burned in Kidron; priests put down; purge through Judah (2 Kings 23:4–20). Scriptures obeyed — a Passover like none before in the 18th year (2 Kings 23:21–23).
The Secret — Victory over idolatry. No king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses (2 Kings 23:25; echo of Deuteronomy 6:5). Closing call: get on that road of full surrender to God and stay on it.