The True and Better Josiah

Have you ever found yourself far away from God? Maybe distraction, fear, or busyness creates a gap in your relationship, and, before you know it, you are miles away from Him in your mind and heart. Sometimes this change is sudden, and sometimes it happens imperceptibly by degrees. The latter is how I think it must have happened for the Israelites during the time before King Josiah’s reign.

Josiah became king at a bleak time in Judah’s history. You can read the details for yourself in 2 Kings 22, but to make a long story short: Josiah is a good king, and he repairs the temple. While doing so, the Book of the Law is discovered. Josiah ordered it to be read out loud and was cut to the heart upon hearing it, realizing just how far they had wandered from God. He then proceeded to burn down idols, tear down shrines, smash alters, and put the wicked priests to death. He turned the nation back to the Lord so completely that it is written of him: “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:25).

Josiah acted as a righteous king to reconnect the nation to God. But all the good work that he accomplished was only temporary—there would be evil kings after him who would unravel much of what he did. Yet his remarkable efforts ultimately point us to Jesus, who acted on our behalf and gave His life as ransom for our sin. In doing so, He made a way to eternally reconnect us to God.

I’m so thankful that we have the story of Josiah, which at its heart, is a story about rediscovering God. If you are feeling lost, distant, or disconnected in this season of life, remember the amazing work that Jesus did on the cross for you. Remember that you can approach God no matter how far away you may be. And if it has been a while, maybe rediscover the “lost book” as Josiah did.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)