Prophets: Josiah

Intro

the last good king

the one before the destruction

the fate of Jerusalem sealed

one of the best characteristics of our God shown in the darkest of times

Manasseh & Amon

the worst and his son

sacrificed his child to one of the pagan gods

built altars in the temple

turned to every weird and wicked thing seeking power and favor for himself

did more evil than the nations God destroyed

Judah sentenced again to the same fate as Israel

Amon was so evil that people conspired against him and killed him, leaving his 8 year old son Josiah as heir to the throne

8 year old king

despite his youth and his lineage, Josiah did what was right and is compared to David

Finding the law

he repairs the temple and deals with workers honestly

they find the book of the law that had gone untouched for at least a generation and a half

they realize what has been done wrong and inquire of God what their fate will be

God has mercy on their generation though still promises destruction

God always hears the humble and the weeping

Restoring what was lost

Josiah walks through the covenant with God again, as Abram did

all of the people follow after him

he destroys the altars and images of other gods

for the first time in eons, they remember the passover, the sacrifice God made in their place

the symbol that he will make whole again for everyone

Application

even at the angriest that God has ever been, he still hears those crying out to him and has mercy

he always recognizes those who want to have a relationship with him

he is never without compassion for those who cry out to him

there is never too far that one can fall that you cannot turn back to God either

a man with seemingly no hope like several before him, finds the word of God written on a page and without a sign follows with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength