The Son of Josiah is Israel's Last Hope based on 2 Chronicles 34:1-3, 35:20-27

I. Josiah was the last of the good kings of Judah following the evil kings Manasseh and Amon. 2 Chronicles 34:2 “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

II. At 26 Josiah started to repair the temple and the Book of the Covenant was found. The prophetess Huldah prophesied disaster coming.

III. Josiah kept a Passover feast in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 35:18 “No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

IV. Josiah opposed Neco king of Egypt and was killed in battle.

V. The death of Josiah was a time of weeping and lamenting.

VI. The Son of Josiah was opposed by a wicked and evil generation. Jesus was the Passover lamb and sacrifice for us.

VII. Jesus, the last hope, died on a cross in our place. He turns our weeping and lamenting into joy.

VIII. Conclusion. When we turn to the cross, our sorrow is turned to joy because the eternal King says, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” For a little while, we sorrowed, but in Jesus’ resurrection our sorrow has turned to joy. “No one will take your joy from you” through the ever-reigning King Jesus, the Son of Josiah, the Son of David (Jn 16:24, 22). Amen.