The following is about the life of Josiah. He was king over Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) from 640 to 609 BC. Although his surroundings were very godless, Josiah decided against mainstream behavior. He consistently aligned his life with God. Josiah is one of the few kings of Judah who found God’s approval. He lived a life of determination, devotion, and obedience.

His Announcement

A prophecy long before his birth

Before we come to Josiah’s actual life, one interesting fact should be mentioned. About 300 years before Josiah was born, God had him announced by a prophet. This happened in the time of King Jeroboam I who was a king who sinned against God by luring the people into open idolatry. We can read about this in 1 Kings 12.

God’s warning to Jeroboam

At that time, God did not leave Jeroboam without warning. He sent him a prophet and had him say: “Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you!” (1 Kings 13:2). Here we see one of many examples in the Bible. God makes a precise statement about the future. It is then fulfilled exactly like that, for Josiah actually carried out this prophecy.

What God says will be fulfilled. That is still true today!

Lineage

A god-fearing young man

Josiah is a young man shaped by the fear of God. This is all the more astonishing because both his grandfather, Manasseh, and his father, Amon, were godless men. God saw their lives. Over both, he pronounces the verdict: “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Manasseh went so far as to build altars to foreign gods. He sacrificed to them and set up idols. And he did this in God’s temple in Jerusalem. What an insult to God! Apparently he also offered human sacrifices. For we read that he made “his sons pass through the fire.” Manasseh also did much other evil. God emphasizes again: “He did much evil in the sight of the Lord.” He then adds that his motivation was “to provoke Him.” Manasseh obviously thought he could take on God.

Judgment and repentance

But God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7). Once again God speaks to Manasseh and the people, likely through a prophet. But they do not pay attention to God’s word. And so God brings judgment on Manasseh. He is taken captive, bound, and led to Babylon.

There, Manasseh finally comes to his senses. Under great distress, he pleads with God and humbles himself before him. Manasseh becomes aware of the sin he committed against God. Even today, God lets his children go through difficult times. He does this to move them to turn from their evil ways. Let us not think that God will not intervene if we continue on evil paths. He does, but not to punish us. He does it because he wants to bring us back into the happy relationship with himself.

And that is exactly what God accomplishes with Manasseh, and his life takes a radical turn. Manasseh’s story shows two things – God’s holiness and his intervention in judgment. But it also shows God’s infinite patience and grace. In it, he is always ready to forgive.

Amon’s failure and Josiah’s rise

Amon, Manasseh’s son, would not have been unaware of God’s dealings with his father. He probably witnessed some of it himself. And what did he learn from it? Apparently nothing at all. Amon continues the sins his father had broken with. He repeats them. Unlike his father, he does not humble himself before God. Instead, he “multiplied guilt.” He did not want to stop doing evil! Finally, he is killed by a conspiracy of his servants. Then his son Josiah becomes king.