In the end, we find that Josiah had the Passover celebrated. He had learned this from the Book of the Law. God had instituted the Passover to mark Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. It was to be celebrated every year. It reminds us, first, that we were freed through salvation. We were freed from the devil’s power, Pharaoh in Egypt. On the other hand, it points us to the Lord Jesus. We read in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” Just as Israel remembered deliverance from Egypt, we may remember today. We may remember what the Lord Jesus accomplished at Golgotha’s cross. He even gave us a meal, like the Passover for Israel. In it, we may remember Him: the memorial meal (the Lord’s Supper). Here we may think of His person and His sufferings. We do so on every Lord’s Day, Sunday.

How Josiah Knew What to Do

What do you think, how did Josiah know how to celebrate the Passover? He said to the Levites: “Slaughter the Passover, sanctify yourselves, and prepare it for your brothers so that they may do according to the word of the Lord by Moses” (2 Chronicles 35:6). He had not only read God’s Word with interest. He also made it his own, meaning he wanted to live by it. In addition, he had learned something important. The Law did not merely contain regulations. God had a very special interest in the Lord’s feasts (see Leviticus 23).

The Center of the Bible

When we read the Bible today, we will see something important. It is not just about divine thoughts. There is a center in the Bible: the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you read God’s Word attentively, you will recognize it. In the end, everything revolves around His person. “You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those Scriptures that testify about Me” (John 5:39), Jesus once says to the Jews.

This also makes the Bible living and personal for us. It is not about a teaching, but about a person. God also wants to warm our heart for this person. He is lovable to God Himself.

Two Effects in Our Lives

Being occupied with Him has a twofold effect in our life:

1. First, we recognize something of the glory and greatness. We see the One who died for us on the cross. That leads us to worship and to true joy. It produces new strength in life.

2. Then His life also rubs off on us. When we see how He lived His life, we will want to imitate Him. Not in outward power, which we do not possess. But in inner strength and devotion, which we learn from Him. That also gives strength in life. It leads to conscious consecration and decisiveness for Christ.

A Third Helpful Effect

And there is a third, very useful effect. Whoever has Christ as a model can become a model for others. In this sense, such a person learns from Josiah too. Not that we want others to look up to us. Hopefully not! That cannot be a goal for a Christian. But whoever becomes more and more like Christ becomes a model automatically. They become one for others.

The End of Josiah

Sadly, Josiah’s life ended on a negative note. In a certain recklessness, and surely also pride, he gets involved in a foreign dispute. It was none of his business. He sets himself against the king of Egypt. Yet this king is acting on God’s commission. Josiah is killed in the process. Thus a brilliant spiritual “career” ends. It ends through the desire for recognition and disobedience.

With Josiah, a long period follows his very fruitful time. Over it, God spreads His eloquent silence. Was Josiah satisfied with what he had achieved as a young man? Did he perhaps rest on his spiritual progress? We do not know. In any case, we never have cause to fold our hands. We must not be satisfied with what we have achieved. Only when we forget “what lies behind” can we press forward. That refers to things we have achieved. We may think we can be proud of them. Then we can reach toward what is ahead. We can run the race of faith with energy and endurance (see Philippians 3:13.14). As long as we are on earth, we must live with full commitment. We must do so for our Lord and His cause. Otherwise, we too will fall at some point. The abrupt and tragic end of Josiah speaks a serious warning.