Josiah was one of the good kings of Judah. One might not have expected this because he was the son of Amon and the grandson of Manasseh. Yet when he became king, he undid the evil works of his father. Scripture says that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his ancestor David, I Kings 22:2. This was a great compliment!
But then Hilkiah, the high priest, discovered the book of the Law. Moses’ writings were read , and the king was amazed. He thought he was religious; he thought he was faithfully fulfilling the will of God. He thought he was walking in the steps of David. But he saw he had fallen far short. He had been only semi-right but he now improved. He read the Word of God to the priests and to the people. He led the people in a return to the Lord. All the signs and symbols of the old idolatry were cleansed from the temple along with all the other symbols of false worship in the land. The Passover was once again celebrated as God had commanded. The writer of Kings says: “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.” I Kings 23:25.
The application to today is obvious. Church bodies and church leaders generally do not intentionally do wrong or mislead people. Rather they do want to do what is right. When they place themselves on a line of continuum, they would judge themselves to be on the good end rather than on the bad end. They may be. But they also may be like Josiah who did good, but still fell short. It would be much better if they went to the Word of God for direction for their faith and life. Paul points out in II Timothy 3:15–17 that the Christian leader there finds all that he needs for his Christian faith and life. When the Word of God is completely followed, then church leaders become modern Josiahs. Such men the church needs today.
The deficiencies come from failing to follow completely the Word of God. Man certainly is not perfect, but God’s Word is, as is the salvation in Christ which it proclaims. Josiah and his people were blessed when there was a complete return to the Word of God; the point for today is obvious. Church leaders should not judge themselves on the basis of what they think they are doing. They should judge themselves on the basis of God’s Word. Then there will be present all of the blessings which God gives His Word. Partial service of God will become complete dedication. Then the praise of God and our gracious Savior will again echo through the church, and His people will find joy in His service.
editorial Sept. 30, 1985 Christian News, Editor Herman Otten