Josiah Was The Righteous Son Of An Unrighteous Father
This case study is part of the Bible Study On Fathers & Sons.
In this case study, we will explore the story of Josiah. He serves as an example of a righteous son whose father was unrighteous.
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
Josiah was a good king. He never compromised or twisted the words of God to suit himself. Similarly, this is also how King David lived his life. King David was referred to as being Josiah’s father, although he was not actually his father. Josiah did not compromise the word of God just like King David.
2 Kings 23:25 – “Before him [Josiah] there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”
Josiah was the actual son of Amon and the grandson of Manasseh, both of whom, were evil kings.
2 Chronicles 33:1 & 2 says “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.”
2 Chronicles 33:21 says “Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.”
God did not hold the sins of Manasseh and Amon against Josiah. This is because Josiah repented and did not follow their ways. Instead, Josiah walked in the ways of his forefather, King David. David was a good King who never twisted the word of the Lord.
Jesus Our King
Likewise, we must choose to walk in the ways of our ‘King David’ which is Jesus, instead of our parents and grandparents’ ways. Jesus is referred to as ‘son of David’ meaning a man who did not compromise or twist the word of God.
Walking in Jesus’ ways would ensure that we are seen as right in the eyes of God . Not as evil compromisers of God’s word. Everyone other than those who follow Jesus’ teachings specifically and accurately are seen as compromisers in the eyes of God. All who add exceptions within Jesus’ teachings to accommodate themselves, are compromisers of the word of God.
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