ANOTHER YOUNG KING

Text: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34
1 March 2011

(I) ANOTHER YOUNG KING

Josiah became king at 8 years (2 Kings 22:1)

1. Joash became a king at 7 years (2 Kings 11:21)

2. Manasseh became king at 12 years (2 Kings 21:1)

Summary of Reign

1. 31 years

2. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 22:1)

(II) THINGS THAT HELPED SHAPE JOSIAH’S LIFE

1. Determination (Choice)

a) Seeking God at 16 years of age (2 Chronicles 34:3)

b) Choosing to walk in the ways of David his father (2 Chronicles 34:3)

i) Personal faith in the Lord

ii) Personal righteousness

2. Decisions

a) At 20 years of age he began a religious purge of Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 34:3)

b) Religious cleansing (2 Chronicles 34:3-7)

i) High places

ii) Wooden images

iii) Carved images

iv) Baal altars broken down in the presence of the king

v) Incense altars

vi) Pulverised these objects of worship and poured them on the graves of those who promoted them

vii) Burned the bones of the idolatrous priests

viii) Cities out Judah (Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, Naphthali)

c) At 26 years

i) Turned his attention to repairing the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:8)

ii) Shaphan (scribe); Maaseiah (governor); Joah (recorder) were tasked

iii) Consulted with the high priest Hilkiah (2 Chronicles 34:9)

iv) Funds were raised and sent for the repairs (2 Chronicles 34:9)

v) All did their work faithfully (2 Chronicles 34:10-13)

(III) GLIMPSE OF THE REPAIR WORK AT THE TEMPLE SITE

1. Overseers/ upervisors (2 Chronicles 34:13)

2. The Levites were involved personally (2 Chronicles 34:12-13)

3. Craftsmen (2 Chronicles 34:11)

4. Masons (2 Chronicles 34:11) (builders; hewn stones)