Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 34-36
Devotional Thought:
Title: “Josiah, a man of integrity”
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.” (vs. 1-2) What a testimony Josiah had. He did what was right, he followed good examples, and he stayed on course. He was not easily distracted, deceived, or daunted. He took that which displeased the Lord and broke them in pieces and turned them into dust and spread the dust on the graves of those who had false gods. Too many Christians today make provision for the flesh, excuses for worldliness, and a justification for disobedience. Josiah was just the opposite. He not only exercised discipline in his own personal life, but also in the decisions as a leader. Josiah began to repair the house of God “which the kings of Judah had destroyed.” (vs. 11) It wasn’t enough just to destroy the idol worship in the land; the condition of the temple was to be repaired and the temple had to be available for the worship of the true and living God. There had been money collected in order to repair the temple. Godly leaders are called by God to lead people to do the will of God with integrity and excellence. They lead God’s people to use God’s money wisely according to God’s will. King Josiah knew that the physical condition of God’s house was a testimony to the people around. Josiah put a man named, Shaphan, in charge of the project and he repaired the temple. Josiah destroyed idolatry, repaired the temple, but also exalted the scriptures. It’s to Josiah’s credit that he desired to hear what the scriptures said, and when he heard them read, he was smitten with fear and grief. How people respond to God’s Word is a good indication of their spiritual appetite and the strength of their desire to please the Lord. “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD..” (vs. 27) It is critical that we (1) hear the word of God (2) humble ourselves before the word of God, (3) and heed what the word of God says. Josiah was a great leader who modeled humility and obedience to the word of God. “And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.” (vs. 31)
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to be a godly leader like Josiah. Please help me to lead my home, church, and life in a manner that those who see will come to a right conclusion about who you are and what you are really like.
• Lord, please help me to have a testimony like Josiah. “And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.” (vs. 33)
• Lord, thank you for a church that makes a priority of your word, your will, and true worship.