Bible Character Explorer
Divided Monarchy • c. 640 to 609 BC (reign)
Josiah
The Boy King ReformerThe eight-year-old king who grew up to lead Judah's greatest revival after finding the lost Book of the Law
"And like unto him was there no king before him, that 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."
2 Kings 23:25 (KJV)
Overview
Josiah became king of Judah at eight years old after the assassination of his father Amon and reigned during the final decades before Babylon's conquest. In the eighteenth year of his reign, the Book of the Law was rediscovered during temple repairs, and upon hearing it read, Josiah tore his clothes in grief over Judah's disobedience and led the most thorough religious reformation in the nation's history, only for Judah's judgment to be delayed rather than canceled because of the depth of sin under previous kings.
Gospel Connection
Josiah's grief over the rediscovered word of God and his zeal to obey it completely models the response every heart should have to Scripture, a response perfectly embodied without failure in Jesus Christ, who said he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Where Josiah's reforms, however sincere, could only delay Judah's judgment rather than remove it at its root, Jesus's obedience and sacrifice fully and finally deal with the sin that no external reform could ever eliminate.
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See how this life points to Christ in the Gospel Connection section above.
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