Scripture:
2 Chronicles 34:1-4 ESV
[1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. [2] And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. [3] For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images. [4] And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
Observation:
Josiah was a young boy all about 8 years old. However, somewhere along the line, someone showed him the right way, or he was wise enough at 8 years old to see how things were going. They were not good and decided to do something different. Either way, he sought the LORD GOD the same one his grandfather, King David, sought. By the sound of what we read in these verses, he modeled his leadership after David. Staying steadfast on the path that the LORD had laid out before him. Not turning to the right or to the left. He stayed the course. He only reigned for 8 years, but at 12 years old, he started one of the best things he could ever do by eliminating the faults gods the GOD’S chosen people were worshiping. Taking down the poles destroying the altars, getting rid of the idolatry that had brought so much Kaos into the nation. Purging Isreal of idolatry and faults gods. My guess is this changed the course of GOD’S people.
Application:
When I truly started to seek the LORD, my life changed. Things that used to dominate my thinking and my actions had to go. I could no longer make my decision based on my emotions, and the things I used to worship had to go. Over the course of the last 8 years, there have been a lot of things that need to be removed from my life. Things I used to worship. The thing is, when seeking GOD, it became my priority, and my life changed. I couldn’t have those things in my life. They didn’t fit. My point is you can’t live a new life with old gods still hanging out. You have to make a blog move and eliminate the idols and faults gods.
If there is something in your life that is keeping you from following the LORD, you have to do something about it. You can’t just leave it in there and expect something different to come from your life. In Matthew chapter 12:43, we see a statement made by Jesus. That I find very powerful. It’s about getting rid of the bad… if you don’t replace it with good, you open yourself up for 7 times as much bad. So as we walk, let us not only get rid of the garbage that’s in our lives, but let’s fill our cup with the Holy Spirit so that what we have to offer is valuable.
Prayer:
Father, you know our hearts. Help us to see and eliminate the things that keep us from wholeheartedly following you. We are chasing after your will for our lives. If there is anything idolatry or faults, gods help us to see that. We want you to be our first priority. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.