ROOTED - Saturday, March 21, 2026

2 Kings 22:1, 2; 23:25

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of
Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right
in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his
father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

25 Before him 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.

Reflection: Josiah and the Babylonian Captivity

Written By:
Pastor Jesse Caro

Josiah is one of my heroes. He was eight when he started to rule
over the Southern Kingdom of Judah, reigning for 31 years. He had a heart for
God, and it is clear. He begins to restore the Temple, which had been neglected
for decades. When the Book of the Law was found (it had been neglected for centuries)
he repented to God for the neglect the people had displayed.  He destroys all the idol worship in the high
places, has all the priests killed who ever participated in idolatry, and
follows the Law as Moses prescribed, bringing back the Passover ritual. Josiah
reset things back to how they were supposed to be, being the godliest king in
Israel’s history (23:25).

Ugh…. Then came Jehoahaz (23-year reign), Jehoiakim (25-year
reign), and Jehoiachin (18-year reign) (chapters 23, 24) and they all did “evil
in the sight of the Lord.” So, God brings judgment, despite the promise of the
reign of Josiah. God sends Nebuchadnezzar and Jerusalem is captured. No sooner
had Josiah restored the proper Temple worship, and repaired the Temple, but
then Babylon comes and destroys the Temple (587 BC). Jeremiah and other
Prophets will describe this event, but it amounts to a sad chapter in Israel’s history.
One great king followed by a devastating 70 years of judgment. What a
difference good leadership can make!

[Sidenote: anyone who says young people should not have high
standards of righteousness put on them have not read about Josiah. I think we
treat kids who are plenty old enough, like babies and place the cookies wwaaaaayyyy
too far down on a cookie shelf. We expect kids to not understand biblical
principles unless we spoon feed them baby food, in the most childish ways. We
might consider treating kids as very much capable of truly honoring God with
their whole lives. I am afraid we set the bar way too low. Soap box over.]

Prayer

Lord, raise up among us godly leaders such that your people live
in the blessing of their leadership not the cursing of their wickedness.