King Josiah – The Child Who Obeyed Yahweh.
Shabbat shalom, Nazarene family.
In this teaching on King Josiah, we will meet a young and courageous king who decided to do the right thing. When Josiah found an important book in the Temple, he realized that his people had turned away from Yahweh. So he began to cleanse his country of bad things and to teach everyone how to worship Yahweh correctly. His story shows us that, no matter how old we are, we can always choose to follow our Father Elohim, do the right thing and help others to do so as well.
The biblical passages used in this study are:
- Josiah seeks Elohim from a young age: Divre HaYamim Bet (2 Chronicles) 34:3-7
- The Restauration of the Temple: Divre HaYamim Bet (2 Chronicles) 34:8-14
- Repentance and obedience to the Word: Melachim Bet (2 Kings) 23:1-3
Some of the lessons learned from this study include:
- Josiah began to reign in Judah when he was only eight years old. Although he was very young, he decided to seek Yahweh and live according to His teachings. At the age of sixteen, he began to eliminate idolatry and pagan practices in his kingdom. This early commitment demonstrates that age is not an obstacle to making important decisions in the spiritual life. Josiah’s story teaches us that seeking Yahweh from a young age can have a positive and lasting impact on one’s own life and the lives of those around us.
- During Josiah’s reign, the book of the Law of Elohim was discovered in the Temple, which changed the course of the kingdom. Upon reading it, Josiah realized how far his people had strayed from Yahweh’s commandments. This led him to repent and initiate a spiritual reform, restoring true worship in Judah. Josiah’s reaction to the Word of Yahweh shows us its importance in daily life. It teaches us that knowledge and obedience to the Scriptures are key to a transformed life centered on the will of Elohim.
- Josiah made drastic decisions to eliminate idolatry in his kingdom. He tore down pagan altars, destroyed idols and restored the Temple in Jerusalem to return the people to the true worship of Yahweh. His firmness in eliminating everything that deviated the people from the faith shows the importance of acting with courage in the face of what is wrong. Josiah’s dedication teaches us that restoring a genuine relationship with Elohim often requires difficult decisions and profound changes, but they are worth it in order to live according to the truth and please our Creator.
In conclusion, Josiah’s life teaches us the importance of seeking Yahweh with sincerity. We learned that obedience to the Word of Elohim transforms lives and brings blessing. Although he was young, Josiah made courageous decisions, eliminating idolatry and restoring true worship. His example reminds us that following Yahweh requires changes, sometimes difficult, but always worthwhile. His story inspires us to live committed to truth and faith, no matter the circumstances.
Melachim Bet (2 Kings) 23:3
3 Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before Yahweh, to follow Yahweh and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all hissoul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.
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Remember, obedience to Yahweh’s commandments will bring blessing but disobedience will lead to the perdition of our souls eternally. Decide what you will do today.
We hope that you, and especially your sons and daughters, will enjoy this activity. For it is through the study of the Scriptures that we can come to understand the love and care that Yahweh has always had for us. And also perceive that He has been taking care of even the smallest detail, so that we can take care and enjoy all that He gives us. That is why it is so important that our children learn and grow up knowing that they are loved by the Creator of all that exists.
Shalom.
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