II Kings 22-23
Dear RTB’ers,
Of the 57 verses that we read today, all but eight are the author’s account of Josiah’s reign, with most of those verses relating to his purge of evil from both Judah and Samaria.
King Josiah and his sons… The contrast between father and sons is dramatic. Here’s the author’s description of the father, Josiah: He did what was right in the sight of the LORD and walked entirely in the way of his father David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 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. (vv. 22:2, 23:25). Josiah is much like his grandfather, Hezekiah, whom the author of II Kings held in highest esteem, as described three days ago: He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. (v. 18:5) The author’s praise of Hezekiah seems to be watered down a bit by his praise for Josiah, since the “none after him” greatness could not be applied to both. Perhaps it was Hezekiah’s hospitality to the envoys from Babylon in his later years that troubled the author? (See II Kings 20:12-18.)
Now, here is the author’s take on Josiah’s sons, the same verse regarding each of his sons: And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. (vv. 23:32, 37) Father Josiah and great-great-grandfather Hezekiah, GREAT! Manasseh and Amon, bad. How could the bad activities of Manasseh and Amon outweigh the great histories of Hezekiah and Josiah? How does bad so easily overwhelm good? A good discussion question for our RTB gathering this coming Sunday, November 2…
Blessings!
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