Don’t lose focus of the goal. – Regardless of the vicissitudes of life hold on to God and claim His promises and you will succeed.
Our verse of reference in 2 Chronicles 35 is:
“After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle.” (2 Chronicles 35:20 NIV).
Reflection
Josiah, the last good king of Judah
Historical Commentary.- The king sought to establish, even more firmly, the faith of Judah. His desire was to cement their faith in the God of their fathers by celebrating the Passover in harmony with the measures outlined in the book of the law. Everybody prepared for the special day, those in charge of the sacred services organized the great day of the feast with many offerings. According to 2 Kings 23:22 the feast organized by Josiah was the greatest seen since the time of the judges who ruled Israel, nor was such seen in all the days of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Judah.” But all the work and offerings of Josiah, although acceptable to God, could not atone for the sins of the past generations, nor could it bring a change of heart to many who stubbornly refused to give up the idolatry and worship the true God. (PR 297).
The Feast of the Passover.- Like his grandfather Hezekiah, Josiah had the pleasure to once again celebrate the Passover feast. This party was the biggest in the history of God’s people. The king gave 33,000 animals for each family to celebrate this sacred holiday. The Passover was the feast which remembered the liberation from slavery. Josiah and his people saw in this feast the celebration of something which they also longed for; freedom from apostasy and the liberation of the people who had been slaves by the 11 tribes of Israel.
Unexplained Death.– Josiah was killed by curb out Necho king of Egypt, who went to war at Carchemish against the Assyrian empire. Nehco told Josiah get involve or oppose to the destruction of Assyria because God had commanded it. Unfortunately the political preferences of Josiah with the people of Assyria, made him act without consulting God, or even accept the message of Necho. As sons and daughters of God, we often place political activities, giving favor to a specific person, it may be in church or in secular activities ahead of the work commanded to us by God. Our priority is not to place a person in a religious or political position, our duty is to proclaim Christ as the King of the Universe.
Historical Commentary.- The king sought to establish, even more firmly, the faith of Judah. His desire was to cement their faith in the God of their fathers by celebrating the Passover in harmony with the measures outlined in the book of the law. Everybody prepared for the special day, those in charge of the sacred services organized the great day of the feast with many offerings. According to 2 Kings 23:22 the feast organized by Josiah was the greatest seen since the time of the judges who ruled Israel, nor was such seen in all the days of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Judah.” But all the work and offerings of Josiah, although acceptable to God, could not atone for the sins of the past generations, nor could it bring a change of heart to many who stubbornly refused to give up the idolatry and worship the true God. (PR 297).
The Feast of the Passover.- Like his grandfather Hezekiah, Josiah had the pleasure to once again celebrate the Passover feast. This party was the biggest in the history of God’s people. The king gave 33,000 animals for each family to celebrate this sacred holiday. The Passover was the feast which remembered the liberation from slavery. Josiah and his people saw in this feast the celebration of something which they also longed for; freedom from apostasy and the liberation of the people who had been slaves by the 11 tribes of Israel.
Unexplained Death.– Josiah was killed by curb out Necho king of Egypt, who went to war at Carchemish against the Assyrian empire. Nehco told Josiah get involve or oppose to the destruction of Assyria because God had commanded it. Unfortunately the political preferences of Josiah with the people of Assyria, made him act without consulting God, or even accept the message of Necho. As sons and daughters of God, we often place political activities, giving favor to a specific person, it may be in church or in secular activities ahead of the work commanded to us by God. Our priority is not to place a person in a religious or political position, our duty is to proclaim Christ as the King of the Universe.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for showing us in vivid details the lives of the kings of Judah and Israel. We see that there is nothing that can be hidden from you. We ask to be cleansed, that our lives may be free from sin and filled with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, amen.
By Dr. Franz Rios and Pablo J. Rios.
