The writer of Kings detailed the reforms of Josiah perhaps because they filed him with great courage and faith. He was writing from the perspective of those who had returned from exile and were in Jerusalem. He wanted his fellow Jews them to feel zealous for the Lord and to understand the necessity for righteous and holy living. As we read the account of Josiah’s sweeping and massive reforms we too should feel thrilled at the display of righteousness. At last we see that the Name of the Lord is being exalted. At last the King is zealous for the covenant of God.
Yet we also may feel a little cheated. The whole of the books of the Kings has stressed the need for repentance and holiness. Yet every King failed in some way to uphold the covenant, to trust God fully. Now at the end of the book we find a King who meets the ideal and acts upon it. But Josiah’s reforms came too late and could not counteract the evil of his predecessors or that of the Jews. This is because Josiah’s reforms reflected only his personal conviction and not that of the majority of the people. Josiah was spared seeing the downfall of Judah and in that sense died in relative peace, but the punishment must still be carried out. Josiah’s good deeds did not save him but were evidence of his faith and trust in the Lord.
One thing this tells us is that no amount of righteous deeds can save anyone. Salvation comes only by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. As we look at our own lives we ought to see deeds of righteousness and obedience for these are the real evidence of our faith as well, not the mere words of our mouths.
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