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And yet another prophecy fulfilled! This king (specifically named Josiah) was announced by a prophet long before the time of his birth according to1 Kings 13:2 : "Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, a child, JOSIAH BY NAME, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.'". That long ago un-named prophet predicted that Josiah would slaughter the illegitimate priests of the high places of his day who made offerings on the altar at Bethel. This prophecy was realized in 2 Kings 23:15-20, executing the divine judgment on the non-Levitical priesthood established by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:31-32). After more than three hundred years, the prophecy of "the man of God out of Judah" is fulfilled (1 Kings 13:2)." Josiah had complete devotion to God's approved course of conduct for his life according to 2 Kings 23:24-25 "Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. He obeyed the Mosaic stipulations as he came to know them, following the example of David, who set the pattern for the rulers of God's people (Deut. 17:11, 20; Josh. 1:7). It is interesting that King Josiah was the last good king of the Davidic line before to the Babylonian exile. The hearing of God's word did a spiritual work in King Josiah. It was not merely the transmission of information; the hearing of God's word had an impact of spiritual power on Josiah. Josiah's humble, obedient response to "the book of The Law" was then and remains now an example of how all people should respond to God's revealed Word. A person who humbles himself before God as Josiah did openly confesses himself a sinner, crushed and hopeless. This is our appropriate response when we realize how we fall short of meeting God's standards, and how greatly we stand in need of forgiving grace. Paul told the Roman believers: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) Instead of being molded and shaped by the values of this sin-cursed world, a believer should be transformed, i.e, changed by the renewing of the mind. Spiritual transformation starts in the mind and heart. A mind dedicated to the world and its concerns will produce a life tossed back and forth by the currents of culture. But a mind dedicated to God's truth will produce a life that can stand the test of time. We can resist the temptations of our culture by meditating on God's truth and letting the Holy Spirit guide and shape our thoughts and behaviors. The phrase, "transformed by the renewing of your mind" describes an inward renewal of our mind through which our inner spirit is changed into the likeness of Christ. 2 Kings 22:11: "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes." Josiah's reaction at the reading of the law was one of immediate contrition, expressed by the common sign of lamentation and grief. Behold the power of God's Word! God's Word changed a king, changed a nation, and changed history! "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Josiah was eight years old and knew right from wrong in the eyes of the Lord. Kings that preceded him and was older knew what was right in the eyes of the Lord but chose to ignore. Lord, we know your commands and we know right from wrong, help me/us to live according to your word.

We need to stand for God the way Josiah did. We need to have direction, we need to do whats right in the sight of God. We need determination not to turn to the right or to the left but to go into the Direction God wants us to follow.

I love this verse because not only does it say that he did right in the eyes of the Lord but it also states that he didnt budge to go either left nor right. perfect way to explain to those who want to straddle both sides of the fence. I use this example all the time when I am trying to bring a family member to Christ, that we cant be black and white its either or, we cant straddle both sides of the fence, we cant go to the altar with nothing in one hand and all our habits that we dont want to let go of in the other hand, we have to be ready to let go of all the bads and be ready to do a complete 180 and walk away from it.