Been there, done that. I didn't like the results. Being duped, being naïve -- this is not good! The book of Proverbs often addresses this.
I surf, ski and used to play volleyball on a Dana Hills team before. How fun to experience victory beating the odds at times, but how very upsetting it is to later take an unexpected beating! I especially hate losses due to self.
Impetuous Peter was self-confident and compulsive at times, not so much naïve that I can see. God used him in a big way. Religious egotistical king Saul was also compulsive--he was hatefully competitive, jealous and or envious of David's popularity. His pride took him down. So who in God’s Book was naïve? Eve in the garden of Eden was--she was deceived while conversing with the enemy, but Adam was disobedient and not deceived. Eve was overly trusting before her enemy who was casting doubt on God's word and goodness. Perhaps not really understanding clearly the character of who she was being tempted by. My wife Liney believers that women in general are more easily deceived.
Man, one day we can sit down and ask Josiah about all this. He made great choices and gained far more victories than I ever did.
Remember him, the king of Judah approx. between 640 and 609 B.C (2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chronicles 34–35). Josiah was the son of the evil King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh.
The young king Josiah had a soft a.k.a. “tender humble heart” that was eager to seek, know and please the Lord, in spite of the predominant apostasy of his day. When did he begin to seek the Lord? He began this and the work of reform in the 12th year by cleansing Judah of its worthless high places, groves, and images (2 Chron. 34:3. You recall how Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in Josiah’s 13th year of his ruler-ship. See Jer. 1:2).
Josiah loved the Lord, was at times naives, but he was also a very brave man of action. Remember this man of God, the king of Judah (approx. between 640 and 609 B.C. See 2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chronicles 34–35). Josiah was the son of the evil King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh. Josiah was crowned when he was just 8 years old after the assassination of his 24 year old father. This king was a godly man unlike his father Amon.
Josiah began to rule at eight years old after his father had been assassinated and those who killed him, executed:
Josiah reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. (2 Chronicles 34:1-2)
As a man, he began reformations in the land. By this time the bulk of the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been exiled to Assyria and would never return. His reign also marked the beginning of the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:2). Josiah now began a collection to pay for the Temple to be repaired:
"In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God." 2 Chronicles 34:8
His renovation acts coincided with an amazing discovery which led to a wonderful revival of faith and commitment in the following years: the Book of the Law was discovered by Hilkiah the High Priest in the Temple during these renovations:
Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.’ He gave it to Shaphan.. and Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes." 2 Chronicles 34:14-19
How could such a great treasure be hidden away for generations when it was so essential to the spiritual life of the Jews? Was this treasure simply ignored by previous generations of idol worshipers?
For every believer, the Scriptures need personal illumination even today to see the real importance and wise applications. It is not enough to have the Book; it also needs wise application often, humble open hearts and minds with understanding. Paul wrote about this:
"But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:14-17
What did Josiah see in all this? He tore his robes as a sign of heart-felt repentance at how far the Jews had moved from living as God’s people should live. Being faced with such traumatic history and realizing their peril before God, Josiah had a decision to make humble repentance, sound faith, obedient works and spiritual revival in the Land. Josiah’s response was a determination to learn what the will of the Lord was. He did not presume upon his own title, position or importance as a leader but sought to fully understand God's will.
He enquired of a woman named, Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum, to know how he should properly respond. She said:
"Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.”’ 2 Chronicles 34:26-28
It was inevitable that Judah would be defeated and exiled away due to their horrific behavior and unacceptable worship over generations. This could not be overturned even in the light of Josiah’s desire to make things right with God. The mercy and grace shown to Josiah was that it would not happen in his lifetime. Earnest prayer, sincere repentance, life-change, pure obedience, and a renewed desire for God along with His Scriptures go right along with authentic awakenings and revivals. See 2 Kings 23:25, King Josiah stands alone as the unequalled king in all of Israel. Neither King David, King Solomon, nor any other Old Testament king has been identified this way. We have Jesus as our King today, but in the OT there was no king like Josiah.
See what measures Josiah took: "The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel." 2 Kings 23:4
This was a total clearing out with singleness of purpose revived vigor.. of all that defiled and offended a holy God.
Josiah even destroyed all that had to do with Jereboam’s idolatry at Bethel which had stood there for centuries:
"Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin – even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God (1 Kings 13:2) who foretold these things." 2 Kings 23:15-16
The came the blessing and restoration. This was seen in the people's acceptable worship. The application's result -- blessing, a restored Temple and its true function.
"Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: ‘Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built." 2 Chronicles 35:1-3
"Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the great prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 35:18
Jeremiah’s prophecies show us there was some reluctance in the people's hearts to permanently turn their backs on their past idolatry. They loved the worldly system and experienced half-hearted change from the inside out as Jeremiah had prophesied. His prophecy compares Israel, who were committed to idolatry, with Judah who should have known better. Even God's judgment on Israel, when these people were exiled off to Assyria, did not break through their inner rebellion or thick stubborn skulls.
"Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,’ declares the Lord." Jeremiah 3:9-10
Josiah was genuine, the real deal with no religious or any other type of pretense with him at all. He deeply loved the Lord. He had been naïve for a time.. not sure how long.. but also a very brave man of action. Jeremiah commended Josiah as true to his first love (the Lord):
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. (Jeremiah 22:16)
Had Josiah been naïve with self-confidence inside? That's never good for anyone especially for a leader. Why did Josiah quite unnecessarily challenge King Necho of Egypt in a battle?:
"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. But Necho sent messengers to him saying, ‘What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.’ Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo." 2 Chronicles 35:20-22
It had been going so very well for Josiah! Perhaps he now thought that he alone knew what the will of the Lord was. So mystifying! How did he become unwilling to listen to some good counsel, or the advice of anyone else? Whatever the reason, the consequences were so disastrous:
"Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, ‘Take me away; I am badly wounded.’ So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments." 2 Chronicles 35:23-25
Tragic! Choices matter. Pray through it all, hear God's word, understand, listen to godly counsel that agrees with the Word as well. Go back to the Lord for the details if you need to and then obey Him. One of the godliest kings of Judah in terms of his pure desire to do God’s work right, then struck down at the age of only thirty-nine. It's so easy to miss God's lead, to become presumptuous, to naively walk in presumption (presumption can look like faith). Josiah attempted something which was not in God’s will for him at all?
Past successes can lead to hubris if you let it. Success can spiritually foil you via compulsivity or naïve self-confidence in what we expect God will do for us and others. Remember when Peter got naively self confident?
"But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Matthew 26:32-34
"Lord," said Peter, "I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death." Luke 22:33
"Lord," said Peter, "why can't I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You." John 13:37
“And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.“ Luke 22:33
“But Peter said unto him, although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Mark 14:29
“Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterward..” John 13:36-38
”Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:5
”Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope..” Psalm 119:116, 117
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall..” Proverbs 16:18,19
I like how kind the Lord was in restoring humble Peter after he had turned. He'll be kind and forgive you, or any of us if we humbly go and ask Him to.
So what is the difference between compulsivity and impulsivity?
“When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered, ‘You know I love You.’ Jesus replied, ‘Feed My lambs.’" John 21:15
We all can blow it and sin, but Jesus will forgive with open arms. Are you naive, compulsive or self-confident. Repent. Get up, follow Jesus closer, don’t quit.
Revivals like Josiah saw can finish, can cease like that one did. The people who were of true hearts were then sadly left without humble godly leaders. Within 25 years Judah was conquered and taken captive to Babylon where they remained for 70 years.
Have you enjoyed a time of crushin' it at your workplace? Have you succeeded much and then found yourself gettin' down? Perhaps you’ve felt like Josiah did after a period of just nailing it, and then stumbling while really wanting to glorify the Lord.
Today woke world leaders and teachers say success will be promised to you by following their woke steps and plans (our universities are filled with this foolish lettered teachers), but you and I can substitute their worldly-wise lame ideas for the basic principle of listening to God’s word, going back to him in prayer for clarity with the details, and simply responding to Him with biblical faith. That’s what brings the renewal blessings! Rather than woke, I’d rather walk spiritually awake. An awakening spawning biblical revival from the Lord is what can fix what’s broken and hopeless here.
Read more.. KurtwVs.medium.com .. Thanks for the photos Valdemaras D.
