" … all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers." – II Chronicles 34:33 

What is the cause of this remarkable awakening of spiritual devotion? It began with a man. In fact, he was a sixteen-year-old king who began to seek the Lord. He had been king for eight years and had no doubt just begun to accept the responsibility for his role as leader of the people. He walked with God and sought him with all his heart in contrast to the legacy of his father and grandfather.

Josiah’s ascent to the throne was a new day; his influence was that of a new generation upon a new generation. At eight, he must not have fully understood politics or the depths of his predecessors’ rebellion against God, but as a teenager, he began to look around at the idolatry and corporate sin of his people and his heart grew zealous for the ways of the Lord. He began to destroy idols and reform the nation’s religious life.

Who influenced Josiah as a young man to seek God? Who were his teachers? What providential work of grace brought the right kind of people into his life during his formative years to teach him and guide him? What early experiences factored into the spiritual development of this outstanding young man? What gave this young leader the courage to turn his people from sin to righteousness?

There was something else that happened. For a long time, most did not share Josiah’s passion, zeal, and desire for the things of God. But one day, in the course of following his instructions, some men found some old documents and on them were written the very words of God. Josiah convened the people for a public reading of the Law and deep conviction fell upon the people, leading to repentance and revival.

As a result, a generation served the Lord.

Josiah came on the scene at a dark hour, perhaps as dark as our own. There must have been those retreating the shadows who remained loyal to God albeit discouraged, dismayed, and defeated. Yet, they may have prayed and maintained a faithful witness as a remnant. Little could they hope that a new day would come and their nation would return to the worship of the one true God. As we await the coming of the Lord, are we doing so with a defeatist and resigned attitude or with hopeful hearts that as long as he tarries, there is hope for revival? As we seek Him and pray, “even so, come Lord Jesus,” let us also pray for a fresh moving of his Spirit and a new generation of righteousness.