Abingdon Youth

By John Gocke

When Josiah became king of Israel, he was just 8 years old. His father, Amon, and grandfather Manasseh were wicked kings serving idols, murdering, and leading others into sin. Josiah’s father was even killed by his own servants. I am sure that many of Josiah’s servants and relatives were watching him, thinking that he would be no different than his father and grandfather. Most likely, Josiah would become a murdering despot and have to be knifed in the back, just like Dad. It was just a matter of time, in many people’s minds, until Josiah would show what rotten stuff he was made of.

What happened in Josiah’s life next was amazing to everyone but God. It is written in 2 Kings 22:2 that King Josiah did what was right in the Lord’s sight. The first thing he did when he turned 18 was go to the Temple of the Lord and order repairs done on the neglected and dilapidated building. For long years, the leaders and the people worshipped and served pagan gods, ignoring the Lord and the Temple. Many people thought that they would never go back to Yahweh worship, and even more had forgotten God altogether. The Temple was just some historical monument decorated in cobwebs. The easiest thing for Josiah to do would have been to maintain the status quo, but he knew that there was something special about that old building.

While the carpenters and masons were busy reworking the Temple, the high priest Hilkiah started tidying up on the inside and found something special. He dusted off a large book that used to be studied and revered. The book detailed all of the laws given to Israel by God. Hilkiah gave the book to the scribe who assisted King Josiah and told him that it might be an interesting read for a king who professed a desire to restore the Temple. The scribe took the book and read it before the king when he was giving him an update on the Temple work.

Josiah had never before heard the Word of God. He surely had not heard his father or grandfather read him Bible stories at bedtime. Those stories had been all but forgotten. As the regent in a violent and intrigue-filled region constantly threatened by greater foreign powers, he had been schooled in many subjects. (It was a high-stress job, being CEO in Jerusalem back then—and today.) But instead of passing off the laws of God as antiquated and out of touch with the present world, Josiah was profoundly rocked. The words of God struck him deeply, and he tore his clothes as a sign of deep mourning that he and his kingdom had lost God’s Word for so long. (Back then you tore your clothes only when someone dear to you and important died.)

Josiah tore his clothes because someone dear and important to him had just been discovered. His whole society had been living without God, chiefly because of the sins of his father and his father. Was Josiah going to just do the same thing his family had done in perpetuating this sin. Was he going to cave in to all of the expectations of his relatives, servants and people and rule with a bloody fist and serve idols? Did everyone really want to be saved from this comfortable lifestyle of sin? Would Josiah’s approval ratings be threatened if he tried some reforms?

I think that what was most tempting in Josiah’s life was to give in to the expectations of everyone around him and be the self-centered brutal monarch that was his legacy. Josiah made a conscious decision that his life would mean more. He would follow the Lord, despite who his father was. Josiah ordered that the Words of the Book of the Lord would be followed. Those pagan gods would not be placated while he was king in Jerusalem. Not only did Josiah read the book but he also had it read to all of the inhabitants of Israel so that they would know what choice they had before them—that they were not slaves to the acts that their fathers and mothers did before them.

Josiah then stood by the pillar of the Temple and made a covenant to follow the Lord. He then had all of the pagan material that had desecrated it for so long brought out of the Temple and burned. If the idols were destroyed, Josiah knew that those specific ones would never return. Josiah then fired all of the idolatrous priests that his father had hired and some were executed on the altars where they themselves had sacrificed infants. Josiah tore down every pagan altar and idol in the territory that offended God and made no compromises. Josiah put an end to the practice of child sacrifice to the dark god Moloch. Josiah defiled every thing unholy. Nothing corrupt was to remain in Judah.

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25).

The Nation of Judah was blessed during the reign of Josiah. He turned the tide of evil that his fathers had established and lived a life of integrity and honor. Why does this old story sound so familiar? Countless ministers (youth and otherwise) come from far less than perfect lines of fathers. They often question their worth in the ministry because their fathers were alcoholic, or abusive, or distant workaholics, or atheists, or philanderers, or not even there at all. Many have parents and relatives who look down on them and write them off, knowing that they will turn out worthless, like their fathers (or mothers). Many ministers and Christian workers live with the pain of their parents’ curse. We don’t have to live like this. I believe that God elaborated on the story of King Josiah so that we would know that we are not trapped in family patterns and have the free-will to be a new creation.

What’s more, we can do it with gusto and boldness as Josiah did. Just like Josiah, getting rid of the pagan priests and idols indulged in by his fathers, we can tear down the pagan altars left for us by our wayward parents. Many of us have parents who dissipated their lives with alcohol or drugs. We can choose to be clean of it! Some of our fathers were distant and cold to their children. We can choose, by a sheer act of will, to be warm and involved parents. Some parents chose to be estranged from church; we can choose to be leaders and role models in the local congregation. By an act of will—in partnership with the Holy Spirit—we can set ourselves in motion to be free from a negative life.

Josiah’s story and message are important for youth pastors—and for the youth we serve.

[We] can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens [us] (Philippians 4:13).

John Gocke is a veteran of youth ministry, having worked in various churches in Southern California and for Al Menconi Ministries, based in Carlsbad, California. John holds an MA in Theology from Point Loma Nazarene University and currently works on the staff of www.ileadyouth.com.

Other articles by John Gocke:
Eleven Signs of a Successful Youth Minister.
Dealing with sharing your office.
Christian Pirates?
Saying what you really think!
Cures for the Summertime Attendance Slump
Going Back in Time
The Epic Struggle Between Youth Pastors and Senior Pastors
You and Conan the Barbarian
A King Josiah-Kind of Christian
Fantasizing About Violence: Violent Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior In Youth
Chico the Roach
Are you a Batman or Superman Christian?
Ten Skills They Don’t Teach You in Seminary
Teach your youth grace-not just mercy this Christmas
Five reasons you should encourage your youth to experience Christian music

Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.

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