THE MINISTRY OF DEBORAH

THE MINISTRY OF DEBORAH

The book of Judges has a prophetess named Deborah. She was the first and only female judge that judged Israel at that time. Deborah was a nurse, a mother, deliverer, protector, and an encourager in her ministry.

A.   Introduction: The era of the judges was a turbulent one as God’s people lived a cyclical pattern: disobedience to God, foreign invasion, crying out to God in distress, and finally God raising up a leader to bring deliverance. One of those leaders was a woman called Deborah.

Deborah was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth—a prophetess and Israel’s leader/judge (Judges 4:4). As judge, Deborah was a highly respected figure in the community, and people sought her out to settle their disputes. Her leadership gift also served to unify the nation and lead them to war against the Canaanites, and gave Barak, the army leader, the military strategy to win the battle.  Let us read Judges 4:1-7.

Judges 4:1-7 – “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.

2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.”

1. Deborah Was a Prophetess

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  Judges. 4:4-5

She dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah (Rebekah nurse who died) - Gen. 35:8) between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Note this Deborah (Rebekah nurse) was buried in Bethel under an oak tree which was called Allon-bachuthor “the oak of weeping” So Deborah carried out her duty as a judge sitting under the palm tree of Deborah. This is where Rebecca’s nurse was buried years earlier. Prophetess Deborah must have got her name from Deborah the nurse of Rebekah. Genesis 35:8

2. Deborah As A Nurse For Israel

The bible is very meaningful book. Every word in the scriptures has a purpose. When you study the life of Deborah the judge, you will find that like her earlier namesake, she assumed the duty of a nurse.

As a nurse. Deborah was like a mother to Israel Her name literally means “bee” in the Hebrew and this has led her to be called “the Queen of the bee-hive of Israel”.

The ministry of Deborah fitted the role of a nurse as she was responsible for nursing a spiritually sick and backslidden Israel back to a healthy relationship with God. Deborah was also a mother to Israel.

3. Deborah A Mother of Israel

Judges 5:7

“the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until THAT I DEBORAH AROSE, THAT I AROSE A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.”

How ‘sick’ was Israel at that time?  The scripture till us that the nation again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Ehud – previous judge of Israel.  The Lord then allowed the Canaanites to oppress the children of Israel.

Jabin was the king of the Canaanites, and the commander of his army was named Sisera (judges 4:2). The Canaanites oppressed the children of Israel and killed the people and many of the inhabitants died because of them. The inhabitants became smaller and smaller in size.

4. Deborah As A Deliverer

Deborah was a deliverer.

She delivered the people from the oppression of the Canaanites. She was a woman which meant that she was weak and vulnerable. She called for Barak and sent him out to fight the Canaanites. 

 Judges 4:6-9

“She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.”

5. Deborah As A Protector

Deborah was a protector God had raised up for the children of Israel. She was judging the children of Israel. - Judges 4:5

Deborah arose and protect the people of Israel as Ehud died, she was at the mercy of her attacker who had an army of nine hundred chariots of iron – Judges 4:3 . The children of Israel were therefore harshly oppressed by the Canaanites for 20 years.

6. Deborah An Encourager

Deborah was an encourager for she encouraged the demoralized Barak and gave him confidence to lead the army of Israel against the Canaanites. - Judges 4:6

Judges 4:6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.”

7. Deborah As A Restorer

Deborah was a restorer and a nurse to the nation. She nursed the spiritually sick and weak Israel and restored her back to health.

      Judges 5:11 – “They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.”

Like every judge Deborah was a deliverer. She delivered the people and restored from the oppression of the Canaanites. She restored the places of drawing water (wells) and there will be no archers or enemies there to take the women away from the drinking wells. Many of the womenfolk who gathered at the wells were probably taken away by the enemies and no one dared to go near the wells anymore until Deborah restored them. 

B. The Ministry of Deborah is a Type of the Life and Ministry of Lord Jesus

a)   Firstly, Jesus is our Deliverer - New American Standard

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

King James Version

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

b)   Secondly, Jesus was made vulnerable for our sake.

Deborah, as a woman, was vulnerable. Jesus was made vulnerable when He left His heavenly glory to take the form of a man.

(Philippians 2:5-8)

The Word became vulnerable when He became flesh.

c)    Thirdly, Jesus is our Protector.

Psalms 91:1-4 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

d)   Fourthly, Jesus is a Restorer and Nurse.

Jesus restores our soul. Psalms 23:3 – “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

A nurse looks after those that are sick and wounded. Likewise a shepherd carries the weak sheep until it is strong enough to stand by itself. That is why David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

Deborah, as a shepherd, is a type of Jesus our Good Shepherd.

e)   Fifthly, Jesus is our Encourager.

When Barak was so demoralized that he had no confidence to lead the army of Israel alone, Deborah encouraged him by assuring him of her presence with him.  -  Judges 4:8,9

Jesus was an encourager in His three and half years of His ministry. He taught the disciples the word and showed them how to do the work of God. When He finished His earthly ministry he said to them “Look, I am with you, always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Jesus gives us the word of encouragement by assuring us of His presence with us.

C.  Churches Need Spiritual Mothers

Churches today Need Spiritual Mothers

There are so many inner bruises in God’s people and the churches are losing them because of these hurts. The people do not want to go back to church. They are angry at a brother; angry at a sister; angry at a home leader, etc.

God needs mothers in His Church. He needs shepherds who will bring back those that are driven away. He needs shepherds who will strengthen those that are sick.  (Ezekiel 34:16). 

1, Application:  The onslaught of the enemy is indeed very real land the Body of Christ needs spiritual mothers to protect, nurse, cover and to restore the people of God.  Souls are precious, let us not lose them to the Canaanites – the enemies.

2. The Challenge For You

What about you today? Do you need restoration? Do you need to be delivered and saved? Are the enemies in the land of your heart?

Jesus Christ is your Saviour and Deliverer. He can set you free from the curse and destruction from the enemies in your life. So let Jesus come into your life, and believe in Him.  Amen!

Prayer:

 I thank you, Lord, that you love to do extraordinary things through ordinary people like me. Release me from any limitations I, others, or the enemy have put on my life that have kept me from the great plans you have for me, so that I might wake up and arise to shine the glory of the Lord! Amen

Benediction: May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

(Psalms 115:14-15)

THE LIFE AND CALLING OF JOSEPH

 

1. JOSEPH RECEIVED COLOURFUL ROBE - Genesis 37:2, 3

•      Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

•      ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.

The “coat of many colours” Jacob gave to Joseph (see Genesis 37:3) is thought to represent the fact that Joseph received the birth right. Remember that although Joseph was the firstborn son of Rachel, he was the eleventh son born.

2. JOSEPH STRANGE DREAMS - Genesis 37:2-11

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

Joseph’s life illustrates how trusting God through dark times can lead to greater blessing.

From a young age, Joseph learned from God that he was destined for great things. Joseph dreamed that his brothers and father would one day bow to him (Genesis 37:1 – 11). However, Joseph needed to continue to trust God through some difficult trials before realizing those visions.

“When writing about the significance of spiritual dreams, I want to be perfectly clear that a person is not to live their life by dreams, but by the Word of God. A true dream or vision will always be in agreement with the written Scriptures, and will complement the will of God in a person’s life.” -Perry Stone

2a. DREAMS CAN REVEAL YOUR CALLING

•      If we look a little deeper into Joseph’s dreams you will see it reveals his calling to leadership. God sent these dreams to him at the young age of 17. God was grooming him internally for what was to come.

•      What Joseph didn’t realize was what it was going to take to be groomed to that level of leadership.

•      Sometimes when God sends us a dream He can be revealing our calling and His will for our lives.

2b. Joseph Boasted About His Dreams

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” – GENESIS 37: 3-7

His boasting pushed his brother’s to the edge that led him down a very difficult and humbling road. Yes, it led him to the palace but there was a price to be paid for his pride. 

The bible says in Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - King James Version

2c. Joseph Calling Was Not Received

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. – GENESIS 37:8

Not Everyone Will Receive Your Calling. Joseph’s brothers and parents both got upset by what the dreams meant. How could he have a “bigger” calling than them? Joseph was the youngest of the family.

3. JOSEPH SOLD TO SLAVERY - Genesis 37:12-36

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels[b] of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

The enemy wants us to bind us when God call us into His plan.

When Joseph was young, his brothers sold him into slavery to rid themselves of his annoying habits (Genesis 37:12 – 28). Soon after Joseph received a promotion in his slave master’s house, he became the victim of more adversity. His master’s wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to seduce her, and Joseph was thrown into prison. But the Lord was with him (Genesis 39).

 4. JOSEPH IN POTIPHAR HOUSE

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt.  And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. - Genesis 39:1–2

Joseph’s life illustrates how trusting God through dark times can lead to greater blessing. God says in His own words that Joseph was a successful man. God’s way of success is contrary to the world’s definition. The worldly ways measure success on what you have done, what you have accomplished and what you have accumulated. It is based entirely on you focusing all your time, money, energy and resources in meriting titles and collecting accomplishments. Success is not what you have but WHO you have in life. 

4a. JOSEPH FOUND FAVOUR

⁴ Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ⁵ From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. ⁶ So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Because of God’s blessing and Joseph’s faithfulness, God made sure Joseph was advanced in his position, even as a slave.

But Joseph believed God could bless him right where he was, so he didn’t wait for a better situation to be blessed by God. Thank God the Bible records a picture of Joseph who began with nothing, so that you and I can have hope today.

4b. JOSEPH WAS ACCUSED

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.

How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

5. JOSEPH IN PRISON - Genesis 39:1-23

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

“He never said a word, that I can learn, about Potiphar’s wife. It seemed necessary to his own defense, but he would not accuse the woman; he let judgment go by default, and left her to her own conscience and her husband’s cooler consideration. This showed great power; it is hard for a man to compress his lips, saying nothing when his character is at stake. So eloquent was Joseph in his silence that there is not a word of complaint throughout the whole record of his life.” (Spurgeon)

6. JOSEPH INTERPRETS ROYAL DREAMS - Genesis 40:1-23

The Cupbearer and the Baker

“Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

In prison, Joseph earned a position of notice. He served and ministered in prison.(Prison Ministry).  He helped his fellow prisoner, Pharaoh’s cupbearer, by interpreting his dreams. But when the cupbearer was released from prison, he neglected to mention Joseph to Pharaoh. Joseph remained a prisoner for two more years (Genesis 40; 41:1).

7. JOSEPH INTERPRETS PHAROAH’S DREAM - Genesis 41:1-38

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. ¹¹ Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. ¹² Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. ¹³ And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

Ultimately, Joseph was given the opportunity to successfully interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Pharaoh then promoted him as second-in-command over all Egypt (Genesis 41), providing a great example of how “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

8. JOSEPH WAS PROMOTED BY PHAROAH - Genesis 41:41-43

Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.”

From a Pit to Potiphar’s house; to Prison and to Palace.  Promotion is from the Lord. Joseph is in charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,[a] and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

9. JOSEPH FAMILY BOW TO HIM

5 So the sons of Israel joined those who were coming to buy grain for there was no food in Canaan. 6 Joseph was the ruler of the land. He was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed to the ground in front of him. 7 When Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were. But he acted like a stranger and spoke sharp words to them. He said, “Where have you come from?” They answered, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” – Genesis 42:5-7

In the end, Joseph’s family did bow to him. When it happened, Joseph demonstrated incredible humility and faith by assuring them that what they had planned for evil — his brothers selling him into slavery — God had meant for good.

10. JOSEPH LAST DAYS AND VISION  - Genesis 50:26

 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.    

  Hebrews 11:22 - “By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”

To the end of his life, Joseph continued to trust God and believe God’s promise that the Israelites would one day return to the Promised Land.

APPLICATION

1. The life of Joseph clearly demonstrates the faithfulness of God in every situation. Regardless of what Joseph faced, be it false accusations, imprisonment, persecution, deception against him, abandonment, and even betrayal by his own family, God was always faithful to Joseph.
2. The second major lesson to draw from the life of Joseph is that not only was God faithful to Joseph, but Joseph was faithful to God.
3. Joseph being faithful to God. He also maintained a relationship with God and learned to hear His voice.

     4. Joseph handled his life in the Lord is that Joseph was a good steward of what the Lord gave him. We are called to be good steward of God.

     5. We have covered faithfulness but another side of it is provision. Throughout the book of Genesis we see this theme as The Lord is My Provider, Jehova Jireh.

The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master and in the palace of Pharaoh.

      6. The topic of forgiveness is deep and very important to a Christian walk. We are told to forgive those who have wronged us even up to 70×7. Even though Joseph had every right to be angry and to seek vengeance, he chose the higher road and extended forgiveness.

      7. Joseph demonstrated what it means to rely on God and receive His wisdom for the things that we have to face in our lives.

PRAYER

•      Heavenly Father, Like Joseph, I pray that I will stand for holiness and do what pleases you regardless of the consequences. Lord, please provide me with the power to flee all temptations and pursue righteousness. As Joseph did with his brothers, help me to show compassion and extend forgiveness towards those who have wronged me. During my own difficult seasons, help me to still look out for the interest of others and offer help when needed.

•      Help me to know your faithfulness and in turn be faithful to you as good steward. Help me to apply spiritual wisdom and vision in my daily life. 

•      In Jesus Name, Amen.

THE LIFE OF KING JOSIAH

                                                   KING JOSIAH THE SON OF AMON

  (1) JOSIAH AT THE AGE OF 8.

2 Chronicles 34:1-2 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 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.

THIS YOUNG BOY CAME TO THE THRONE AT EIGHT YEARS OF AGE (637 BC) This was because of the assassination of his father. He was not the youngest King.  King JEHOASH (JOASH) was 7 years old when he became king (837 BC)

1. KING JOSIAH THE SON OF AMON.

(2) JOSIAH’S BIRTH HAD BEEN PROPHESIED 340 YEARS EARLIER by an unknown prophet even as King Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

1 Kings 13:2 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here.

1 Kings 13:4 - When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shrivelled up, so that he could not pull it back.. (see picture)

AT THE TIME OF THIS PROPHECY, KING JEROBOAM made two golden calves, built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. KING JEROBOAM SINNED AGAINST GOD.

Ø  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPHECY: It was a man of God that came to Jeroboam, a wicked king of Judah, who prophesied that Josiah would  become King. SOME 300 YEARS LATER, JOSIAH BECAME KING.

 WHY WAS JOSIAH MENTIONED? It was because Jeroboam was an evil king who burnt incense and did sacrifices to his own gods, which God hated. He also went so far as to have his kingdom do the same. However, Josiah would soon come into the world and would change everything. 

APPLICATION: WHAT IDOLS ARE YOU & I WORSHIPPING? Money, pleasure, immorality, complacency, what is right in our own eyes?

(3) WHAT SHOULD A GOOD KING DO?

2 Samuel 8:15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

1 Kings 15:11 Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.

(i)  JOSIAH'S GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS KING HEZEKIAH, a noted reformer also respected by the biblical writers as having "DONE WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AS DAVID HAD DONE.”

(ii) JOSIAH’S GRANDFATHER  MANASSEH was one of the kings who turning away from the worship of Yahweh. Manasseh adapted the TEMPLE FOR IDOLATROUS WORSHIP.

(iii) KING AMON, THE FATHER OF JOSIAH, WAS THE MOST SINFUL OF ALL THE WICKED KINGS OF JUDAH.

(iv) DESPITE THAT, JOSIAH DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD:

APPLICATION: LET US DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD.

 2. JOSIAH REPAIRS THE TEMPLE

(1) JOSIAH TELLS HILKIAH TO REPAIR THE TEMPLE. King Josiah was 26 years old.  Chronicles 34: 10-11 10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.

(2) THE TEMPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 300 YEARS at this point. And repairs were needed. Stonework stays in place for only so long. Earthquakes, for one, can jostle stones loose. And a serious earthquake in about 750 B.C. is recorded in the Old Testament. (Amos 1:1) 

APPLICATION: SIMILARLY, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR OWN CHURCH BUILDING & EQUIPMENT & RUNNING COSTS.  TITHES & OFFERINGS AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER WORK ARE MUCH NEEDED IN OUR OWN CHURCH

3. THE BOOK OF THE LAW IS FOUND

2 Chronicles 34: 14-16 14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 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.16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them.

(2) SHAPHAN THE SECRETARY READS THE BOOK BEFORE KING JOSIAH

2 Chronicles 34: 18 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

APPLICATION: Throughout the history of God’s people, when the word of God is recovered and spread, then spiritual revival follows. It can begin as simply as it did in the days of Josiah, with one man finding and reading and believing and spreading the Book.

4. THE WORD OF GOD

(1) THE STORY OF PETER WALDO AND HIS FOLLOWERS, 1170, IN GERMANY.

Waldo was a rich merchant who gave up his business to radically follow Jesus. He hired two priests to translate the New Testament into the common language and using this, he began to teach others.

He taught in the streets or wherever he could find someone to listen. Many common people came to hear him and started to radically follow Jesus Christ. He taught them the text of the New Testament in the common language and was rebuked by church officials for doing so. EACH ONE REACH ONE, EACH ONE TEACH ONE

(i) HE IGNORED THE REBUKE and continued to teach, eventually sending his followers out two by two into villages and market places, to teach and explain the scriptures.

(ii) THE SCRIPTURES WERE MEMORIZED by the Waldenses, and it was not unusual for their ministers to memorize the entire New Testament and large sections of the Old Testament.

(iii) THE WORD OF GOD – when found, read, believed, and spread – has this kind of transforming power. It can begin as simply as it did in the days of Josiah.

(iv) EACH ONE REACH ONE, EACH ONE TEACH ONE

(2)  JOSIAH’S REACTION: Josiah had extreme grief over the state of the people of the nation and tore his clothes.

2 Chronicles 34: 19-21 19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.

(i)  WHEN THE KING HEARD THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW, THE WORD SPIRITULLY CHANGED JOSIAH. 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. IT ACTIVATED HIM INTO ACTION.

(ii) HE TORE HIS CLOTHES: The tearing of clothing was a traditional expression of horror and astonishment. In the strongest possible way, Josiah showed his grief on his own account and on account of the nation. This was an expression of deep conviction of sin, and a good thing.

APPLICATION: Now, what about us? We have that same scroll (our Bibles). This amazing discovery in the temple, the Words of God.

(i) Have we forgotten to read the Bible? If you have, now is the time for renewal. DO YOU READ GOD’S WORD DAILY?

(ii) Don’t tear your clothes.  Joel (2:13) says: “REND (TEAR) YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS.”

5. OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD.

(1) FOR GREAT IS THE WRATH OF THE LORD THAT IS AROUSED AGAINST US: Josiah knew that the kingdom of Judah deserved judgment from God. He could not hear the word of God and respond to the Spirit of God without seriously confronting the sin of his kingdom.

2 Chronicles 34: 21 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

2 Chronicles 34: 24-25 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

I WILL BRING CALAMITY ON THIS PLACE AND ON ITS INHABITANTS: Josiah knew that Judah deserved judgment, and that judgment would indeed come. Judah and its leaders had walked against the LORD for too long, and would not genuinely repent so as to avoid eventual judgment.

(2) GOD’S WORD TO KING JOSIAH: THE JUDGMENT WILL NOT COME IN YOUR DAY. 2 Chronicles 34: 27 27 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. 

THIS WAS GOD’S MERCY TO JOSIAH. His own godliness and tender heart could not stop the eventual judgment of God, but it could delay it. 

KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR DESTORYED JERUSALEM  & TOOK THE JEWS CAPTIVE IN BABYLON FOR 70 YEARS.

(3) JOSIAH LED THE PEOPLE TO WORSHIP GOD.

2 Chronicles 34:32-33 32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

APPLICATION: GOD’S WORD IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IN OUR LIVES. KNOW THE WORD, TRUST THE WORD OF GOD, OBEY THE WORD OF GOD

6. CONCLUSION:

(1) JOSIAH STARTED RIGHT AND FINISHED RIGHT

2 Kings 22:2 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

(JOSIAH ‘S REAL FATHER IS THE SINFUL KING AMON,  DAVID WAS HIS ANCESTER)

AS YOU CONSIDER THE ABOVE VERSE, ASK YOURSELF IF THESE THINGS CAN BE SAID OF YOU. HERE ARE THOSE PHRASES.

(i) HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE eyes of the Lord

(ii) He followed completely the Lord

() He did not turn aside to the left or right

(2) JOSIAH DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

(i)  He  put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

(ii) Josiah is proof you can remain faithful to God throughout your life despite the fact that his real father,  KING AMON was the most sinful of all the kings.

LET US PRAY

Lord, just like Josiah, every leader and every believer in Christ has a purpose for their lives given by You. Like Josiah, if we continue to seek and obey the Lord, You will ensure Your good purposes fulfil in and through our lives.

We pray for great revival and great repentance in our churches today and nation.  We pray for great love for the Word of God in our lives that will transform us. We seek for change, restoring and refreshing in the power of the Holy Spirit today in our lives.

Thank you, Jesus for loving us and dying for us. Amen.