Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign as king, when he was a youth, he began to seek the God of David his father, when he was just a young adult, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalen of the high places. In his mid 20s, he was determined to restore the Temple in Jerusalem, and began to clean and repair the house of the Lord.

Imagine a Primary 2 amongst us being the President of Singapore and making all these changes just as his peers are taking O’Levels examinations, completing National Service, and graduating from university. That is certainly quite a lot of things he set out to do as a young king.

How would a young king like him, who came to the throne at such an early age, rule the country? Josiah had no godly model to follow in his family, and he inherited a kingdom where moral anarchy and idolatry was rampant.

However, Josiah was whole-heartedly devoted to God. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He did not do what his immediate family do, he did not take on the spiritual emptiness at home, but followed what his ancestor, David, did. He was not influenced by the idol worship and moral chaos of his nation, and instead set an example for his people. He began to seek the Lord, and inquired of the Lord all his days. He tore his clothes when he realised that his ancestors had not kept the word of the Lord, and inquired of the Lord. Josiah gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem and taught them the Book of the Law. He made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, testimonies and statutes, with all his heart and all his soul. He also took away all the abominations from all the territory of Israel and made all serve the Lord. In fact, the work of King Josiah had a lasting effect among the people of Judah, as they stayed faithful to God during his reign.

What a wonderful testimony of a leader who developed godly habits from young, so that he may lead his country according to God’s will. Would we pledge ourselves to developing daily godly habits as well? We often talk about how difficult it is to have daily quiet time of reading God’s Word and praying. But what if these habits of devoting to God daily does not just change you, but also have an impact on others as well? Perhaps we will never be able to influence a nation like Josiah, but our godly habits will still be able to influence our family and the community we are in. Would you be willing to devote wholeheartedly to the Lord, to make a promise today to walk after the Lord, and to help others around you stay faithful to God?

Prayer : Dear God, help me to walk close to you daily, so that I may know your heart and will. Use me Lord, to be a blessing to people around me, so that we can stay faithful to you as a community. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.