In the thirty-one years of his rule, King Josiah proved to be a faithful man of God and a great king of Judah. He served God from the beginning as a young king and grew into a greater understanding of God’s will and a determination to follow that will.
He made a covenant with God to walk after the Lord and keep all of his commandments, testimonies and statutes. The people of Judah joined him in that covenant.
Josiah went to work and completely reformed Judah. Idols were destroyed, and the laws of God were restored.
That’s the exciting and encouraging part.
The sad part? It didn’t last.
As soon as Josiah died and his sons ruled in his place, Judah went right back to the idols and ignored their covenant with God. They were soon led into captivity and Jerusalem destroyed.
Was there any good to come from Josiah’s reform? Yes, Josiah himself. And then four young men we know as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Josiah’s reform failed, because it was a political reform. A powerful king ruled, but hearts were not changed, except for a very few.
We can’t change a nation with a political reform. Hearts must be changed. Minds must be brought to the truth of God.