“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem. He did the same thing in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, and in the regions all around them. He destroyed the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and he crushed the idols into dust. He cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the Lord his God. They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem. He entrusted the money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they paid the workers who did the repairs and renovation of the Temple. They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin. The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, were put in charge of the laborers of the various trades. Still others assisted as secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers.”
2 Chronicles 34:1-13 NLT
Mannaseh’s reconversion apparently cast a long shadow into the eyes of Josiah. Even as a young boy, he knew better than to follow in his father’s footsteps. His own journey would be a strong one, but one of its remarkable features is how it was a slow burn. The scripture lays out the path of Josiah as doing what was pleasing to God without drifting away from it. Yet, this was done in stages that steadily ramped toward temple worship. Indeed, Josiah did not begin by building the temple back up. Instead, he began his ministry by tearing the places of idolatry down. This seems obvious, but if you consider how we think about ministry in the West, it feels off. Here we establish churches with funding from donors, and we fight alongside the local Gods for YHWH to be recognized. Josiah first cleared the land, then established the temple. It was a surgical execution. He cleared Judah of its toxicity before looking to surgery and aftercare. This seems to be Gods method, whether the Jews purging Canaan or Christ being a man of the common people, this method of ministry seems to be something worth considering. First, tear down the idols, then establish the place of worship. At the very least, through Josiah, we know this to be God-honoring.
Josiah’s Approach to Ministry: Josiah’s ministry focused on removing idolatry before establishing temple worship, a methodical approach that prioritized cleansing before rebuilding.
Josiah’s Relationship with God: Josiah’s actions were guided by a desire to please God, demonstrating a commitment to righteousness and a rejection of his father’s idolatry.
Josiah’s Impact on Judah: Josiah’s leadership led to the removal of idolatry in Judah, paving the way for the restoration of temple worship and a return to God’s ways.
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