What were you doing when you were eight years old? You may not even remember what you were doing at eight. One thing you certainly were not doing was being crowned a king or queen. It sounds wild to think of an eight-year-old becoming the king or queen, yet that is precisely Josiah's situation. When his father died, eight-year-old Josiah became the king of Judah. While his grandfather and father were evil kings, Josiah honored and pleased God for his entire reign.
BREAK THE ICE
What were you doing, to the best of your understanding, when you were eight years old?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study
1. What characteristics make a good, godly leader?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Look up and read 2 Kings 21:1-2, 2 Kings 21:19-20, and 2 Kings 22:1-2. Compare and contrast Josiah's reign versus the reign of his father and grandfather.
2 Kings 21:1-2
"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites."
2 Kings 21:19-20
"Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz from Jotbah. 20 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his father, Manasseh, had done."
2 Kings 22:1-2
"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. 2 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."
3. Individually read 2 Kings 22:8-20. After reading, summarize Josiah's response to hearing Scripture read. How was his response an act of humility?
2 Kings 22:8-20
"Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, "Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple." 10 Shaphan also told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." So Shaphan read it to the king. 11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal adviser: 13 "Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord's great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do." 14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe. 15 She said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you, 16 'This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. 17 For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.' 18 "But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: 19 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people-that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20 So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.'" So they took her message back to the king."
"Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, "Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple." 10 Shaphan also told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." So Shaphan read it to the king.
11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal adviser: 13 "Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord's great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do."
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.
15 She said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you, 16 'This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. 17 For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.'
18 "But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: 19 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people-that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20 So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.'"
So they took her message back to the king."
4. Read 2 Kings 23:25. What made Josiah stand and please God as a king?
2 Kings 23:25
"Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since."
Application
1. What things often cause you to become distracted and divert your attention from God?
2. What is one way you can turn your focus fully to God?
3. Is there a step of obedience God has been calling you to take? What is it?
MOVING FORWARD
Josiah's actions always pointed others to God. One way you can point others to God is by inviting them to join you at one of our weekend services. Who can you invite to join you at one of our services this weekend? Share that person with your group. When everyone has shared, pray together for these people. Pray that God would reveal Himself to them and that they would be open to your invitation. Pray that they would come to have a growing relationship with Him.
GOING DEEPER
God honored Josiah because Josiah honored Him. He desires hearts like Josiah's that seek after Him. 2 Samuel 16:6 says it this way, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Let's take time now to take a look at three heart postures that please Him.
Humility:
We find in Scripture that one of the heart postures that pleases God is humility. Humble people do not hold too highly of a view of themselves, treat people with respect, practice obedience, and so much more. Take a look at what Scripture teaches about humility.
1. Read Proverbs 16:25. What happens when we have a prideful mindset and are set in our ways and unwilling to listen to others?
Proverbs 16:25
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."
2. Read Isaiah 66:2. What is the result of living in humility?
Isaiah 66:2
"My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word."
"My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken!
"I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word."
3. Compare and contrast the results of living humbly versus living pridefully based on the two passages of Scripture you read.
Delighting in God's Word
God is looking for people who delight in His word. Those with hearts that delight in Scripture have a deep relationship with Him, listen to His word, and do what it says. Let's explore what Scripture teaches about those who delight in Scripture.
1. Read Psalm 1:1-6. Summarize the person who delights in God's word.
Psalm 1:1-6
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
2. What are the positive effects of delighting in Scripture?
3. What does it look like practically to delight in God's word?
Love for others
God cares deeply about the way we treat the people around us. Each person is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation of God and should be treated as such. God is pleased when we love the people around us well, showing them just how much God loves them. He desires us to have hearts bent toward loving the people around us.
1. Read John 13:34-35.
John 13:34-35
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
2. Describe Jesus' love, which He commanded His disciples to demonstrate.
3. Why is obeying this command to love the people around us so important? (See verse 35.)
Reflect:Let's take a look at these postures of the heart we studied about in Scripture. 1. How does adopting these heart postures bring honor to God? 2. Which of these heart postures comes most naturally to you? Why? 3. Which of these heart postures needs the most improvement? Why?
What is one step you can take to grow in the area that needs growth? Share that step with your group. Commit to begin taking that step today. Finish your time praying together for courage and boldness to take the steps to grow in these areas.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. John 11:25
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