Normal service resumed

2 Kings 23:28-30

Josiah Dies in Battle

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him; but when Pharaoh Neco met him at Megiddo, he killed him. His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

Josiah-  Reformer

Reinstating the things that matter

Turning the people to God's law.

Drawing up a covenant of service.

Leading a nation

on a path of rediscovery

of the ways of God.

But all of Josiah's goodness

and righteousness

and endeavours to do what was right

could not cancel out

the evil that had been

or the carnage that was to come.

One good King

could not turn a fickle people

from their destructive ways.

King Josiah was killed

and evil won the day.

Prayer

In the darkness of these days, O God, convict us with our slowness to act and with our reluctance to stay on the course that brings life. Confront us with our easy choices that ruffle few feathers and give us courage to enter the fray with love that does not back down in the face of evil. May we know love that overcomes the world.