And like unto him (Josiah) was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 34:33
Josiah was only 8 years old when he became King over Judah. It was a sad time for the nation. His father had been assassinated. It had been his father and his grandfather who had set up idol worship throughout the land. They had all but forgot God and sought after idol worship and lead the people into a life of seeking after only worldly pleasures. Long since the temple had been left to waste with no repairs. The gold used for worldly pleasures. Had Josiah heard of his great grandfather Hezekiah? After all, Hezekiah may have stumbled along the path; but, in his last days he had turned once more to worship God.
And then we find that at the age of 16, this young King turned to serve God once more and lead His people back into a worshipping nation.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. 2 Chronicles 34:3-4
He proceeded on to restore the temple to its former glory. Remarkably, the workers and craftsmen followed his example for we are told that there was never any worry or concern as he gave them supplies they were honest and trustworthy.
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