LESSON 56 — Josiah Loves God's Law
After he learned what God's Law said, what did King Josiah do?
Josiah realized that the people had disobeyed Jehovah for many years, so he was sincerely concerned and wanted to know what he should do to correct the situation.
He gathered all the people at the temple and read Jehovah's Law out loud so that everyone would understand what God expected of them.
He made a covenant with Jehovah and encouraged the nation to obey the Law with all their heart, not just in word, but through actions.
What did Jehovah think of Josiah?
Jehovah saw that Josiah was humble and took His Word seriously; therefore, He decided not to punish Judah while Josiah was king.
Jehovah valued that Josiah did not ignore the Law but reacted with respect, fear, and a desire to obey.
Jehovah considered Josiah a faithful king, unlike many others, because he truly wanted to please Him and do what was right.
What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
Jehovah is pleased when a person shows sincere interest in His Word. Josiah was not content with just ruling; he wanted to learn how to worship Jehovah properly, and Jehovah highly valued that attitude.
Jehovah responds to humility with mercy. Although the people deserved punishment, Jehovah decided to delay it because He saw Josiah's humble heart. This teaches us that Jehovah is not rigid, but compassionate toward those who respect Him.
Jehovah uses His Word to guide us. The scroll of the Law was the means Jehovah used to correct the people. Today, Jehovah also guides us through the Bible.
Jehovah desires His people to obey Him from the heart. It was not enough to have the scroll stored away; it had to be read, understood, and applied. Jehovah wants conscious obedience, not automatic response.
Jehovah notices actions, not just intentions. Josiah did not just feel emotional upon hearing the Law; he took real measures to obey it, and Jehovah blessed that.
Practical lessons for our life
Loving God's Word implies more than just reading it; it implies obeying it. Josiah did not stop at theory; he acted to change what was wrong. We too must apply what we learn.
Humility opens the door to Jehovah's blessing. Josiah could have ignored the Law, but he chose to recognize mistakes and correct them. Jehovah blesses that attitude.
Teaching others what we learn strengthens faith. Josiah read the Law to the people so that everyone could learn. We can also help others to know Jehovah better.
Restoring good spiritual practices brings joy. Josiah restored the Passover, and that united the people in worship. Returning to spiritual habits strengthens our relationship with God.
Jehovah can use young people to make great changes. Josiah started when he was very young, which teaches us that age is not an obstacle to serving Jehovah well.