Our Good King Jesus

It seems that Israel could never keep a good king long enough to institutionalize necessary reforms. Good kings would, in the nature of fallen man, pass away, and not so good kings would take their place. If only Israel could have kept a good king always!

Solomon was a great king, but he fell into great wickedness, building idols to pagan gods to please his many wives.

Even King Hezekiah, a great king, was followed by Manasseh, perhaps the most wicked king Judah ever had. The Bible says he built back the idols his father had destroyed, and shed much innocent blood in the land.

Our passage makes clear that Josiah was the very best king besides King David. He followed after the Lord with all his heart and strength. He destroyed even the idols Solomon had built. He destroyed the golden calf that Jeroboam had set up in Samaria. He renewed the covenant between himself and the people and Jehovah. He brought about a celebration of Passover unrivaled by any held since before King David's reign.

And yet God promised complete and utter destruction of Judah. Nothing that Josiah or the people could do could forstall God's wrath for the sins that had built up over several hundred years.

Alas, good King Josiah came too late to save Judah. No amount of reformation or turning back to God could blot out the guiltness of the nation. If only Good King Josiah had come earlier!

Praise God, our Good King Jesus has come in time to rescue His people! He will never fail nor be discouraged! His sacrifice has blotted out our transgressions forever! We never have to be concerned whether the next king will be good or ill, for Jesus shall reign over us forever!