Josiah the boy King, who began his reign at the tender age of 8, guided Judah into a national revival only to be slain in battle because of a rash decision.
We read in 2 Chronicles that Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”
Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.
Josiah’s ancestor, King Solomon had previously written, “He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears”. When we meddle in affairs that are none of our business, hasty decisions arise.
Solomon also wrote, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls”.
When we don’t reign in our desires, ill advised decisions can, as we see in Josiah’s example, bring us to ruin.
Solomon wrote, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths”.
