brentsummerhill

At age 8, I was in second grade, playing tag at recess and freezing popsicles to my tongue after lunch. At 8, Josiah was made king. Yes, I’m pulling the skin off my tongue with a popsicle and Josiah is sitting on the throne with a scepter.

At 16, I just wanted a car. And got one: Matchbox. At 16, Josiah started seeking the God of his ancestor, David. I want to go cruising and Josiah is on the verge of national revival.

At 20, all I wanted was to marry the most beautiful girl I’d ever met. I did. And still am. At 20, Josiah started purging the kingdom of idols and altars to false gods. I’m honeymooning at Disney World and Josiah is dealing a blow to the forces of Satan.

Now, we’re not all Josiah. In fact, I don’t know any of us who are destined to be king of anything anytime soon.

But, you don’t have to be a particular age or have a kingdom to seek God and tear down idols. You just have to seek him, humbly and diligently, and keep tearing down the idols that your idol making heart keeps erecting.

Being a Christian isn’t about being a superhero for God, but about being submitted to God.

“If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?” answered every mom to every kid who ever made the mistake of arguing for something because “everyone else is doing it.”

The herd mentality is real. And not just with adolescents. Adults, too, make choices on everything from what to wear to where to eat based on the herd. My wife and I aren’t going into a restaurant unless there are plenty of cars parked outside.

Choosing a meal is one thing. Choosing your god is another.

His family history and cultural environment was stacked against him. Idolatry and immorality permeated the very air he breathed. But, Josiah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2)

Josiah didn’t jump off the cliff.

You don’t have to either. The God sought by Josiah at age sixteen is still to be found today. (2 Chronicles 34:3)

Josiah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2)

That was certainly not the story of his father or grandfather. Nor could it describe many (most?) of the people in Judah when he ascended to the throne at age eight. So, for a kid to grow into a righteous king in that environment seems remarkable.

With his dad dead, who influenced Josiah? How did he hear about Jehovah God? How did he know about King David? How did he develop this commitment to righteousness?

Surely someone placed in his life by the providence of God took an interest in Josiah’s spiritual wellbeing. Someone without their own agenda for the kid king. Someone who knew and walked with God.

No matter how bleak the culture grows, God has someone. His purposes will not fail.

Maybe you are that someone for some young man or woman today.

The odds were stacked against him. Josiah’s great-grandfather, King Manasseh, had abandoned the spiritual reforms of his father. He built altars to false gods, used fortune-tellers, and sought counsel from mediums. Scripture says Manasseh “shed very much innocent blood.” (1 Kings 21:16)

Josiah’s dad, Amon, wasn’t any better. Amon continued in his dad’s evil ways. His own servants ended up killing him. The people rose up, killed them, and made Josiah king.

King at 8 years of age, that is. (2 Kings 22:1)

If you’re reading the story for the first time, you’ve already concluded that this boy doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance. He’s the son and grandson of murderous and idolatrous kings who is taking the throne as a kid in a kingdom that has long ago abandoned their God.

And yet, in the eighth year of his reign, this 16-year-old young man “began to seek the God of David.” (2 Chronicles 34:3) And soon, he and his people would be revived.

Can you identify with Josiah’s family tree? If so, you don’t have to be the product of your parents’ choices. Your family history doesn’t have to be your future. Seek the God of the Bible. And you’ll find out what it is to have a good, good Father.

Josiah was born into a culture beset with idolatry, violence, and all manner of political intrigue. His grandfather was a murderous idolatrous king and his father followed in the same path. In the end, Josiah’s father was killed by his own servants. As a result, Josiah ends up sitting on the throne at age eight.

And people think the Bible is boring and irrelevant.

Well, there’s nothing boring about the Bible stories of the kings. And what is more relevant to modern culture than idolatry, violence, and all manner of political intrigue?

As Yoda might say: much to learn there is from the kings and people of old. So, join me over the coming days and weeks as we consider Josiah’s reign. We’ll see how God used a kid king to revive a nation. And we’ll find hope and encouragement for spiritual revival in our own lives in the midst of a culture beset with idolatry, violence, and all manner of political intrigue.

You can read about Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23 and in 2 Chronicles 34-35. This Sunday we’ll focus on 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:1-3 as I preach on seeking God in the midst of an idolatrous culture.

For Love
Luke 14:25-35

Out of your top priorities in life, which one takes priority? Something does. One is loved and treasured more than the others. And whatever it is, you will serve.

Don’t take my word for it.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” –Jesus (Matthew 6:24)

Jesus’ language in Luke 14 sounds harsh. But it’s no more harsh than his words in Matthew 6:24. It is a simple reality: someone or something is going to be first in your life. And if you are going to follow Jesus, it’s got to be him whatever it may cost you.

Now, this is no arbitrary man making some arbitrary claim upon your life. This is the eternal living Word of God who is God, through whom and for whom all things were created and by whom they continue to exist. This is the Son of God who came to earth as Son of Man to confront and overcome our temptations. This is the Lamb of God who would so live as to be the perfectly righteous sacrifice to atone for our sin. This is the triumphant, risen King of kings who reigns above and is coming again.

There is no higher priority than him nor equal priority with him. And while he has every right to demand full loyalty from us, those who follow him do not do so out of a sense of fearful duty, but of love. His unmatched love for us.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:3-11)

Follow the Leader
Luke 9:57-62

Following the leader means following the leader. I know that sounds obvious, but when our attitude is that we’ll follow in our own way and our own time, are we actually following?

They all wanted to follow, but with conditions. One’s not a big fan of camping out. Another needs to wait until the family inheritance comes in. And another wants his vacation up front so he can travel home. Signing up to follow is not the same thing as actually following.

We can love the whole idea of following Jesus. Fantasizing about being the heroic missionary in the jungle. Dreaming about taking big stands on big issues to the applause of the crowd. Talking about what all we could do and one day will do for the Kingdom with our friends while sipping gourmet lattes. All with the best intentions, counting ourselves already to be followers of Jesus.

But, if we’re not following, we’re not followers.

Calling the Crowd
Mark 8:34-38

For months now, a lot of people have been following Jesus. Or at least hanging out around him. The miracles have been impressive and the teaching authoritative. His run-ins with the religious hot shots have been entertaining. And who wouldn’t enjoy a free fish and chips meal on a scenic hillside? People have been compelled at least by their curiosity, if not their appetite, to follow, listen, watch, and eat.

But soon Jesus will return to Judea. His opposition will grow more vocal and their hatred more intense. Death awaits him in Judea.

So, he calls the crowd together. They needed to know that following him would require self-denial, carrying a cross, losing their life, and suffering shame before men. For the teacher they have celebrated will soon be humiliated on a cross.

They would have to decide if they were willing to follow Jesus in his suffering. So will we.

Rebuking Jesus
Mark 8:31-33

Jesus had clearly laid out what was around the corner. He was going to suffer, be rejected, and be killed. And then he was going to rise again.

I don’t know that Peter heard the “rise again” part. He clearly heard the suffering, rejection, and death. And it clearly frightened him. This wasn’t the future he had foreseen when he confessed Jesus to be the Messiah (Mark 8:29). And he didn’t like it.

That’s what happens when our minds are “set on the things of man.” Human things. You know, our desires, our plans, our glory. Peter saw glory in his future. Jesus saw suffering.

Following Jesus is about following Jesus. Trusting his future and letting go of ours. He knows what must happen. He was there in the beginning. And he will see us through to the end.

By the way, if Peter had won the day, we would still be lost.

Who do you say?
Mark 8:27-30

People have opinions. Whether it’s politics, sports, or religion. And they don’t mind sharing them. Sometimes, you don’t even have to ask. They’ll just tell you.

People had opinions about Jesus. Some thought he was the reincarnation of John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets. And those were the positive opinions. The Pharisees thought he was in league with the Devil.

It’s one thing to discuss popular opinion. It’s another to question personal conviction.

“But who do you say that I am?”

The disciples had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, heard the preaching of Jesus, and witnessed the miracles of Jesus. They knew what others thought about Jesus. But they had to say themselves who they believed Jesus to be.

And so do you. You may have been raised around Jesus. You may even now be around Jesus in church. You’ve heard his Word, maybe even read it yourself. You’ve heard him preached, taught, and seen him affect the lives of those around you. You know what others think about Jesus.

But the question is, “Who do you say Jesus is?” Being around Jesus and knowing about Jesus won’t save you. You must confess who he is and believe who he is for yourself.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:9-11)