Summary of a Man's Life

One of my favorite Old Testament characters is King Josiah and we find his story in 2 Chronicles 34.  I want to focus today on the summary of his life that is found in verse 2.  As the chapter begins the writer sets forth the truth about the 31 year reign of Josiah.  I have now been in part time or full time ministry for 23 years, just 8 years short of Josiah’s reign.  Here is the Bible:

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” 2 Chronicles 34:1-2

                        There are 3 Statements here that give this summary and I have wondered if they can be said of me after 23 years.  Here is the scriptural perspective of his life and that is truly the only view of our lives that actually matters.

• He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
• He walked in the ways of his Father David
• He did not turn from the right or the left

                        Josiah was driven to make sure that what he did pleased God and not man.  This is a great danger that we all face in ministry.  What will we do when people want things from us or for the church that we know are not in line with what God wants.  Do we seek to keep our job, peace, or make sure they are pleased and happy?  Or…do we continue to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

                        Next, we see that Josiah walked in the ways of David.  When we look at the description of all the Kings in the Bible they are either described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord or walking in the way of David.  Josiah walked in the ways of David, which means that Josiah was a man after God’s heart.  He longed for the things that God longs for.  Do I long for that?

                        The last description of Josiah is that he did not turn from the right or the left.  What God called him to do, Josiah went after it without taking any detours along the way.  Living this way allows us to find a depth of passion in Him that only comes from walking in obedience.  Going in a straight line with God gets us deeper and further in him that straying to the right or left cannot never bring. 

                        Something will be said of our lives and the choices we make will determine the outcome of the name we make for ourselves.  The summary of our life is put together  by the things we both add of him and subtract that have nothing to do with him.  That is why Josiah’s Summary is as it is.