Today’s chat is about Josiah. Josiah was eight years old when chosen to rule Judah. He was a child used to be in authority over a kingdom. He had to rule the world by a rod as a child. Sometimes we laugh that children tell grown ups what to do, but in many ways the story of Josiah is a great example of children ruling adults. In this chat we are going to chat about watching children rule in their behaviors, choices and decision making without being matured and fully aged in their lack of experiences, education and ability to be knowledgeable yet very knowledgeable in their own rights.
What was so amazing about this King he sought after Huldah, the prophetess who gave him great counsel of God to direct him in the reformation of the country. He was pleased with her ability to know God and hear God. She was able to inspire him, and that is what’s amazing about a woman’s touch. Sometimes children do not enjoy listening and learning. These opportunities to learn while listening has shown us through history that people can grow and mature through the act of being still and quiet. Opening their minds and ears to being instead of striving I think that is what this lesson for today in our chat. I am convinced that children can rule kingdoms by their youthfulness if they are willing to listen and learn from others while they take on their authority as a child of royalty. Otherwise, they will miss out on gold nuggets hidden in the messages of the unspoken word.
Today’s chat study is about Josiah as a child who is reforming the world he dominated by the three t’s, trust, treasures and tact. “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place,” So they brought back word to the king.” (2Kings 22:20) The complication was the dictation of the Lord who brought Josiah to his knees in submission. Can you believe an eight year boy yielding to the authority of God using visions to make his decisions? In this society and culture, the phrase “boys will be boys,” is an excuse for men to practice abusive and destructive behavior that begins as a child. The practice to ignore behavior that is unacceptable has been a principle in this culture for generations. Therefore, men grow to be spoiled. This was not the case for King Josiah the ruler of Judah. It is amazing through my eyes that a small child had the sensibility to listen to women. The prophetesses were chosen to be Josiah’s spiritual advisor. He did not make the reformation alone without godly counsel. He was surrounded by high esteem women that helped him are beyond his years, sexuality and creed. I think overall this chat demonstrates the power of grass roots eliminating class, sex and race lines that limit our abilities to progress to achieve greatness as a population at large. “Principle 2 “Work across race and class lines.” Unless we are willing to organize across race and class lines, we will not have the numbers and the power needed to make truly effective changes in the United States. (Stout, pp. 107-108)
In the end, Josiah could not finish his progress without tact. He was able to trust God, find treasure in women, all populations and negotiate with authorities beyond his years, yet his ability to use tact was extraordinary.
“Listen, he said, your sins are many, but not enough for you to be handed over to this angel. But your household has committed great sins and lawless acts, and the glorious angel is embittered by their deeds. This is why he commanded you to be afflicted for a time, to lead them to repent and cleanse themselves from all worldly desires. When they repent and are cleansed, then the punishing angel will leave.” (Ehrman, pp. 279)
In the end, the Lost Scriptures as Ehrman demonstrated in his text that punishment does not come from the hand of people and their ideologies, but the understanding and the tact to demonstrate evidence that it comes from the Lord is the exceptional to the rules and in that honesty change was made. This chat was brought to you by your girlfriend, Keisha
