20-20 Blog

Today’s Bible Reading:

Scripture Focus:

2 Chronicles 35:22-24 But Josiah was spoiling for a fight and wouldn’t listen to a thing Neco said (in actuality it was God who said it). Though King Josiah disguised himself when they met on the plain of Megiddo, archers shot him anyway.

The king said to his servants, “Get me out of here—I’m badly wounded.”

So his servants took him out of his chariot and laid him down in an ambulance chariot and drove him back to Jerusalem. He died there and was buried in the family cemetery

Observation:

Josiah was such a good king. He swept away all the idols and altars to false Gods in Judah and Israel. He reinstituted the Passover holiday after it had lain dormant since the days of the prophet Samuel. (Even David and Solomon hadn’t observed the Passover.)

Then we read this story about a foolhardy decision he made to fight Neco, king of Egypt, when Neco was busy making alliances with the King of Assyria to go after the Babylonians. Neco warned him that not to fight saying that he had no quarrel with Josiah, but Josiah went after him anyway.

The end of the story? Josiah got killed, even though he disguised himself.

It’s a sad ending to an otherwise exemplary life.

Application:

If I’m doing all the right things, I can get cocky and bull-headed and not listen to good counsel or good judgement. I should be humble and pray for wisdom no matter how much “success” I’ve previously encountered.

Prayer:

Father God, I want to finish strong. Too many leaders are great for a season and then poop out right at the end. Help me to keep my eyes on you.

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