as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters" (I Peter 4:15). This is precisely what hap pened to King Josiah. As a result he died because of his unnecessary involvement.He had foolishly taken sides when God, through a phar aoh, had told him not to. It was unusual for a heathen king to ac knowledge the sovereignty of God over the nations. Yet, this is what happened. We cannot frustrate the purposes of God and get away with it. Josiah should have acted with caution. He had no instructions to interfere. Listen to the condemnation, "Jo siah harkened not unto the words of the king from the mouth of the Lord" (II Chronicles 35:22). He knew God had warned him. There is no record that he asked divine guidance or direction. What dire results ensued. We see the debacle that resulted, beginning with verse 23. Death came upon this king who had started out so well to serve the Lord. When divine guidance is neglected, with the individual act ing upon impulse, disaster is cer tain to follow. Josiah's disguise was in vain. The arrows of the archers pierced his armour. He was carried away mor tally wounded. He meddled with God and he died because of his sin. What a shock to the nation of Judah (II Chronicles 35:24). He died an ultimely death at the age of only 39. Many practical lessons are illus trated by the life of King Josiah. First of all we see that a good son can be born of an evil father. We have noted this many times. Sec ond, one life zealous for God can make an impact upon a whole na tion. Third, tragic results follow one decision contrary to God's will.
rule was not as the beginning. Ev en though he originally possessed love and zeal for the Lord he erred greatly against God. The road to spiritual revival can quickly be come the road to spiritual ruin if one turns his eyes away from God and becomes disobedient to Him. Those who rise the highest must be the most careful lest they fall. The devil seeks diligently to de stroy the successful saints of the Lord. While God watches over His own yet the devil seeks to move in. King Josiah lived in a day of po litical unrest. Egypt and Assyria were threatened by the rising pow er of Babylon. The city of Nineveh fell to them in 612 B.C. The Egyp tian monarch was understandably afraid (II Chronicles 35:20-22). Jo siah was told by Necho, king of Egypt, that he should not enter into the battle! Yet Judah's leader dis guised himself and would not listen to the words God used this heath en king to speak by way of warn ing. The fight was in the valley of Megiddo where, prophetically in the future, that last great conflict is still to be fought. One error can be one too many. Josiah made the mistake of med dling with God. The Bible tells us that the peacemaker is blessed while the meddler is a fool (Prov erbs 20:3). A practical definition for meddling is needlessly to inter fere in the business or affairs of other people. The New Testament equivalent is the word "busybody." Paul had trouble with such people at Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 4:11, II Thessalonians 3:11). Both men and women are prone to be susceptible to such dangerous ac tivity. Peter gives a very solemn warning, "But let none of you suf fer as a murderer, or as a thief, or
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