This story in the life of Josiah is another reminder that holiness and happiness are good friends.
Josiah was just eight when his 24-year-old father Amon was murdered by his servants. The conspirators were executed, and the child-king was placed on the throne. His father, during that short tenure, had worked hard for the devil, and “trespassed more and more” (2 Chron 33:23). But such sinful folly stopped immediately. We aren’t told who counseled Josiah in those early years, perhaps his mother Jedidah. Jedidah was the endearing name the Lord had given to baby Solomon, meaning “beloved of the Lord.” Josiah clearly had confidence in Shaphan the scribe and Hilkiah the high priest. In any case, by the time he turned 16, “he began to seek the God of his father David” (34:3). By his 20th birthday, “he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images…the altars of the Baals…and the incense altars…and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem” (vv 3-5). That’s a thorough job! Six years passed, and Josiah realized that holiness isn’t just negative—not just what we don’t do. It’s also positive. So he began restoring the temple that had been trashed and neglected. Money was collected, given to the priests, and passed to the workers who used it to “buy hewn stone and timber for beams, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed” (v 11). “And the men did the work faithfully” (v 12). Interestingly, the musicians “were over the burden bearers” (v 13). I hope that shortened the work day and lightened the loads by singing throughout. I know that works for me, even if the song is just in my heart! You too?