Several months ago, when Ben and I were looking for baby names, Josiah bubbled to the top as a favorite. It is, apparently, about 79th in popularity in the United States as a baby boy name. But we were not really trying to be trendy.
The story of Josiah, the one that gives this name significance to us, is found in 2 Kings 22-23. The nations of Israel and Judah are divided, and one king after another has come to power in Judah, chosen to follow false gods and vile ways, and drawn the nation farther away from the heart of the one true God.
Even though His people have disobeyed and dishonored Him, God has not forsaken them. And coming onto this bleak scene as a young 8-year-old king is Josiah.
Ben and I have 8-year-old nieces on both sides of our family--what a vulnerable, impressionable, and immature age to be placed in such a position. Yet the Lord gives remarkable protection and grace to little Josiah: And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left (2 Kings 22:2).
As he grows old enough for active leading, Josiah repairs the ramshackle condition of God's temple. He uncovers a copy of God's Law and his heart was broken and repentant to realize how far from His ways they have strayed. God's judgment is indeed coming, but God gives Josiah this message: Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD ... and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD ... and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace (22:19-20).
Josiah is not lethargic in turning away from sin. He calls all the people together to read the words of the Book of the Covenant, and he made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant (23:3).
Then he throws himself into uprooting the deep idolatry and gross dishonor to God from the country--burning, deposing, beating, breaking down, banishing... making ugly things ugly and honorable things honored.
He calls the people to keep God's celebration called Passover--No such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem (23:22-23).
The life of King Josiah ended in treachery, simply recorded: Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him (23:29). It seems incongruent, perhaps, for a great life to be taken with so little fanfare or explanation. But the summary of King Josiah's story stands in beautiful boldness: Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him (23:25).
For our Josiah, this is our desire. Perhaps not an ending of fame or renown. Perhaps little human recognition for the efforts and labors of his heart. But a legacy marked by God as one of single-hearted devotion to Jesus and the influence, earnestness, and reverence that set him apart from the world all the days of his life.
May it be, Lord, may it be!
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