Sad Megiddo!

From: Josiah and Revival By: William Woldridge Fereday

• 11 min. read • grade level: 8

Thirteen years of silence on the part of the Holy Spirit! Nothing is recorded of Josiah from the eighteenth year of his reign until his thirty-first and last year! Men’s biographical works are not written thus, but it is the usual way of the Holy Spirit. He brings before us many interesting characters, but in no single case have we a full life-story. The story of the blessed Son of God and of His sojourn amongst us is noteworthy in this respect. Although four men were divinely employed to write of Him. His wonderful ways and words are only recorded in modest measure, (John 21:25²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)).

It is not a little remarkable that the next thing we are told after the keeping of the Passover is Josiah and his people confronting the power of Egypt. This is reminiscent of the first Passover; but how different the circumstances now! At the beginning, Jehovah was delivering His people from bondage, and all the might of Pharaoh was unavailing against those who had placed themselves in faith under the shelter of the blood of the Iamb. In Exodus 12-14 we have a very complete picture of God’s salvation as we now realize it. Spared from divine judgment, conducted safely through the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s hosts overthrown, Israel presents a picture of our own wonderful position and blessing through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In Moses’ day Israel did not seek conflict with Pharaoh—nay, they dreaded it!—but in Josiah’s day conflict was deliberately entered into. How true are the wise man’s, words in Proverbs 26:17¹⁷He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. (Proverbs 26:17), “He that..... meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”

“After all this,” says the inspired historian, with a tinge of sorrow in his tone (2 Chron. 35:20²⁰After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. (2 Chronicles 35:20)). After years of walking with God, after years of strict obedience to His word, King Josiah, so excellent until now, plunged heedlessly into war. Brethren—old and young—let us heed the warning! After years of good service for God, and blameless conduct, it is possible for us to make fools of ourselves and blast our lives. Every step needs to be watched in dependence upon God if we are to finish well. Josiah had now reached the age of Hezekiah (thirty-nine) when Jehovah sent him the message by Isaiah “Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live” (Isa. 38:1¹In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. (Isaiah 38:1)). But Jehovah did not thus bid Josiah prepare for death; but, alas! he rushed blindly into it. How can we account for his folly? Had he become puffed-up by the success of his undertakings hitherto? This is always a possibility for the servants of God—even for you and me. Amaziah erred in this way, and brought disaster upon himself and upon his people (2 Chron. 25:17-24¹⁷Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. ¹⁸And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. ¹⁹Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? ²⁰But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. ²¹So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. ²²And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. ²³And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. ²⁴And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 25:17‑24)).

There is no mention of prayer on Josiah’s part before he led his army out to war, and there was no divine command so to do. This man, so devoted until now, appears to have got completely out of the path of dependence and obedience. The position was admittedly a difficult one. Egypt and Assyria were at war, each desiring world-supremacy. Pharaoh’s best route against his enemy was through Palestine, as Germany in our day judged that the best way to reach France was to march through Belgium. It may be urged that it was natural for Judah to resist this. Agreed; but that which is natural to flesh is not always right for men in relationship with God. Why did not Josiah spread the matter out before God, and seek His guidance and protection? He had in this the good example of Hezekiah, who, when his little kingdom was in danger from a mighty foe, placed the whole matter in the hands of Israel’s faithful God (Isa. 37) It has been said that Judah was under treaty obligation to help Assyria in case of war. Even if this be true, Josiah was not justified in moving out without a word from Jehovah. Israel was never to be reckoned as one of the nations (Num. 23:9⁹For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. (Numbers 23:9)). Israel stood in special relationship with Jehovah, and only at His word should any step be taken at any time. In this they were meant to be a testimony to all who observed their ways.

Judah was no match for Egypt. Both Egypt and Assyria a few years later were humbled and broken by Nebuchadnezzar; but that hour had not yet come. Assyria was declining, the tall cedar of Ezekiel 31:3³Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. (Ezekiel 31:3), was tottering; Egypt, the great eagle of Ezekiel 17:7⁷There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation. (Ezekiel 17:7), was soon to have its wings clipped; but in Josiah’s day, Egypt was far too strong for Judah. Pharaoh’s hosts might possibly have passed through the land as peacefully as Israel’s hosts proposed to pass through Edom several centuries earlier (Num. 20:14-20¹⁴And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: ¹⁵How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: ¹⁶And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: ¹⁷Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. ¹⁸And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. ¹⁹And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. ²⁰And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. (Numbers 20:14‑20)). But Josiah’s kingly pride could not tolerate this. Had Jehovah commanded him to withstand the Egyptian armies, the superior numbers of the latter would have mattered nothing. Jonathan once said, “There is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6⁶And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. (1 Samuel 14:6)). When God is working, victory lies with the few rather than with the many. Gideon’s three hundred men accomplished great things for God (Judges 7:7⁷And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. (Judges 7:7)); but the three thousand poltroons of Judah’s royal tribe who sought to hand Samson over to his enemies for the sake of a false peace were worse than worthless (Judg. 15:11¹¹Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. (Judges 15:11)).

Had Josiah weighed up the situation quietly in the presence of God, and gone forth at His bidding he might have used David’s words in Psalm 27, “Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? ... .Jehovah is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” When our blessed Lord went into danger to the dismay of His disciples, He was calmly confident. He had the Father’s word for what He was doing, and He was thus walking in the light (John 11:7-10⁷Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. ⁸His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? ⁹Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. ¹⁰But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. (John 11:7‑10)). But Josiah had got out of touch with God, and was making the greatest mistake of his life, for which the whole nation suffered as well as himself.

Josiah had a remarkable warning addressed to him—by the King of Egypt himself! Pharaoh Necho “sent ambassadors to him, saving, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commandeth me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy thee not” (2 Chron. 35:21²¹But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. (2 Chronicles 35:21)). Amazing words!

Does it strike Christian readers as strange that God should speak through a heathen King to one of His own choicest servants? The Holy Spirit adds His own comment to Pharaoh’s message, “Josiah... hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God.” We have here a remarkable example of the sovereignty of God, who works and speaks through whomsoever He pleases. Did not the Holy Spirit come upon wicked Balaam and constrain him to say most blessed things concerning His people (Num. 24:2²And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. (Numbers 24:2))? Had not Josiah himself experienced the sovereignty of God when He sent him an important message by a woman prophetess (2 Kings 22:14¹⁴So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. (2 Kings 22:14))? When Rabshakeh was sent against Jerusalem by his master the King of Assyria, he said, “Am I come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it” (Isa. 36:10¹⁰And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. (Isaiah 36:10)). Awful words as proceeding from such lips! it was falsehood and blasphemy, which Jehovah resented and speedily judged.

Josiah a few years earlier had a sensitive conscience concerning the will of God. When the book of the law was read before him he quietly recognized the divine voice, and obeyed it. Why did he not recognize the same voice speaking to him through Pharaoh Necho? How easy it is, beloved brethren, for any of us to fall into a condition of spiritual dullness, so that the voice of God, although clearly sounding forth through some chosen instrument, or text of scripture, fails to move us! It is true that there are siren voices around us. Even in the religious circle men speak, “lies in hypocrisy” (1 Tim. 4:2²Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:2)); “many false prophets are gone out into the world,” animated by evil spirits (1 John 4:1¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)). All this calls for spiritual alertness that we be not led astray. But the soul that walks humbly with God, with a heart subject to His Word, will readily distinguish between His voice and the voice of the deceiver.

Josiah had enjoyed thirty-nine warless years, during which he had been able to do much good to the sheep committed to his care; now he rushes into a needless conflict! The fact that he disguised himself proves that he had not a good conscience about the matter. We are not surprised that Ahab wore disguise on the battlefield (while basely urging his friend Jehoshaphat to expose himself in his royal robes), for he was aware that God’s sentence of judgment hung over his head (1 Kings 22:30³⁰And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. (1 Kings 22:30)), and he would evade it if he could; but Josiah should have known better. The God who has revealed Himself so fully to us in the person of His Son is not served by methods of subterfuge at any time. Let us never forget this. In all our ways, whether in the world or in, the assembly, let everything bear the full light of day. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11)).

Josiah’s life was of immense value to Israel. He was fully aware that the sins of his predecessors, and of Manasseh in particular, called aloud for judgment (2 Kings 23:26²⁶Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. (2 Kings 23:26)), and that his life alone stood between the nation and the outpouring of the wrath of Jehovah. Huldah’s communication should have made him act with less precipitation, and with a more exercised heart than he manifested when he went up against the king of Egypt. The knowledge that their well-deserved judgment was soon to overwhelm Israel, and that there was no remedy for their sins ... .ought to have prevented him going up against Pharaoh, when the latter did not attack him, and even warned him to forbear; but he would not hearken, and was lost through a hardihood which was not of God” (J. N. Darby). A chance arrow (guided doubtless by the God of Judgment) smote Ahab in spite of his disguise; something similar happened to Josiah. “The archer shot at King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded” (2 Chron. 35:23²³And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. (2 Chronicles 35:23)). His servants lifted him out of his fighting chariot, and put him into another; but alas, he was soon dead! Megiddo was the scene of a great victory when Barak and Deborah moved in faith against the Canaanites, for God was with them (Judges 5:19¹⁹The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. (Judges 5:19)); Megiddo was now the scene of a disastrous defeat, for God was not with Josiah in his foolish enterprise.

“All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day” (2 Chron. 35:24-25²⁴His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. ²⁵And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations. (2 Chronicles 35:24‑25)). They might well mourn, for the disaster in the valley of Megiddo was the end of the Kingdom of Judah. The crash must needs come, for Jehovah had spoken of it years before; but it is sorrowful that the folly of one of the brightest saints that ever lived should have hastened it! This reflection should serve to take out of us all every vestige of self-confidence. We are sorry stewards of God at the best! Only His grace can keep us right for a single hour. The uniqueness of Josiah is set forth in 2 Kings 23:25²⁵And like unto him was there no king before him, that 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; neither after him arose there any like him. (2 Kings 23:25), “Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to Jehovah with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” Yet such a fine servant of God ended badly!

At the judgment seat of Christ everything will come out in the light of God. “The rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness ... . and his deeds first and last, behold they are written.” Thus our goodness is divinely recorded as well as our badness and our first deeds, when love was fresh and warm, will not be obliterated by any unfortunate last deeds. Everything will be remembered and divinely estimated, “Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed” (1 Sam. 2:3³Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. (1 Samuel 2:3)). Not “counted” as if quantity is everything with God, but “weighed”; quality is the chief thing with Him. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but Jehovah pondereth the hearts” (Prov. 21:2²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2)).

Poor Josiah! He finished badly, but in spite of his sorry blunder, he is “absent from the body and be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)). We shall meet him in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming. No blunders there; each saved one will bear the image of the Firstborn Son forever. It is all of grace. To Him be all the glory!

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