Monday, December 23, 2019

The death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:20-27
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle.  But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”
Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.
Necho was marching north in 609 to help Assyria fight off Babylon. On his way home, he deposed and deported Josiah's successor, Jehoahaz. But in 605 he was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Carchemish.
Jeremiah's lament: This is not the Bible book of Lamentations; the lament has not been preserved.
Why?
Josiah insisted to fight with Necho king of Egypt so he lost his life and let all people of Judah commemorate Josiah in the laments.
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約西亞王進行徹底的宗教改革。
約西亞要干涉埃及經過猶大土地。神藉尼哥之口說的,如何確定法老所說的真的是耶和華所說的話。
神要向人顯明所說的話,或是藉別人說的話,其實最清楚的是當事人,這次不知道約西亞是否有求問耶和華。在這裏再次看到許多很好的君王,最後都沒有善終。只有約坦途聖經沒有記載他不好的事。人都有缺失,罪過,神神是愛,一直在等待人的悔改,神的公義也不允許有任何挑戰。
人不可故意去試探神,讓自己身處在一個危險當中,容易受到引誘、試探的地方,這不是神所喜悅的做法。如約西亞王讓他陷在戰爭的危險中。
只有約西亞王讓以色列人去哀悼他,即逝世記念日。
約西亞在輝煌的歷史中,卻留下遺憾!
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How?
Peace is the character of a Christian, for God gives us rest in peace!




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