2 Chronicles 35:17 says, And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. The people of Judah all kept the feast of the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread for a week. Matthew Henry says that the whole celebration of the Passover was done with exactness to what God's law required. Though we are under grace and not the law, and there is no one particular way that we must worship God as far as the way the service is conducted, we must worship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and under the commandments of God if we are to worship successfully. Verse eighteen adds, And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It says that this was the greatest Passover celebration since the days of Samuel, and that none of the kings of Israel had never kept such a Passover, and that all of Judah and those of Israel who wanted to joined in the celebration. Some of God's chosen people were reunited at this time, and as followers of Christ, spiritually we should all be united when we worship God. We might even be in different countries, but we should all be united spiritually. Verse nineteen continues, In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept. It had taken a few years, but Josiah had totally restored the worship of God alone to Judah and even to some people from Israel. We may not be in a position where we have much influence on people like a king would, but we serve a King Who has greater power than any earthly ruler, and even if we are not immediately successful, we need to continue to proclaim God's word to the world. Verse twenty states, After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. At this time, Necho the king of Egypt came to fight against Charchemish, and Josiah decided to join the fight against Necho. We are not told that God led him to this decision, but Matthew henry says he acted rashly and was meddling in a conflict that was none of his concern. We need to make sure that we are led by God if we decide to get involved in conflicts between non-Christians. We are not called to fight for either side in such a battle, but to present the gospel to all. Verse twenty-one adds, But 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. Josiah even received a warning from the king of Egypt to not get involved, saying that God had commanded him to go to war with those he was battling, and asking what quarrel Josiah had with him. We should not doubt that God had somehow inspired him to do this and do it quickly, because it does not say his god, but God, had inspired him in this. We need to stay out of battles that don't concern us, because God may be at work through one side to bring about His will. Verse twenty-two continues, Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. Josiah did not listen nor did he ask God for guidance, and then disguised himself so that he might join in the battle. Matthew Henry says this was occurring because of the hypocrisy of Judah, who didn't desrve such an honorable King, but that doesn't dismiss the fact that Josiah did not ask God for guidance in the situation. Even if those around us are being hypocritical, that doesn't excuse use from following God's will in our life. Verse twenty-three says, And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. Since he was disguised, Josiah would have seemed to be just another soldier, and he was shot and wounded. These archers were not trying to kill the king of Judah but were just engaged in a normal battle. We should never deny who we are as followers of Christ, but need to let the world know, and if we die in battle with evil in the world, at least it will be for the right cause. Josiah told his servants to take him away from the battle because he was badly injured. His being there had made no difference in the outcome of the war, and if we place ourselves in a situation that is not in accordance with God's leadership, we may find ourselves physically wounded or even killed and having made no difference in the battle. Verse twenty-four adds, His 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. His servants brought him out from the battle and back to Jerusalem, but he died there. We will never know what more Josiah might have accomplished had he sought and followed God's will in this situation. If we begin to act out of self-pride and without seeking God's guidance as Christians, we may die without accomplishing all that God has called us to do. Verse twnty-five continues, And 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. Jeremiah the prophet and the singing men and women of Judah lamented the death of Josiah, and it says this was written in the Lamentations. Matthew Henry says that though they were not sincere in their worship that they were sincere in their lamenting the death of Josiah. People who do not believe in God will often be saddened by the death of a great man of God, even if it doesn't bring them into a right relationship with Him. Verse twenty-six states, Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord, Verse twenty-seven adds, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. The acts of Josiah from the first to the last were recorded in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Our deeds may not be noted by the world, but if we have done anything for God at His direction, I believe that He will note it.
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