1 Kings 13:1-6

At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense.  Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David.  On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be buned on you.”  That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message.  He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”  When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Sieze that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back.  At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord.  The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!”  So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again.

2 Kings 22:1-13

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years…  He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David.  He did not turn away from doing what was right.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, the sourt secretary, to the Temple of the Lord.  He told him, “Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord’s Temple.  Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the Temple’s restoration.  Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the Temple of the Lord.  They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons.  Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the Temple…”  Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!”  Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.  Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.”  Shaphan also told theking, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.  When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.  Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaah the king’s personal adviser: “Go to the temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah.  Inquire about the words wrtten in this scroll that has been found.  For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll.  We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”

Some observations from Josiah’s life…

l. Josiah knew what he wanted and was unyielding

2.  There was a prophetic calling on his life from a very young age.

3.  He got started young.

Malachi 4:5-6

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.  He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

How can we have fun with the kids God’s brought us?

1. Pray for our kids groups and the kids in them.

2. Notice the kids God brings across your path.

3. Dip your toe into working with kids.