Meddling

O.T . #873  "Meddling"
2 Kings 23-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

A phrase I recall as a teacher by a student was, "She's meddling with me." Then I had to settle a dispute. Today, Josiah is meddling with God. Shall we see why and what happened?

Josiah was a good king in Judah, number 16 to be exact. Although he reformed Judah, destroying the idols and reestablishing the worship of God, judgment from God was still coming due to Manasseh's sin. However, there was no king like Josiah, according to verse 25.

MacArthur described him as: Of all the kings in David's line, including David himself, no king more closely approximated the royal ideal of Deuteronomy 17:14-2 than Josiah. Yet, even Josiah fell short of complete obedience because he had multiple wives (verses 31 and 36). Even this righteous man could not turn away the Lord's wrath because of Manasseh's sin (verses 26 and 27).

Hezekiah was described as the greatest king which trusted God by faith while his great grandson, Josiah, was described as being the greatest king in following the Law of God in obedience.

Are we following their examples by our trust in God and obedient actions? Faith and obedience is what pleases God. He looks upon the heart.

LET IT GROW

Meantime, what was going on around Judah?

• The Pharaoh of Egypt, Neco, was marching through Judah to Assyria. Egypt and Assyria had formed an alliance to battle against Babylon, who threatened to become the dominant world power.
• In 612 B.C. the Assyrian capital of Nineveh fell to the Babylonians. It was for their advantage for Egypt and Assyria to join forces against Babylon.
• Did Josiah consider both nations turning on Judah after they battled with Babylon? Did he see Egypt as a potential power to his newly gained independence?
• Looking at 2  Chronicles 35, we read where Josiah went out to fight against Neco. Neco asked Josiah, "What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you that 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." (verse 21 NIV)
• KJV puts it this way, forebear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy thee not.
• Webster's Dictionary defines meddling as to interest someone in what is not one's concern.
• Why was Josiah meddling in Egypt's business of attacking them when they did not mean them any harm? Their army was only passing through their land to get to Assyria to aid in battling Babylon. He was opposing God's plan, kicking against the prick, so to speak.

Di you catch this-God was moving upon a king and nation to accomplish His purpose of Babylon ruling the world? What transpired? King Josiah did not listen to King Neco, did not turn his army away from Egypt, and disguised himself as he joined them.
Archers shot King Josiah; his servants took him to his chariot, then Jerusalem to die.

Ugh! How sad of an ending for a great king, wouldn't you agree? Needless, warned of the outcome. Was it pride that caused him to not turn away?
Do we find our self meddling where we have no business doing so? Do we have the tendency to interfere?
Are we interfering in anther's life where we should not, so God can accomplish His plan?
Something to consider?

LET IT GO

Pray before meddling into another's business.

Don't rush in to save the day when God may not have that in His plan.

Seek His will and obey it.