Revival Carrier

Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. 2 Kings 23:25

During Josiah’s reign, Judah experienced its greatest revival years since the days of David and Solomon. What precipitated the great move of God? First of all, when Josiah was only 16 years old, he was seeking the Lord with all his heart (2 Chr. 34:3). Every revival starts by hungry hearts seeking God with great fervency.

Secondly, a revival always involves repentance and cleansing. When Josiah was 20 years old, he began to clean up Judah and Jerusalem, destroying the heathen altars and the shameful idols on the hills.

Thirdly, when he was 26 years old, Josiah started repairing the house of the Lord (34:8). To seek God’s kingdom first means that His house must become the First House in your life. The house of God is the gate of heaven (Gen. 28:17). Everything you do should be arranged around His house.

Fourthly, there was a restoration of God’s Word. As the workers were cleaning the temple, they found an obscure book that no one had ever heard of-the Bible. As the king listened to his secretary read the Scriptures, he was moved by the fear of the Lord (2 Kin. 22:11). He then read out all the words of the Book of the Covenant in the hearing of the people (23:2).

Fifthly, every revival needs a good spiritual leader. Huldah the prophetess said of Josiah, “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you” (22:19).

Sixthly, Josiah moved the whole nation toward God. He motivated all the people to follow the Lord and keep His commandments with all their heart and soul (23:3).

Seventhly, Josiah restored true worship among the people. He organized the most elaborate Passover celebration ever since the days of judges (23:22-23). Josiah was such an outstanding king that “before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him” (23:25). Would you decide to rise up to be a “Josiah” of your generation?