Bible Verse: Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-2
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 22
As we look to build our legacy, we have to take a close look at what we have been given by those who went before us. Remember, a legacy is what is passed on from previous generations. Then we need to decide to be or not to be like them.
2 Kings 22 starts with an interesting set of verses:
Josiah was eight years old when he became king…He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David…” (2 Kings 22:1-2 NIV)
What’s remarkable about this is actually what is recorded in the previous chapter 21, where it says that Josiah’s dad, Amon, was assassinated by his own officials at the age of 24 (2Kings 21:23), and his grandfather, Manasseh, was so evil that he is described as shedding “so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end…” (2 Kings 21:16)
In other words, Josiah was born into an organized crime family of the Old Testament.
And what did he do with the legacy he was handed?
He threw it off and followed in the “ways of his father David…” (2 Kings 22:2).
Did you notice that? He followed the example of David – the godly king from generations earlier!
Some of us come from good legacies. Our parents and grandparents were amazing, loving, encouraging, and everything we needed them to be.
But many of us come from legacies that were lacking in many ways or, like Josiah, filled with so much pain and tragedy that we feel that we are in a deep deficit before we even start.
The question that each of us needs to answer is what we will do about it.
Will we be like the ones who went their own way?
Or will we be like the ones who followed God, “not turning aside to the right or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2)?
Just because you have been handed their legacy doesn’t mean it has to be yours, too.
So, who will you be or not be?
Prayer: Lord, thank You that there are many examples of people who followed You in this life. Help me to walk in their steps with You and leave a legacy for others to follow. Amen.
Reflection: Ask yourself whose steps you are following and are they leading you where you want to go?
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