The Influence of One Devoted Parent, Part 1

At Insight for living.

We have access to more than 40 years. Chuck's windows were sermon sometimes what you hear on this program reaches back to work earliest days as a media ministry today. However, for the next few weeks we have the privilege of hearing an eight part series that was presented just a short time ago in the midst of a global pandemic and civil unrest followed. Chuck found Jeremiah's Journal book of Lamentations profoundly relevant. Chuck begins by providing helpful context to set the stage for this fascinating story.

Paul wrote to the Romans. The volume of Scripture when he said 15 for whatever is written in earlier times was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort from the scriptures might have hope that there were no New Testament documents extent in use yet reference to the Old Testament and the surprise of some believers. There is rich treasurer found in the Nuggets of the Old Testament. We hope to dig through some of them when we get into the book of Lamentations, for which I preparing these days. Let's call it coming in through the back door as we prepare ourselves for that study of Lamentations. I want to take you into two parts of the Old Testament rarely read or examined by believers today want is second Kings find chapter 22 second Kings and the other is the couple of books beyond second Chronicles chapter 34 you can't get much more remote than second Kings 22 and second Chronicles 34 I want to read from both of those a few excerpts to prepare us for the study today that has to do with the influence of one devoted parent first want to read from second Kings 22 just the first two verses second Kings 22 verse one from the new living Bible, Joe Sawyer was eight years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years. His mother was Jedediah, the daughter of Addie. I was. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's site and follow the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right in our second Chronicles 34 again the beginning it verse one referring to the same individual and what we might call a parallel historical passage, Josiah was eight years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem 41 years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's site and follow the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. During the eighth year of his reign.

While he was still young Joe Sawyer began to seek the God of his ancestor David.

Then in the 12th year, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines.

The actual rock pools and the carved idols and cast images. He ordered that the altars of Bayonne be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols in the cast images were smashed and just scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

Verse eight in the 18th year of his reign after he had purified the land and the temple.

Josiah appointed Trey friends son of as a lawyer must say I have the governor of Jerusalem and Joe son of Joe has the royal historian to repair the temple of the Lord his God. They gave Hill Collier the high priest, the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the temple of God.

The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel as well as from all Judah Benjamin and the people of Jerusalem believe it or not I had the time of my life in sections like that all this week I've loved it. I know you find that hard to believe but you'll understand why. Hopefully by the time I have completed this message today on the influence of one devoted parent insight for live to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures. Studies by going to insight world.org/studies another message titled the influence of one devoted rent.

I never cease to be amazed at how relevant God's word is, no matter what we may be experiencing in this life, regardless of how heavy it may seem, or demanding it may feel God's word has something helpful and insightful and meaningful to say regarding the time in which were living who would imagine there would be some important message in the ancient book of God regarding something as relevant as Corbett, 19 how in the world. Could we find anything in this book that would relate to the things we're reading about and even going through.

In some cases, especially when we talk about the most remote part of the Old Testament, the Chronicles and the Kings chances are good you have not been in these two books for quite some time will get there at the moment but I want to begin where we ended last time. In Jeremiah chapter 1 were preparing you for the study of Lamentations which Jeremiah wrote toward the end of his ministry. After Jerusalem had been sacked by the Babylonians and the people of Jerusalem marched off into exile. Jeremiah remained and walked through the remains of Jerusalem and doing so he recorded his observations and what we know today as the book of limits or as we know it. Lamentations when I go back to Jeremiah 1 just the first two verses are first three verses I come across something that I don't want us to miss because of the uniqueness of a life that is easily overlooked. I don't dare let that happen. So allow me a few moments and promise me you will concentrate.

If you let your mind drift you will miss major and important parts of what I want to say today but follow along. These are the words of Jeremiah, son of Hill client.

One of the priests from the town of Anna fluff in the land of Benjamin I want you to remember the name Hill Kia.

He's a priest. He becomes a high priest and the passing of years yet to come, but he's the father of Jeremiah.

Please notice how the verse turns to another the Lord first gave messages to Jeremiah during the 13th year of the reign of Joe son son of amylin, king of Judah, the Lord's messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiada came Josiah's son until the 11th year of the reign of King Zedekiah. Another of Josiah's sons in August of that 11th year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. If you like marking your Bibles to put right there) Lamentations because when they were led away as captives. That was the time Jeremiah was coming toward the end of his ministry and wrote the book we know today as Lamentations. But that's not my point. I want you to observe that the main character of this book. Obviously is the one who bears its name. Jeremiah went for a few seconds. In reading these verses you come across another name mentioned even more than Jeremiah you come across Joe son. Please observe in verse two. Again, the Lord first gave messages that would be prophetic warnings words of exhortation, words of comfort and reassurance to the prophet Jeremiah during the 13th year, not Jeremiah's 13th year, but the 13th year of the reign of Josiah's son of Amazon. He adds, who was the king of Judah, and those messages continued on through Josiah's sons, who became king in his place after his death. So it follows alone all the way to the time when the people of Jerusalem are taken captive. At first this may seem like nothing more than tedious, insignificant details that would interest only on a minister or roast a and Old Testament student in a seminary or even a Hebrew student, but there's something here you will miss, but I'm not going to let you do that this is more than just a number of names in the list of years of someone's reign, you might ask. Who cares about such details. We need to care because emerging from this life that appears ever so subtly, the life of Josiah's is a remarkable individual he's a contemporary of Jeremiah there close to the same age I've spent the week trying to figure out exactly the ages, it's almost impossible to do.

They were close. Jeremiah's daddy is ill Kia. The priest, so he was raised among priests and the quiet village of Anna fourth verse one. Josiah's background is altogether different. He's raised in the home of the king, so his years are listed as rain. When he would rain. He's now prints while his father is alive but when his father dies. He, Josiah's becomes King in the place of his father named here. Amazon right now you may know nothing of Amazon but I'm going to acquaint you with him in the time we have, as well as Amazon's father, we need to track the shift in emphasis from Jeremiah to Josiah since the writer Jeremiah himself.

No doubt links the messages of God is coming.

During the reign of Josiah's soak to go back to that rain turned to second Chronicles chapter 34 and you will immediately discover something very unusual even in those days. Josiah was eight years old when he became king. I pause and let each one of you who have had children, and have known them. Of course, when they were eight to imagine what it must be like to have an eight year old now wearing the crown. How unusual.

But he's next in line. Amazon is dead and Josiah's living at the time of his father's death, though only eight years old is crowned the king notice also in verse one that he reigned in Jerusalem, only 31 years. I say only because our rain often lasted upwards of 40 and even 50 or more years as will see but he dies at the age of 39 having rain for 31 years beginning when he is only a something else worth noting verse two he that is Josiah's did what was pleasing in the Lord's life. He followed the example of his ancestor David not amylin's father, not Manasseh's grandfather, but Josiah's found help from the life of an ancient ancestor named David and he became his model before we go to his eight year. Let's look here at this righteous reign of Josiah's 31 years. He walks with God doesn't turn to the left or right doesn't cool in his devotion to the living God. Surely it must come from his father actually it didn't.

In fact, his grandfather Manasseh. If you go back to chapter 33 I will keep doing this to you but I have to go there for a few moments, Manasseh is mentioned in chapter 33 and we revisit the grandfather of Josiah's Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem 55 years. He did what was evil in the Lord's side. Following the detestable practices of the pagan nations. The Lord had driven from the land of the Israelites, listen to what historians quick analysis of Manasseh. Josiah's grandfather quote. Manasseh was the worst king.

The Hebrews ever had. He was a thoroughly bad man, presiding over a totally corrupt government. He reigned in Jerusalem for 55 years, a dark and evil half-century. He continues, he encouraged pagan worship that involved the whole communities and sexual orgies. He installed cult prostitutes at shrines throughout the countryside. He imported wizards and sorcerers who enslaved the people and superstitions and manipulated them with their magic. The man could not do enough evil there seem to be no end to his barbarous cruelties, his capacity for creating new forms of evil seemed bottomless's appetite for the sordid was insatiable. One day he placed his own son on the altar and some black and terrible ritual of witchcraft and burned him as an offering 55 years of such miss rule brought the faith close to oblivion.

I take your time to hear that because I want you to know the dreadful background of Josiah's death, the life of his grandfather 55 years ruling over the land of Judah, the southern kingdom of the people of the Jews, Manasseh dies and his son Amazon takes his place. Please notice in chapter 33 verse 21, Amazon was 22 years old when he became king. This is the son of Manasseh you just heard about Amazon is 22 when he becomes King he reigned in Jerusalem, only two years. He did what was evil in the Lord's site just as his father Manasseh had done. He worship and sacrifice to all the idols. His father and made but unlike his father, he did not humble himself before the Lord.

Verse 24 of the end of verse 23 Amazon send even more. He was worse than his father.

So then Amazon's own officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. So while Amazon is what we would call at home in the palace where Josiah's is living. He is assassinated by a group of conspirators, but the people of the land killed all those who would conspired against the king, king, Amazon, they may Josiah's son in his place.

Do the math 55 years of Manasseh's evil rule, followed by two years of an even worse rule from his son.

Amazon. It was as if the people had said that's enough so they assassinated.

I have to use a little imagination here, and please do so with me somewhere in that palace, Josiah's living is a little eight euro boy. He hears the stabbing, the screaming, the cursing the killing of his father. Somewhere in the palace echoing through the stone walls and then he is in the chaos of murder in this field as those people killed the conspirators who killed his father and out of a scene of assassination and murder emerges. This beautiful blooming rose as if coming from a cesspool of wickedness.

His name is Josiah's Josiah has known only that, among his immediate ancestors, a wicked father, a wicked grandfather and yet we read verse two, chapter 34. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's site and followed David as his example is much more of this dramatic story that meets 20 oh we urge you to keep listening when Chuck Swindoll continues his message called the influence of one devoted parent.

This is insight for living.

To learn more about Chuck Swindoll in this ministry. Be sure to visit us online@insightworld.org. You might be interested to know that Chuck delivered this message just a few months ago. He wanted you to hear this message on Josiah and Jeremiah because it clearly demonstrates the timeless relevance of God's word.

The global pandemic and civil unrest placed increased pressure on families all around the world in this ancient book helps us understand God's hand is on those who follow him as we wrap up this week of studies. This is the very last time I mentioned to messages from Chuck that we're offering to you without cost or obligation is called finding healing through forgiveness.

While not specifically addressing the pandemic junkets at the root cause and the solution for the chaos in our culture. In his first message Chuck talked about clearing away the trash, we regret, and in his second message he describes the power of forgiveness. In addition, Chuck's wife Cynthia shares her gripping story about restoring broken relationships in a recovery from a long battle with depression to demo these two messages today go to insight.org/find healing. If you have any questions or you like to speak to us today. Call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 that's 1-800-772-8888. And finally, as we enter the weekend member you're invited to join the online worship service at Stone Breyer community church this Sunday morning. Thousands of viewers are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to engage in worship and to enjoy the sermon Chuck Swindoll brother details, go to insight.org/Sundays can lamentations continue Monday insight for living. The preceding message. The influence of one devoted parent and the sound recording were copyrighted in 2020 by Charles R.

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