Context No. 2742 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 35:22-27: in context

22Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23The archers shot at King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!” 24So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations. 26Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the LORD’s law, 27and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Josiah had been the great reforming king, the one who tore down the idols and read the rediscovered law aloud to the whole nation. His death is a tragedy. Pharaoh Neco marches north on his own errand and warns Josiah not to interfere, claiming the warning comes from God. Josiah will not listen. He disguises himself, goes into battle at Megiddo, and is struck by an arrow. All Judah mourns, and Jeremiah writes a lament for him.

It is a sobering end for a good man. Josiah, who had listened so carefully to God's word in the book of the law, does not listen when a warning comes, the text says, from the mouth of God through an unlikely messenger. Even a faithful life can stumble at exactly the point where it assumes it no longer needs to listen. A strong record in the past does not excuse a person from discernment in the present.

Have I stopped listening for correction because I assume my track record has earned me the right not to?

Sources

2 Chronicles 35:22: "[He] didn't listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo."
Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall."
1 Corinthians 10:12: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall."