2 Chronicles 35:1-6: a reflection

1Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2He set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the LORD’s house. 3He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel. 4Prepare yourselves after your fathers’ houses by your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the children of the people, and let there be for each a portion of a fathers’ house of the Levites. 6Kill the Passover lamb, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the LORD’s word by Moses.”

As Josiah leads a great renewal of the Passover, the account notes not only what he organized but how he treated those who served: He set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the LORD's house. Josiah did not merely command and organize; he encouraged those who served, strengthening them in their work, building them up for the service before them. A leader might have simply issued orders; but Josiah encouraged the priests and Levites, giving them heart for their service, supporting and strengthening those who would do the work. His leadership included the encouragement of those who served under him.

Notice that Josiah encouraged those who served. It was not enough to assign them their duties; he encouraged them in the service, strengthening them, giving them heart for the work. He supported those who would do the work, building them up rather than merely commanding them. The encouragement of those who serve is itself a part of good leadership; Josiah did not only organize the service but strengthened the servants, encouraging them in their work. Those who serve are helped and strengthened by encouragement; and Josiah gave it, supporting the priests and Levites in the service before them. His care extended to encouraging those who would carry out the work.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can encourage those who serve, strengthening them in their work, as Josiah did. Those around us who serve, in the church, in their work, in their callings, are helped and strengthened by encouragement; and we can give it, building them up, giving them heart for their work, rather than merely directing or leaving them to it. To encourage those who serve is a real good. Do not merely direct or leave those who serve to their work; encourage them, strengthening them and giving them heart, as Josiah encouraged the priests and Levites. Encourage those who serve, strengthening them and giving them heart for their work, as Josiah encouraged the priests and Levites in the service of the LORD's house; for those who serve are helped by encouragement, and to build up and strengthen those who do the work is a real good we can give them.

Lord, as Josiah leads a great renewal of the Passover, the account notes not only what he organized but how he treated those who served: he set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the LORD's house. Josiah did not merely command and organize; he encouraged those who served, strengthening them in their work, building them up for the service before them. His leadership included the encouragement of those who served under him. Show me that Josiah encouraged those who served. It was not enough to assign them their duties; he encouraged them in the service, strengthening them, giving them heart for the work. He supported those who would do the work, building them up rather than merely commanding them. The encouragement of those who serve is itself a part of good leadership. Those who serve are helped and strengthened by encouragement; and Josiah gave it. Take that to my heart, for I can encourage those who serve, strengthening them in their work, as Josiah did. Those around me who serve, in the church, in their work, in their callings, are helped and strengthened by encouragement; and I can give it, building them up, giving them heart, rather than merely directing or leaving them to it. Keep me from merely directing or leaving those who serve to their work; help me encourage them, Lord, strengthening them and giving them heart, as Josiah encouraged the priests and Levites, for to build up and strengthen those who do the work is a real good I can give them.