Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: September 26, 2004
The Rational For Evaluating Political Leaders
Wayne Jackson
Jeroboam II was the 13th ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned for some forty-one years (793-
753 B.C.) — during those days when both Jonah and Amos were doing their prophetic work. His reign was
one of the most prosperous in the 250-year history of northern Israel. He successfully conducted wars
against Syria, and he re-captured territory that Israel had not possessed since the days of David.
During this era, Israel was very stable economically. Trade routes developed and wealth poured into the
nation. The upper classes especially prospered, with certain families growing very wealthy in the acquisition
of both land and money.
In view of his remarkable success as a political leader, one would think that Jeroboam’s considerable
abilities would have been heralded enthusiastically in the Old Testament record. But such was not the
case. As able as the ruler was in regal affairs, the Bible largely ignores his administration. The writer of 2nd
Kings records Jeroboam’s entire regime — forty-one long years — in just seven verses (2 Kings 14:23-29).
And this is his brief epitaph — “he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.”
This account, as well as numerous others of similar import, clearly reveal the fact that the Lord does not
evaluate political administrations in the same way that men do. Of a politician who has built roads,
increased revenues, expanded boundaries, and created better living conditions, most would say — “He was a
great leader!” However, it is not riches that make a great nation, it is righteousness (Pro. 14:34). It is not
fortune, but faith. It is not smooth highways, but spiritual homes!
It is interesting to reflect upon how Americans generally evaluate national leaders today. It is superficial in
the extreme. We want to know this. Can he lower taxes? Not, can he reduce moral corruption? Will he
generate jobs? — rather than where he will attempt to initiate a regeneration of the nation’s ethical policies.
Can we expect a higher standard of economic living? — irrespective a lower, sleazier level of laws that
accommodate debauched lives.
What each citizen needs to be asking about potential leaders are inquiries of this substance. Does he
acknowledge God as the sovereign over the nation? Does he seek to help the innocent and down-trodden
find a fair level of justice? Does he value the sacredness of human life; of humanity as being in the “image”
of the Creator? (Gen. 9:6). Does he act on principle, or is his approach the way of political pragmatism? Will
he labor for the stability of the human family (the divine arrangement), or will he cater to special interest
groups who craft their own values from the perversity of their self-indulgent lifestyles?
Any individual who is swayed more by economic stability than moral stability, has revealed a library of
information relative to the content of his own character. Such folks are oblivious to the truth that prosperity
is the result of goodness, not evil.
—via “The Christian Courier On The Web,” www.christiancourier.com/penpoints/politicalLeaders.htm
Josiah’s Peaceful Death
Ben Justice
Josiah was known as the great restorer. He reigned as king in Judah, beginning at the age of 8 and reigned
for 31 years. We read about this righteous king and what he did by way of restoration in 2 Kings 22-23
(parallel given in 2 Chr. 34-35).
Josiah had commanded some men to make repairs to the house of God (2 Kings 22:3-7). While these repairs
were taken place, Hilkiah the high priest “found the book of the law in the house of the Lord” (v. 8). Since it
was found, this must mean it was lost. How ironic for the Law of God to be lost in the temple. Such was a
sign of the depth of wickedness that plagued Judah at this time. According to v. 8, Hilkiah “gave the book to
Shaphan, and he read it.” Shaphan “came to the king” (v. 9) and “read it (the book of the Law) before the
king” (v. 10). The Bible tells us that “when the king heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his
clothes” (v. 11). Why did he do this? Note the following verses: “And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest,
and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of
the king’s, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of
this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not
hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us” (v. 12-13).
Josiah knew what the Word of God said; he understood that great wrath would be kindled against Judah; he
understood that his fathers had not hearkened to the Word of God. However, he was not exactly sure what
this wrath entailed. So, he commanded certain ones to “enquire of the Lord.” Remember, Josiah was a king
— not a prophet. These whom Josiah sent “went unto Huldah the prophetess” (v. 14). Huldah gave a two-
fold prophecy of what would happen. Her prophecies are seen in v. 15-20. First, she prophesied that Judah
would be destroyed and the reasons for it (v. 15-17). Second, she prophesied of Josiah’s death. They were to
go back to Josiah and tell him all Huldah had said. Here is what she said concerning Josiah in v. 20 —
“Behold therefore, I (God) will gather thee (Josiah) unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in
peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.” Then, the text says, “And they
brought the king word again.” Note, if you will, how Josiah would go to the grave. The text says, “in peace.”
As 2 Kings 23:29 reveals, Josiah was killed in battle. Not a very peaceful way to exit this life, to say the
least. So, the question is, “How did Josiah go to the grave in peace?” The answer is very simple: Josiah was
a man of God and he kept God’s Word. Note the following scriptures that describe Josiah’s character:
2 Kings 22:2 — “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his
father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.”
2 Kings 22:18-19 — “. . . Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou (Josiah) has heard
(referring to when he heard the Word of God read to him by Shaphan in v. 11); (19) Because thine heart was tender,
and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the
inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me;
I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.”
2 Kings 23:3 — “And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to
keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the
words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.”
2 Kings 23:25 — “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with
all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”
The reason why Josiah died a peaceful death is because he died knowing he was on God’s side. The same is
true today. We can have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” and “shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:17). No matter what troubles and trials we face in this life, and no
matter how death may come, we can have peace. This spiritual peace, according to Paul, is “through our Lord
Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). This is a spiritual blessing the world simply does not have (cf. Eph. 1:3). In Rom. 5:
1, it is only when one is “justified by faith” that he has and enjoys the peace with God. To be “justified by
faith” means obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Rom. 6:3-18; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). The question is, “Will you
be able to go to your grave in peace, like Josiah did?”