[Message] Pastor Jung Myeong Seok
[Date] October 25, 1998
[Scriptures] 2 Chronicles 35:20-27
“After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”
Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.
Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments. The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion in accordance with what is written in the Law of the Lord—all the events, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Today’s main scriptures are like a textbook in faith; if you are a believer, you should have learned this Word already.
King Josiah was eight years old when he became a king. He did not worship idols but worked only centering on God.
He purged all the idols [in Judah], repaired and restored the temple, kept the Word of the Law of the Lord, and ran Judah’s political issues well. He celebrated the Passover as a big event of God, commemorating the day when the Israelites had come out of Egypt.
However, Josiah had a big concern--the national defense problem. Carchemish had been trying to attack and threaten Judah. So this matter had been worrying and concerning him. Therefore, he was always praying to God about this matter.
One day, Neco, the king of Egypt, sent messengers to King Josiah and said, “I am on my way to attack Carchemish after receiving a revelation from God. Open a path for me and do not oppose God’s Will.” In order for Egypt’s army to go to Carchemish, they had to cross the land of Judah. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to reach Carchemish.
Because Judah couldn’t solve their national defense issue by themselves, God used Egypt to solve Judah’s problem. God always uses someone else when you [yourself] cannot solve a problem. God even works through your enemies; that is why God told you to love even your enemies.
When King Josiah heard King Neco’s message, at first, he promised to abide, but in the end, he disguised himself to fight against Egypt, and he was killed by an arrow. This happened because he did not do the work that God had ordered, and he opposed God instead.
Because King Neco spoke to Josiah in the name of God, Josiah should have set the condition of believing Neco, but he failed.
King Neco eventually left Judah behind and went up to Carchemish and fought against them.
Josiah did not know the flow of God’s history of working through Neco, and he thought that God would only work through him.
In the same way, leaders, you should absolutely not think that God will work only through you.
Everyone, do not feel left out by God.
You should not think, “I believe in God, but why does God do [it in] this way?”
If people go a little farther, [they can fulfill their destiny,] but they collapse saying they cannot go any further. Then, they distrust God and betray God.
For example, if you grow crops, you should harvest them after the late autumn rain. If you harvest them before the late autumn rain, you will not be able to harvest anything.
Therefore, you should wait until the end. Shouldn’t you wait until the last [possible] time of harvesting, and then harvest [what you have sown?]
Even if you are really confident about everything, you do not know when you will experience a conflict in ignorance like King Josiah.
You could [already] have had an incident like Carchemish, so listen to this Word and make it as your reference.
Josiah did not believe even though God Himself spoke [through King Neco,] did not know how history works, and did not know that moment was the time for blessing.
Everybody, because you do not know, conflicts in ignorance occur.
At the time of Moses, God took [the Israelites out of Egypt] away from the Pharaoh himself and his people, but [the Pharaoh] did not know. Didn’t Egypt receive ten plagues because the Pharaoh did not know? The Israelites had a conflict in ignorance with Jesus. Jesus came to save them, but they committed a conflict in ignorance by crucifying the Savior on the cross.
Even though God has blessed people through their enemies, people do not know.
Think about this message well and do not commit a conflict with God in ignorance. You should never oppose God’s works.
We should realize again and become perfect.
I bless that you will have your mind perfected and that you will give glory to God.
