Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 Kings 22:1 NIV
Who holds you accountable? Who is helping you to stay true to the Word of God in your life? Hopefully someone is.
When we read who a king's mother was in Scripture it doesn't normally catch our attention or seem to make a big difference, but when we come to Josiah's mother, perhaps we need to pay special attention. He was only eight years old when his father was assassinated. He became a great king, one of the few who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”. In fact, the Scripture tells us "neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did". Who inspired him to that commitment? I wonder if wasn't his Momma. Maybe he needed his Momma to hold him accountable to the Word of God in his life. (The life of Josiah should be an encouragement to us, that no matter how young a person is, he or she can make a decision to live for Christ and do it victoriously!)
I wonder though if accountability was Josiah's mother’s role. That certainly is a role that fathers and mothers play today in the lives of their children; especially an eight year old. Maybe she reminded him to read his scroll everyday. Perhaps when she “tucked” the king in at night, she told him the Bible stories she knew, and told him to say his prayers. I can almost hear him now, kneeling beside his kingly bed, “God bless Mommy, God bless Granny, and God bless this kingdom you have entrusted to me.” Josiah had quite a prayer responsibility, don’t you think? Do you think his mother was important at this time in his life; teaching him to pray; modeling Godly character for him? You better believe she was.
Whose holding you accountable? And, who are you holding accountable? Are you involved in a relationship with someone who is not afraid to correct you when you wander too far from God’s call on your life? Do you meet with someone, or live with someone, who reminds you to read your Bible, to say your prayers, and to walk humbly with your Lord?
In a day when the world throws so much at each of us, much of which is sometimes hard to handle, I think we need to follow the Biblical example of accountability in our lives. We need to encourage those relationships, allowing them to help shape us into Christ’s image. I think Josiah would agree...and, His Momma would too!
