Pride of Self Determination

2 Chronicles 35:20-27

    20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you." 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

    23 And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded." 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

    25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments.

    26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, according to what was written in the Law of the LORD, 27 and his deeds from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Josiah the king finished restoring and reforming the temple and proper worship with sacrifices according to God’s word, a worthy work in obedience to the LORD.  But when the pharaoh Necho attacked nearby Chemosh, a Hittite capital northeast of Israel on the Euphrates river, Josiah’s pride of self determination got the better of him and moved him to stop the Egyptian attack, even though it was not against God’s people.  He meddled in another’s affairs and was killed because he ignored God’s words from His mouth through Necho.  Josiah even thought himself clever by using a disguise to enter the battle as an unknown, but he still was killed in Megiddo by what may have been a “random” arrow.  God’s word of warning always finds its mark.  Pride and presumption cannot effectively shield anyone from His will and purpose when ignored or acted against.  Even Jeremiah the prophet mourned the good king’s death, starting a custom of lamentation with singing for such a one’s passing.  In spite of this prideful end of disobedience, Josiah had done many good things for the LORD, and he was remembered and honored for those as recorded in scripture.  We must heed this simple lesson so that pride does not sully our own lives lived for the Lord, not allowing ourselves to disregard God’s warnings of meddling in battles not our own to fight, especially when the one attacked is destined for God’s punishment in judgment.  Wisdom and discernment from scripture and godly advice of those He uses to counsel us are needed.  Let us not take the path of self determination and pride which good king Josiah chose.