Some historical context in which he preached:
Hezekiah reigned before Manasseh and was a good king.
King Manasseh - 2 Kings. 21:1-6 - (55 years)
King Amon - 2 Kings 21:19-22 - (2 years)
So.... 57 years of "Evil (sin, rebellion against God)... in the eyes of the Lord" - (which = according to God!)
Enter Josiah - 2 Kings 22:1-2 Jeremiah called in the 13th. year of Josiah (King = 21 years old.)
Today's story begins in 18th. year of Josiah (King = 26 years old)
So..... this good King (Josiah) had been on the throne 18 years and prophet Jeremiah has been preaching 5 years when the story begins.
2 Kings 22:3-20, 23:1-15, 21-25 (note: the King had never heard the Law read before)
So... after 31 years of Rule (by Josiah) + 13 years reform work +18 years of preaching (by Jeremiah)....
(1) Josiah dies in battle ... at the age of 39
(2) Judah (nations) goes right back where they were under Manasseh!!! Josiah's godliness & reform didn't turn the Nation, people, his own sons!!
What follows = 5 evil rulers over 23 years ending with destruction of Jerusalem, temple and 70 years of exile!
THAT = the Story/ the History - the WASM
Anything here for us? today? an ISM!!
#1. Leadership matters Israel (northern 10 tribes) went down faster and fell 150 years earlier!!
Israel had 19 kings over 200 years -- none good!!
Judah - had 20 kings over 350 years ... 8 good and 12 bad.
#2. Great leadership does not guarantee a great nation. Wasn't that Josiah did "too little too late", rather was just TOO LATE!!!
#3. Religious reform is not necessarily HEART reform.
josiah changed LAWS - was 13 years with absolute authority and radical reform!! But, he couldn't change HEARTS (even his sons!)
#4 The need is NOT to return to the old ways, but to return to the LORD!
Not a national decision but an individual decision!!! Revival happens one life at a time!
#5. A nation can go too far - example: Huldah - 2 Kings 22:16, Jer. 7:16, 14:11-12
However,
#6. A nation can also turn - Jer. 18:7-8 Example: Nineveh
On one hand there is room for grief/sorrow (Lamentations)
However, there is also room for hope!! (Lamentations)
BUT for the believer .. is never a place for DESPAIR!! We're not allowed that.
Because,
#7. Even in the worst case scenario ... God can bring great good out of great evil! Example: the Exile - 70 years. Cured Israel of idolatry. The Cross.
Rev. 13:5-10 - What's God doing?? Answer: Something (ultimately) GOOD!!