2 Chron 34:2  He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

                                                 

This description was given of Josiah who, the previous verse tells us, “was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.” What a tremendous testimony about an eight year old! Let's note the two descriptions given.

 

First, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.” Isn't that to be our goal, to ensure that everything we do is right in God's sight? The Lord watches everything that we do. Does He approve of all we think, say and do? We are supposed to be living lives that are free of sin (1 Jn 2:1a) even if there is a recognition that we may sometimes fall (1 Jn 2:1b). We are supposed to be doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. It is God's expectation of every Christian who has surrendered their lives to Him, been born again and filled with His Spirit. How can we do anything less?

 

Second, and this is the outworking of the first, he “walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” The important description is at the end. He didn't diverge from God's will, he held to God's design for us. Jesus said, “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life.” (Mt 7:14). The road to eternal life is a road of obedience to God's Word, to God's Spirit and to God's will. Josiah didn't diverge from it and neither must we! Check your life out today.

Now what is amazing about this verse, that we possibly take for granted, is the reference to David. Again and again we find this same reference in the Old Testament, where David is held up as the measuring stick against whom all others were measured or assessed. He was a man 'after God's own heart' who sought to stand out in his generation, who was known to have done God's will in his generation (Acts 13:36). What a testimony! Can we have such a testimony when our time comes to leave this planet?