II Kings 23:17

"Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel."

Josiah had completely turned unto the Lord in all his ways. Judah had followed with him, as the leader is, so are the people. He then left Judah and entered into Israel, for the Lord had removed them becuase of their evil. We have in this chapter his great work of cleansing the land from all abominations and sins found within the land. And here in this verse we have the prophecy of 350 years earlier coming to pass. What title is that that I see? word study, to see; and great questions of the Bible; It was the old prophet of Bethle's sepulchre but the young prophet was found within it for what he had foretold was to be. The prophecy was of a king of Judah, named Josiah, that shall overturn the altar and burn it and break it down. WE should consider the other titles in the Bible. Do you remember the title of Christ in Revelation as He returns? 'Upon His vesture is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords'. The title of Aaron, the high priest and that which is upon him? Holiness unto the Lord. The title of His children? The bride of Christ. What is your title, dear brethern? What is said of you and whose you are? And these are not false titles, of our own making or vain comments by fellow people, these are titles of truth that regard who we are and what we are in this present world. Let us be worthy of the mark that is upon us as children of the King. Let our title be remembered in our hearts andminds of what is said of us: 'they are the sons of God' 'children of God. And if chidlren, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ'. What say we of those that are not Christs'? They are of their father the devil; the sons of perdition; the damned; the unsaved. Oh, what a motley scene is these; but never forget, 'for such was some of you'. Praise the Lord, born in sin, raised in sin, yet, when grace came and Calvary did its best work, my title changed from goat to sheep, from lost to saved, from blind to seeing. Cherish "what title that that I see". It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah - word study, to come; he was the appointed prophet during that time. shortly following his time, Elijah came along. He was the prophet without a name only recognized by what he had said and done during that time of confrontation with Jeroboam, the king of Israel, who made Israel to sin. And even though, the old prophet decieved him and destroyed him out of jealousy and envy, this young man was 'a man of God'. And there is a clear title. Vance Havner was asked what title (epitaph) he wanted and he replied, "Just a preacher". For any preacher this is their desire, "A man of God"; for any Christian, "A man or woman of God" Is it true of us? For the Lord Who cannot lie, will not declare unto us a title that is not so. A man of God must be holy, blameless, pure, fervor for the Lord, zeal and passion for the things of God and perfect desire to know the Lord. And proclaimed these things that hou hast done against the altar of Bethel - the ungodly altar of the false gods of Jeroboam; The altar that does not honor the Lord, that shall be destroyed and put down. Let us constatnly seek to put down the false altars that we have bowed down to in this world. The sins of religion, money, lusts, pride, self are all altars of decpetion that leads us away from the Lord. Josiah destoryed them all and said, 'Ye shall worship the Lord God, and Him only shall you worship.' Let out desire be the same, bow the knee to no one else but Him, Who is worthy. The word of the Lord is shall come to pass. . . the young prophet proclaimed it and Josiah fulfilled it. The Lord which is past, present and future saw, knew and accomplished His desired end upn this false altar. Let us be what the Lord desires of us to be to accomplish His kingdoms work while we are here. Our time is drawing short, much time has been wasted and llost. Let this day be a day of honor unto Him. Throw down the altars of the world and of Satan and serve the Lord with all your heart.