They did not depart

Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers. – 2 Chronicles 34v33

I almost hate leaving a discussion of Josiah. He was one of the few bright spots in the history of Israel and Judah. He and a couple of others had the courage to try and stem the flow of wickedness.

Though the reforms did not carry on after Josiah’s death, he did bring about reforms that stuck with the people all during his reign when they did not depart from following the Lord.

The concept of sticking with it runs all the way through the word of God. God shows grace to those who slip up, fall, and quit when they turn back to Him, but it is clearly His plan and His will that we just keep carrying on.

These people did not depart from following the Lord. Though the road may get rough, though we are going to have setbacks, and though we are tempted to quit, may it be said of each of us that we ‘did not depart from following the Lord.’