Josiah – Old Testament Model of the Shepherd as Leader

Abstract

Raymond Ziebell’s essay presents King Josiah as a biblical model for pastoral leadership, emphasizing his zeal for God’s Word and his role in spiritual reform. Drawing from 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, Ziebell traces Josiah’s early influences, his purging of idolatry, and his restoration of temple worship following the rediscovery of the Book of the Law. Josiah’s leadership is marked by personal repentance, national renewal, and unwavering commitment to God’s covenant. Ziebell parallels Josiah’s reformation with Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the Gospel, highlighting the importance of distinguishing Law and Gospel in pastoral ministry. He warns of modern neglect of Scripture and urges pastors to emulate Josiah’s example by applying God’s Word to themselves and their congregations. The essay concludes with a childlike prayer from Vacation Bible School, reinforcing the call to faithful, heartfelt service. Abstract prepared with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).

Would you like this abstract saved or formatted for cataloging or publication?