Understanding Josiah’s Blueprint for Leadership

Yesterday, I introduced six steps to leadership that I believe were true of King Josiah. In Part 1 of Josiah’s Six Steps To Leadership, we discussed the first three: Vision, Repentance, and Communication.

Today, we move forward into Part 2 and the remaining steps: Response, Follow Through, and Celebration.

Response to Leadership – 2 Kings 23:3

Josiah’s Step #4: Response

After King Josiah renews his commitment to God and Scripture, the people respond:

“Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”

2 Kings 23:3b, ESV

According to author Walter C. Wright (“Relational Leadership” and “Don’t Step on the Rope“), “Leadership requires followers—someone who chooses to be influenced. Leaders cannot lead unless followers choose to follow.”

“Leadership is a relationship of influence with a purpose; the achievement of the shared mission and the nurture of the community.”

Walter C. Wright, “Relational Leadership: A Biblical Model for Influence and Service”

Much like King Josiah, we leaders must humbly gauge our success by the response of our followers. If we are committed to God and communicate that humbly through word and deed, our followers will pledge their commitment.

Follow Through on Commitments – 2 Kings 23:4-20

Josiah’s Step #5: Follow Through

This is where King Josiah proves that he’s a man of his word. Once he has communicated his commitment to God and the people join in his commitment, he puts his vision into action and starts cleaning house!

Task after task, project after project, King Josiah fulfills the words he spoke at the Temple. As leaders, we too must fulfill our commitments! So many times, we neglect this final step and finish poorly, leaving our followers feeling hopeless and even worse, visionless.

Celebrate Achievements – 2 Kings 23:21-23

Josiah’s Step #6: Celebration

This is a remarkable piece of King Josiah’s story. His initial vision was to repair the Temple, but it became a huge movement to bring the people of Israel back to God. After he had completed numerous tasks and projects to see his vision through, the work stopped and we read the following:

“The king gave this order to all the people: ‘Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.’ Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed.”

2 Kings 23:21-22, ESV

As leaders, we absolutely need to take time for celebration and remembrance. However, we should do it well; keeping the focus away from ourselves, and giving the glory to God by celebrating the team’s efforts.

When all is said and done, we can only pray that our leadership will leave the kind of mark that King Josiah left behind:

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”

2 Kings 23:25, ESV

As leaders, may we leave this kind of legacy.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• How could you use King Josiah’s Six Steps To Leadership in your life today?
• When have you seen the importance of follow-through in your leadership journey?
• How do you celebrate achievements in your leadership role?