When King Josiah was 26 years old, during the 18th year of his reign, the lost writings of God’s Law were rediscovered. Carpenters, builders and masons were in the midst of repairing God’s house, and there it was. Hilkiah the priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” Shaphan took God’s Law to King Josiah and read it before him. [1]
King Josiah tore his clothes and exclaimed, “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the Words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” [2] He did not just give God an honorable mention at the end of a political speech, he feared God both for his life and for the life of his nation. His faith in God’s Word yielded fruits of repentance. From that point forward, he set out to bring his nation’s laws into conformity with the Law of God. He realized that his nation was on the brink of being rightfully and utterly destroyed for ignoring and denying God and God’s commands.
After Josiah humbled himself, Huldah the prophetess had a word from the Lord for him. “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: concerning the Words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” [3]
The only way up was down. Humbly down before God! Josiah did that and God took notice.
King David walked with and served God. He wrote, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.” [4]
We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Not one of us deserves to have God walk with us. It is only by grace, compassion, control of His anger and great mercy that God is able to walk me and you. We should thank and praise the Lord for His kindness in this regard.
Josiah’s grandfather, King Manasseh, had led the nation to worship idols, burn their children to idols, practice witchcraft and fortune telling. He defiled the house of the Lord. The Lord had said during his days, “I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.” [5]
The Lord advises us, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.” [6] We should not expect of people what only God can do. We should pray for our leaders that they would have compassion on foreigners, the fatherless and widows. We should pray that they would fear to do evil in God’s sight.
Why, because, “The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” [7]
Why, because our lives depend on God’s charity toward us. “ The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” [8]
Why, because, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” [9]
Why, because the Lord puts us back together after we are broken and He holds us together from falling apart again. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” [10]
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” [11]
The Lord does for our inner man, our soul, what no other can do, namely, blesses us with His Holy Spirit. “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” [12]
Let us pray for a move of the Spirit of God on our nations. That people all over this world would turn to God as King Josiah did. Bring forth the fruits of repentance! Throw off that which dishonors God and embrace that which does! Let us pray for a mindset to serve the Lord.
“We need You Lord to be merciful to us, forgive us and heal us.”
[1] 2 Kings 22:1-10
[2] 2 Kings 22:11-13
[3] 2 Kings 22:14-20
[4] Psalm 145:8-9, 14
[5] 2 Kings 21:13
[6] Psalm 146: 3, 9
[7] Psalm 145:20
[8] Psalm 146:15-16
[9] Psalm 147:10-11
[10] Psalm 147:3
[11] 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
[12] 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
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