You were sorry
and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this
city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You
tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed
heard you, says the Lord (2 Kings 22:19 NLT).
Josiah, one of
the few righteous kings of his era, tore his clothes and repented of the sins
of his nation. Josiah displayed the
behavior and uttered the words that always catch the eye of the Father.
Josiah was a
good man and King who did what was right according to knowledge he
possessed. He was broken hearted over
the sins of Judah as revealed by an ancient scroll. Although he may not have been involved in
these transgressions himself, he identified with the sins perpetrated in his
land. Judgment always starts at the
household of God. A prayer that God always hears is not, forgive them because
“they” have sinned, but forgive us because “we” have sinned. When we are appalled with the unrighteousness
in our land, we must remember, but for the grace of God, there go I.
What
precipitated the reforms that Josiah was able to accomplish? It was a serious reading of God’s Word along
with a truly repentant heart. The
outworking of these things was a commitment to obey completely the instructions
given in the Holy Scriptures. Incomplete obedience is always disobedience. Josiah mourned over the sins of his people
and cried out to the Lord with godly sorrow.
The Father heard his weeping and gave him the will to rid Judah of all
their idolatry.
Ken
Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Podcasts: http://kensblogpodcast.blogspot.com
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