|
Josiah was a
Godly king in Israel. When he came to power the nation had fallen
into all kinds of evil. One man, Manasseh, had brought the nation
to a condition of inexorable evil. God finally had enough.
"Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
'I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the
ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out
over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the
plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out
Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside
down." (2Ki.21:12,13).
Josiah came into power just before this judgment. He began to
clean up the evil by burning down all the idolatrous temples,
ridding prostitution and homosexuality from the streets, and
destroying occult shrines. He did this without the benefit of even
reading God's Word, but through the Holy Spirit working in his
heart. Then, one day the ancient scriptures were discovered in the
temple that had laid dormant for years. They had a profound impact
on King Josiah.
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He
gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of
Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's attendant: "Go
and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and
Judah about what is written in this book that has been found.
Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our
fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in
accordance with all that is written in this book." (2Chr.34:19-21).
Josiah was broken. He tore his robes in repentance. He fell to his
knees and repented for the wickedness of his nation. He stood in
the gap; however, it wasn't enough. God judged the nation for its
wickedness because the people failed to repent.
They followed the wickedness of Manasseh, but God honored Josiah. "Because
your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when
you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and
because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and
wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Now I
will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace.
Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on
this place and on those who live here. So they took her answer
back to the king." (2Chr.34:27,28).
God spared Josiah during his reign, but after he died judgment
came upon the nation.
No nation is immune from judgment of God. Pray for your nation
today.
Pray for repentance among the people that your nation will have a
repentant heart among the leaders and the people.
|
