Heart of Josiah

Heart of Josiah

What is our reaction to God's word? How is our heart and soul's reaction to what He has commanded?

When Josiah heard the word of the Lord read, recognized that they were not following it, he tore his robes as a sign of grief and despair, he immediately sought out what should be done so as to escape the wrath of Almighty God for their failure to follow His law (2Chron.34). His reaction was to remedy the error, get right before God, truly and humbly repent and lead others in the same. Here was God's response to his servant Josiah:

"...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, ” says the Lord." 2 Chronicles 34:27 NKJV

God was surely going to punish His people for their error and utter disregard for Him and His law, that much was surely coming. However, because of the humility of King Josiah and his responsiveness to God's word, God would not bring the calamity in his day, His judgment was stayed until the time after Josiah. What a blessing, what a breath of fresh air...now Josiah could go do what he wanted, right?

No, no we see a much different reaction; one of true leadership and devotion to ALL God has said:

"Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. The king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord. Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not depart from following the Lord God of their fathers." - 2 Chronicles 34:29-33 NKJV

Friends, Josiah was 26 when he did this. No, age doesn't matter in the big scheme of things, but it is notable that this young man took a stand from this day until the end of his days and led the people in following the Lord. Now you may be aged or you may be young, but the question remains the same: will you follow ALL God has commanded the rest of your days, however long or short that may be, and thus escape His wrath? Will you be like Josiah?

How will you and I respond when we open God's word today? Will we open it with a heart set to conform our lives to whatever God has said? Will we have the heart of Josiah, the heart which despairs when we realize we're out of step with His word and springs into action to follow whatever He commands so as to be one with Him and to escape His wrath? Will we lead others in the paths of righteousness?

Friend, let's open God's word and have the heart of Josiah today.