2 Kings 21-24
The Effects of A Tender Heart Toward the LORD

The last great king of Judah's Old Testament period was Josiah. Of him, scripture states, "And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2).

At the age of 26, he was visited one day by Shaphan, his scribe, who bore a message from Hilkiah, the high priest. "Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes" (22:10-11). We don't know the circumstances of the Book of the Law's disappearance—some surmise copies of the law may have been destroyed during the reign of Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh. Regardless, the young king was overcome with both its discovery and Judah's carelessness in losing it in the first place. Fear filled his heart, and he declared, "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us" (22:13).

Sure enough, God's wrath was coming upon Judah. "Thus says the Lord, behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched" (22:16-17). But, notice his message to Josiah: "But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore, behold, 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 disaster that I will bring upon this place'" (22:18-20).

Josiah's saving grace was his heart. It was penitent (tender)—toward God's word and His feelings. Josiah was deeply grieved by his nation's lack of love and obedience, and those things cause him to humble himself before the LORD. As a result, God granted mercy for him and his people.

Those today with penitent, humble hearts are also the subject of God's mercy and grace. They are the ones who are concerned with God's law, seek to obey it, strive to genuinely live it, are repentful of their sins, and hurt by the grief they cause their Creator. Such contrition on their behalf still encourages God's mercy and good feeling. And, such tender-hearted saints benefit others as well. Families profit from mothers and fathers like Josiah; churches do as well. Through people like Him, God grants more time for people to get their acts together and serve Him.

May God give us more Josiahs! Seek to become one today! Great things can happen!