Day 113 - 2 Kings 20-22 (God's Irreversible Judgment on Israel)
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"Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest,... "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, 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 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 Kings 22:11-13)
Many students of the Bible consider Josiah to be the greatest king of Israel and Judah. He was the only king of which nothing bad was said about him in the Bible. What I admire most about Josiah was his response to the Word of God when he heard it as we see from our text above. Josiah's act of tearing his clothes indicated his deep remorse for his own sins as well as the sins of the people.
Josiah's did not stop with the act of tearing his clothes in repentance before God; he ordered the priests and his officers to inquire of the Lord regarding the impending judgment that was upon them and what God would have them do. Then, God responded with these words:
"But as for the king of Judah,... "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."'
There are two things I believe are important to note in our Scripture passage today. First is our proper attitude and response to the Word of God. Josiah could have ignored the Word of God even after it was brought to him after having been lost for some time in the Temple but he did not. Rather, Josiah listened as the Scriptures were read to him.
Do you have the same attitude towards the Bible? In all likelihood, you have at least one Bible sitting in your home. The question is, "Are you reading it?" If you do read it even occasionally, how is your response to the Word of God? For anyone who has never truly and sincerely repented before God, the only response that God accepts is repentance. Only then will God begin to listen to prayers offered to Him for the Bible says God hates the proud of heart.
Secondly, notice God's response to Josiah regarding the judgment which He has decreed for Judah. God did not change His mind but rather reiterated his judgment regarding the calamity which He said He would bring on Judah. But because Josiah humbled himself before God, God told him that He would not bring the judgment on Judah during his lifetime.
Four kings later after Josiah, God's irreversible judgment on Judah finally came upon Judah when Nebuchadnezzer king of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and burnt the Temple and took the people captive in Babylon for seventy years.
I can't help but compare the state of the nation of America with that of Judah and Israel in their rebellion against God and the resulting irreversible judgment that befell them. There is a degree of hatred against the Bible today and against Christians in this country unlike any other time in history. People want to get rid of God and the Bible and to silence those who are committed to live faithfully for God.
We as a nation are committing the same sins of idolatry and immorality including the abominable murder of innocent unborn children just like the Israelites did back then. It would be an utter disillusion to think that this country will be spared God's judgment. If God judged Israel who is His chosen people, how can anyone think that He will spare America?
What believers in Christ must do in these dark days is to humble ourselves just as Josiah did and to inquire from the Lord what He requires us to do according to His Word the Bible and to do it. Perhaps God will be merciful enough to delay His judgment on this nation to give us time to warn our loved ones and to help them surrender their lives to Christ. May God do so and more. May He send a revival on this nation just as He did in the past.
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