Rend Your Heart In Humility

2 Kings 22:8-11  -  Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.  Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: "Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple."  Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.  When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

 

He became king when he was only 8 years old…and at 8 he was already following God.  We aren’t told who taught him how to love God…the passage only mentioned that he walked in the ways of his ancestor…king David.  One article I read said his mother Jedidah…was a descendant of Caleb…the faith filled spy that wanted to follow God’s orders to take the Promised Land from the giants.  She must have known about God and held to a little of the faith of her family…enough for Josiah to rise above the evil steeped in his fathers….and try to do what was right in God’s eyes.

 

Josiah was 18 when he decided to repair the temple and Hilkiah high priest found the book of laws God had given Moses.  The king was so mortified at all the laws they had broken that he tore his royal robes….and immediately sent the priest to the temple to pray for direction….to pray for how to make the gross sins of his people right once more.  And God saw the humility and heart of this young man…and held back his wrath till after he had died.  

 

It is a message to me to not be afraid to take a stand for the truth contained in the Bible. It is never too late to read it and soak up the message God might have for change in your life. It is never too late recognize your short comings… rend your heart in humility….and begin to fix what God might have told you is wrong in your life.

 

Father….thank you for the Bible you gave us with the rules for living a full life in your presence.  Give me an ever deepening understanding of the anointed words you had written and recorded to guide my life.  Help me uncover the truth contained in your word to help me live the way you intended. Teach me to be ever humble…rending my heart anew each morning as you convict me of the things that are wrong in your sight. Amen.